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Cookie's fortune

Threat advisory: High - High risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

Welcome to Holly Springs... home of murder, mayhem and catfish enchiladas.

Cookie's fortune mischievously uncovers the legacy of Jewel Mae "Cookie" Orcutt (Patricia Neal), an eccentric matriarch, whose tattered ante-bellum home is adorned with the trappings and relics of her deceased husband, the beloved gambler and bon vivant, Buck. Flouting convention, Cookie shares the manor with the easy and loyal Willis Richland (Charles S Dutton), a middle-aged black man with a penchant for catfish enchiladas and Wild Turkey bourbon.

Cookie's two estranged nieces - the imperious Camille Dixon (Glenn Close), and her pliantly obedient younger sister, Cora Duvall (Julianne Moore) - live across town in what Camille must find a frustratingly modest home. Camille deplores Cookie's indifference to social status; and Cookie simply can't tolerate Camille's pretensions. Cookie's one cherished relative, Cora's daughter Emma Duvall (Liv Tyler), is an object of desire for local catfish supplier Manny (Lyle Lovett), and the crazy love of Jason (Chris O'Donnell), an earnest if somewhat inept Sheriff's Deputy.

On the day before Easter, Camille rushes into Cookie's home to collect a cut glass fruit bowl - an heirloom whose ownership is the subject of a family dispute. After venturing upstairs in the seemingly empty house, she makes a grisly discovery: Cookie, dead through some "misadventure". But murder investigations invent a life of their own, and this one casts Willis as the most likely suspect.

Also starring Rufus Thomas as Theo, Ruby Wilson as Josie, Donald Moffat as Palmer, Ned Beatty as Lester, Matt Malloy and Courtney B Vance as Otis. Written by Annie Rapp, directed by Robert Altman.

Cinematic intelligence sources

Cookie's fortune official movie site

Intelligence analyst

Secret Agent Acid Thunder

Theatrical report

I'm not giving away the ending when I say: Cookie killed herself!

End of story. Besides, when you have two Sheriffs who are convinced the black guy didn't do it, what more proof do you need? On the other hand, if I ever end up in that position I pray that the cops treat me that well.

One more thing. Rich people are the most stuck-up, obsessive, lying people in the USA. He doesn't begin to understand this, they just are. It's in the film, it has to be true.

There's drama and sex (no frontal nudity... such a shame... Liv Tyler... minutes...) [Acid Thunder obviously didn't get any last night - Director of Intelligence] and comedy and morals - Oh! The morals! - and there's religion and a wonderful ending (not too many of those these days... such a shame). [See, told ya! - Director of Intelligence]

*Flame off*

I want y'all to go out an' get this here vi-di-yo, y'hear!