Movie critics describe a Robert Altman film as having a unique vision. Film historians typify his films as having an idiosyncratic approach to material (overlapping dialogue, documentary camera and editing style, character-driven, not plot-driven). Actors say it's the way Altman creates a secure working environment on the movie set.

To tell the story of "Cookie's Fortune," written by first-time screenwriter Anne Rapp, Altman brought together a stellar cast, including Glenn Close, Julianne Moore, Ned Beatty, Liv Tyler, and Chris O'Donnell.

Altman likens casting to doing a puzzle: "In fact, any little puzzle - the more pieces you get in, the rest of them kind of define themselves.

"My approach is to get the best people cast in a project, so that once the cast is set it's turned over to them," Altman said. "About 85 percent of my creative input is finished and I'm just sort of following them down the road.

"And I do follow them because I don't know what I want to see. I want to see something I've never seen before.

"So, I have to kind of hope that they deliver that. And if I give them enough comfort and freedom and confidence - that's what they all became actors to do in the first place - more than likely they perform."

"Cookie's Fortune" is set at Easter in Holly Springs, Miss. The season wasn't always intended to be so, but Altman said the change works because the story symbolizes redemption and second chances.

"We lost our start date," Altman explained. "It was originally set to take place during Thanksgiving. It was going to have an entirely different look. It would have been a darker, wintry look. We just moved it to Easter.

"Actually, it was an improvement. We were able to play against what was happening, although I made it rain on Easter - just to get those people's dresses wet," he chuckled.

- from The Allentown Morning Call

04-19-99