Movie Guys: Mixed messages inside 'Cookie's Fortune'

Synopsis: In the upstairs bedroom, surrounded by the decaying grandeur of her antebellum manor, Jewel Mae "Cookie" Orcutt is discovered -- murdered -- by her estranged nieces. What ensues is an unconventional investigation into the crime in a historical Mississippi town where the Southern system of distinguished, understated manners lives side-by-side with the bold, hearty legacy of the blues. This dark comedic inquisition will unearth family secrets, unmask small-town loyalties and rivalries and unravel the fate of Cookie's fortune.

Dave: Only the irreverent and individualistic director Robert Altman could recruit such an ensemble cast with a budget less than $10 million, and endear himself to this year's audience at Sundance -- which is quite ironic, since his last film, "The Gingerbread Man" (1998), garnered enough media attention when he and studio heads battled over the final cut. Now, known for his antistudio outlook (see his brilliant take on the matter in 1992's "The Player"), he falls back into the mainstream indie scene to produce a small-town Mississippi tale.

Jeff: The buzz was big at this year's Sundance Film Festival about this one, and the buzz was right. This is a little gem of a film. Set in the rural South -- and in true Altman fashion -- "Cookie's Fortune" takes its own sweet time, with richly developed characters who slowly unfold on screen with charm, old-fashioned values and small-town humor.

Cookie (Patricia Neal) is found dead, and her death sets off a chain of events from family squatting rights to torrid jail-house love affairs. Glenn Close is her niece, Camille Dixon, an eccentric woman who has strong family pride and a gift for directing tacky Easter pageants at the local church. Her sedated younger sister is Cora (Julianne Moore), and it's their actions that turn this sleepy Mississippi town upside-down. If I didn't know better, I would say that we were in Mayberry, right out of "The Andy Griffith Show," complete with Chris O'Donnell as a small-town deputy, a regular Barney Fife.

Dave: Well, Jeff, you DON'T know better! I'll admit this bit of fodder is perfect for Altman's taste: the Goth humor, the constrained dramatics, and an atmosphere that one can practically breathe in while sitting in your theater seat. Yet one of the film's problems lies in what Jeff describes as "richly developed characters": these two-dimensional, stereotypical roles have no depth.

The one exception is Charles S. Dutton playing Willis, the loyal manservant to Cookie. His sincere feeling about Cookie's death matches the memories he shares with her rebellious relative Emma (Liv Tyler). However, every time we begin to understand a sense of confidence or motive, we are interrupted with the murderous calamity that sluggishly drags on. And, Jeff, if you mention that Close's portrayal as the tyrannical Camille is hysterical, I'll laugh you right off of this page. She is nothing more than a tamed-down Cruella DeVille (a la 1996's "101 Dalmatians").

Jeff: Funny you should mention that, Dave, because Close is hysterical (not in a belly-laughing kind of way, but as an eccentric Bible thumper). And there's a moving performance by Patricia Neal, whose scenes with Dutton are memorable. When asked recently why she hasn't acted in films for so long, Neal replied, "Because no one asked me." I hope they ask more often. Dutton brings stability and allure to Willis. Ned Beatty is a pleasure as a fishing chief of police who lacks will -- or authority -- when it comes to arresting friends.

"Cookie's Fortune" is not so much a mystery, but a wonderful portrait of Southern life and family pride, with a little lunacy thrown in for good measure. Coming to the point isn't quick for this film and that's its charm. It's a place where you get your hand caught in the cookie jar, literally, and where obtaining personal knowledge of one's guilt or innocence of a crime is solely based on who your fishing partner is. Applause goes to screenwriter Anne Rapp, whose creative characters never walk a straight line and find their appeal in being genuine, never being able to keep secrets. With Altman's knack for casting and direction, "Cookie's Fortune" is a Southern portrait of death, small-town values and plenty of catfish enchiladas.

Dave: Once again, Jeff's long-winded review is as interesting as Camille's Presbyterian church play. At best, "Cookie's Fortune" is a charming bit of small-town life and shows Altman in full command of his artistic craft. Unfortunately, he exercises his abilities on a rather dull project. There is no fortune here.

Movie Buzz

"The End" for Scott?: Director Ridley Scott's ("Blade Runner," "G.I. Jane") next project may be "The End of Eternity," a project based on the book by sci-fi author Isaac Asimov. The project will be a co-production between Scott Free Productions and Wind Dancer Films. In the time-travel love story, the ruling class of the future, the Eternals, have the power to create or destroy the past, present and future. Gary Goldman ("Total Recall") is penning the adaption of the 1955 book, which is now out of print.

"Me, Myself" and Renee: Actress Renee Zellweger ("Jerry Maguire") is close to cutting a deal to star as Jim Carrey's object of affection in the Farrelly brothers' upcoming comedy "Me, Myself and Irene." Carrey stars as a Rhode Island state trooper with a split personality. When he stops taking his medication, each of his competing personalities falls in love with Irene (Zellweger), who then becomes the crux of a love triangle between two halves of the same person. Peter and Bobby Farrelly ("Dumb and Dumber," "There's Something About Mary") will produce the 20th Century Fox project.

Back to the 'Tomb': Everyone's favorite video game vixen is on the fast track to the silver screen. That's right, Lara Croft is about to embark on her first Hollywood adventure. "Tomb Raider," a live-action picture based on the popular video game, is moving forward quickly at Paramount Pictures. Director Stephen Herek ("Holy Man") is close to a deal to develop the project, which the studio hopes to turn into an event film for release in summer 2000. We want to know what happened to the "Pac-Man" movie we've been waiting for since '81.

Name That Flick

"You wanna talk to God? Let's go see him together. I've got nothing better to do." This week's winner is none other than "Bicycle" Bob Reynolds, who was the first to call and identify the quote from "Raiders of the Lost Ark," spoken by Harrison Ford. Way to go, Bob. Now throw me the idol and I'll throw you the whip! For this week, what actor said this and from what film: "The man yells at me on the stage, gets a million laughs. Yells at me off the stage, gets a heart attack"? Does it sound familiar? If you think you know, call the Movie Guys Hotline at 225-9026 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Be sure to spell your name and leave your daytime phone number, and if you're the first correct caller/ e-mailer, we will print your name right here in our column for the entire Las Vegas Valley to read. See you next week.

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