Movie Review: Trixie

Story: What's a fan to do? As you now, I am a Nick Nolte fan, so therefore I see all of his movies - even Blue Chips. Luckily for me, if I need a Nolte fix, either 48 Hours, Another 48 Hours or The Deep is always on some cable television channel these days. And so, what should have been an enjoyable cinematic experience turned into a painful, teeth clenching one where this fan had to look deep into the 'something nice to say bank' for something positive to report. This film had great credentials including being produced by Robert Altman and written and directed by Alan Rudolph (who gave us the wonderful Afterglow with Nolte but also gave us the most awful Breakfast of Champions with the same Nolte, this time in ladies lingerie)). I really don't know what he was trying to do in this film. It is a sometime comedy/mystery/farce that meanders and never settles into a genre and therefore is unsuccessful on many levels. Unlike the Coen brothers, who are experts at this kind of mix, this movie just tanked. Don't go and don't rent it.

Acting: A stellar pedigreed cast starring the always brilliant, and this time adorable, Emily Watson (Breaking the Waves.Hillary and Jackie, Angela's Ashes) who appears in virtually every scene. Her malapropisms are very funny but her midwest accent is terribly annoying and all over the continental US. She is still a great actress and fun to watch and considering the heavy roles she usually plays, she probably needed a comic twirl in her resume. Nick Nolte plays a corrupt, sort of loony State Senator and he looks terrific. They bleached his beautiful blond hair white for this part. Nathan Lane was...........Nathan Lane (as a lounge act....not a stretch). Lesley Ann Warren was playing another of her boozed up older woman, whorish roles and Dermot Mulroney was annoying.

Pets: My friend BR (who is a birder) said she saw two Mallard ducks....I didn't.

Soundtrack: Don't remember

Theater Audience: About 8 nondescript people. Nobody walked out.

Quirky Meter: 3

Tissue Usage: 0 (although I did want to cry because it was so bad).

Oscar Worthy: Ha!

Length: 117 excruciating minutes.

LOBO HOWLS: 3