Postcards from the Edge is a painfully compelling story about a young and talented actress overshadowed by her older and wildly famous actress mother.This movie, based on Carrie Fisher's novel of the same name, expertly explores the relationship of the parent/child who work in the same industry. You can see how competitive they get and how proud of one another they are. You can't help but compare their vices--one likes hard liquor and the other likes hard drugs--and how they go about denying that they have them. Streep and MacLaine play off of each other masterfully and really understand the relationship between the two characters. Maclaine steals the show with her subtle nuances that remind the viewer of who she is not-so-secretly-secretly channeling (For those of you who don't know, the story is based on Fisher's relationship with her mother Debbie Reynolds) though Streep hits her stride as the rain clouded daughter who refuses to be outshone.The harrowing heart of the story is enough to keep you engrossed for days, but you'll have to settle for the meager 100 minutes they give you. (Trust me, it flies by) Carrie Fisher proves that she has real artistic talent as she (Also wrote the screenplay) demonstrates most profoundly that she can capture the human heart and all of its trappings.Although the tale is one of a tumultuous and troubled relationship between the two stars, you will not fail to see the unconditional love that shines through right to the very end. 8.5/10

A quarter of a century has passed since the teaming of two major divas of the past fifty years of cinema: Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine, playing fictional characters loosely based on Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. Streep is a "B" movie actress struggling with various emotional issues which has lead her to become addicted to not only prescription medication, but illegal drugs such as cocaine as well. She's rushed to emergency after a bad day on the set where somehow she ended up in the bed of a stranger, took an overdose of pills, and he literally carries her out, straps her into his jeep and gets her to the emergency room, dropping her off as if he was returning a library book. She must then deal with getting her stomach pumped, going through withdrawal, and then finally going to rehab. And guess what, ladies and gentlemen. This is a comedy, all told through allegedly real life incidents by author Carrie Fisher, once Princess Leia, now a sardonic commentator on her own life and not even quite the "B" actress that Streep plays here.Just as Streep deals with being introduced to her rehab group, she gets a visit from her overly made-up but still glamorous movie star mother (Shirley MacLaine), a legend of the golden age who is indeed still here. "My mother drew up the contracts, so I'm here!", she sings in an altered version of Stephen Sondheim's brilliant "I'm Still Here" from "Follies". Mom Shirley gave daughter Meryl sleeping pills as a kid, which Streep blames MacLaine for causing her drug addiction. Is it wishful thinking or wishful drinking on Streep's part, "Wishful Drinking" being the name of the very funny book which Carrie Fisher later did on Broadway and had filmed for cable T.V. as more comical observations about her life. Toss into the mix grandma Mary Wickes as MacLaine's own "monster" of a mother, lovable maybe to those who know her socially, but definitely somebody you'd think twice about as wanting for your mama. Conrad Bain ("Maude", "Different Strokes") simply retorts to Wickes' constant chattering with "Yap Yap Yap, That's all you do all the live long day". Their delightful two scene cameo is an enjoyable commentary on the issues of different generations. Just like Jennifer Lopez had to tolerate a nasty mother-in-law to be (Jane Fonda) in "Monster in Law", Fonda had to tolerate a former nasty mother-in-law (Elaine Stritch) who got revenge on her daughter in law by simply adoring Lopez from the moment she met her. Unlike "Monster in Law", however, "Postcards From the Edge" utilizes the issues of two daughters dealing with mother issues in a realistic and understanding way, rather than adding hate into the plot line simply for uncomfortable laughs.While some of the script seems to focus on "the blame game", it is more about two women who are trying the best they can to understand the other, move on from bitter memories, and get past issues that have taken their life out of control. MacLaine's character has a bit of a drinking problem, gets into a car accident and like Streep, ends up in the hospital, minus wig and make-up, and looking like Elsa Lanchaster in "The Bride of Frankenstein" after being caught in a thunderstorm. The two actresses let it all bare out here, unafraid to go into places most actresses might be scared to go, especially of MacLaine's era. Streep's attempts to even get through the simplest of movie shoots proves futile, with director Gene