Trixie is a 2000 American mystery–crime–comedy film directed by Alan Rudolph and starring Emily Watson, Nick Nolte, Will Patton and Brittany Murphy.
Plot
Trixie Zurbo is an eccentric woman who longs to quit her job as a security guard in a department store and become a private detective. She finally gets her wish when she takes a job in security at a casino. She accidentally becomes involved in a murderous plot and Trixie takes her first case; however, her unschooled command of the English language and comedy intervenes and the mess begins.[3]
Cast
- Emily Watson as Trixie Zurbo
- Dermot Mulroney as Dex Lang
- Nick Nolte as Senator Drummond Avery
- Nathan Lane as Kirk Stans
- Brittany Murphy as Ruby Pearli
- Lesley Ann Warren as Dawn Sloane
- Will Patton as W. ‘Red’ Rafferty
- Stephen Lang as Jacob Slotnick
- Mark Acheson as Vince Deflore
- Vincent Gale as Sid Deflore
- Jason Schombing as Ramon
- Robert Moloney as Alvin
- Troy Yorke as Cleavon Arris
- Wendy Noel as Coffee Shop Waitress
- David Kopp as Bell Boy
- Ken Kirzinger as Avery’s Bodyguard
- Jonathon Young as Gas Attendant
- Terry Chen as Waiter
- Gary Jones as Lobbyist
- Zak Santiago Alam as Gang Member
- Tyler Labine as Gang Member
- Alvin Sanders as Capitol Building Custodian
- Peter Bryant as Cop #1
- Kate Robbins as Tourist Wife
- Michael Puttonen as Tourist
- Brendan Fletcher as CD Thief
- Terence Kelly as Mr. Lang
- Maria Herrera as security guard
Production
The film was originally meant to star Anne Heche.[4]
Filming took place over the summer of 1999.
The script uses a style of dialog using word play similar to the Marx Brothers, Gracie Allen, and the film Airplane!.[5]
Release
The film premiered on June 28, 2000 in New York City and Los Angeles, California.[6] The film was distributed by Sony Pictures Classics and received a limited theatrical release in the United States.
Box office
Despite an ensemble cast that included Nick Nolte, Will Patton, and Brittany Murphy, the film garnered negative reviews from critics and modest box office returns, earning approximately $295,683 domestically.[7]
Following its theatrical run, Trixie was released on DVD on December 5, 2000, providing wider access to audiences and contributing to a minor cult following, particularly among fans of unconventional detective narratives.
Critical
Filmink praised the “Strong cast, with Murphy, Nolte and Nathan Lane stealing the show.”[8]
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 27%, based on 48 reviews. The website’s critical consensus states “Boring and predictable script; not funny.”[9] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 26 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating “generally unfavorable reviews”.[10]
Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote “Watson holds the screen, and she and Rudolph’s mise en scène supply most of what makes this movie watchable.”[11]
Variety called it “a minor, rather trivial film that reflects the director’s whimsical wish to revisit the popular genres of noir and screwball, but which lacks distinctive humor or a fresh contempo take. “[12]
References
- ^ “Trixie’s fortune”. The Plain Dealer. May 20, 1999. p. 2E.
- ^ “Trixie”. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
- ^ Trixie (2000) – Plot. Retrieved December 27, 2024 – via www.imdb.com – IMDb.
- ^ “Anne Heche signs for new noir comedy”. The San Francisco Examiner. June 23, 1998. p. 33.
- ^ Trixie (2000) – subtitles
- ^ “Trixie (2000)”. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ “Trixie DVD Release”. Amazon. December 5, 2000. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (April 17, 2026). “Unsung Auteurs: Alan Rudolph”. Filmink. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
- ^ “Trixie (2000)”. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on March 28, 2025. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
- ^ “Trixie Reviews”. Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
- ^ Rosenabaum, Jonathan (July 14, 2000). “Trixie”. Jonthan Rosenbaum. originally published in Chicago Reader
- ^ “Trixie”. Variety. March 5, 2000.