Hackman laying into her with all the crassness that Hollywood has to offer. Cameos by Rob Reiner, Richard Dreyfeuss and Annette Benning add to the realistic issues of Streep's tumbling life, with Dennis Quaid giving a very good performance as the actor who seduces the unknowing Streep, pretends to be an old high school friend when she doesn't recognize him, and ultimately a heel after Streep finds out that he had also been sleeping with Benning. Streep deservedly got an Oscar Nomination, but in one of the worst examples of Academy Award criminology, MacLaine was overlooked, that being the biggest shocker of the year. Fisher, too, should have been honored for her screenplay, as should have been Mike Nichols for one of the best directing jobs he had done since "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?". Streep gets to show off her excellent singing voice here, performing two songs (including one triumphant declaration of independence in the finale) while MacLaine bangs the heck out of "I'm Still Here" (in D-Flat) as she explores her own regrets. It's ironic that a decade later, MacLaine would work again with Carrie Fisher and the real deal of who she plays here (Debbie Reynolds) in the amusing but mediocre T.V. movie "These Old Broads". In both films, Fisher explores the adoration that "these old broads" receive from the gay community, as evidenced by an encounter that MacLaine has with a rehab patient who happens to do one of MacLaine's old movie characters (obviously based upon Reynolds' Oscar nominated "Molly Brown") in drag. In typical comically bitter fashion, MacLaine gets in a bitchy line ("You know how the queens love me", she tells Streep") while the gay man tells his lover how obvious MacLaine's plastic surgery is, although in a very affectionate but knowing manner. This film isn't perfect, and might strike some as a bitter attack on Hollywood's treatment to aging divas or has-beens, but if we got that with "Sunset Bouevard", why couldn't it be done 40 years after Norma Desmond got ready for her close-up?

I have a good buddy, who some 20 years ago got tired of getting drunk, stoned and hung-over and began going to AA. Evidently during the meetings the participants open up and mention some of the calamities that occurred to them while abusing alcohol and drugs. (They do seem to go together!) He noticed that there were a few rather attractive women, who were also quite revealing in their tales of drinking, drugs and sexual debauchery that occurred while under the influence. He also realized that they also, like him, needed some kind of emotional outlet and while they could no longer drink or do drugs, recreational sex was still a way to have fun. So ,he began asking a lot of them out for coffee…Which brings us to 2 things that "Postcards From the Edge" show us:1-Even a very serious subject, such as substance abuse, can have a lot of humor.B-Most men are pigs.As far as the latter, actress Suzanne Vale (Meryl Streep) discovers her Prince Charming, Jack Faulkner (Dennis Quaid) who is really an expert at getting laid. It's easier when they are drunk and coked up, but Jack is capable of delivering the romantic manipulation needed to seduce Suzanne when she is also stone cold sober. Although she finds out from another actress (Annette Benning, in a great cameo) that not only had Jack had sex with her in the afternoon before their date that evening, but he used some of the very same lines. Fortunately, she finds out before she's invested too much emotional baggage in the relationship.As far her substance abuse, the way that Mike Nichols avoids the heavy handed treatment of drugs makes this an entertaining film. There is virtually no background on Streep's character. We get introduced to her on a movie set, where between takes she goes to her trailer to snort up. After ending in an ER from an overdose, she has to go to a detox before getting released in her mother's care. Mom is Doris Mann (Shirley Maclaine) who was a big star in her day, but now in her 50's the roles are few and far between. Doris is a functioning alcoholic .And while none of this really seems too funny, there are some hilarious lines in a smart and well written script. Shirley is playing a character quite similar to Aurora in "Terms of Endearment." She loves her daughter but is envious of her youth and while she realizes she can't get it back, she can't help but try to control every aspect of her life, whether it her professional or social life. She has a huge party to celebrate Suzanne's release from detox and ups wowing the crowd with a musical number. Although she had Suzanne open for her first with a song. There's not a whole lot that happens in this movie. For us who are neophytes to the workings on a film set it's fascinating to watch what goes on in production as we watch Suzanne the actress at work. This is a movie that moves at a fast clip, it's only 101 minutes and while some may feel that there could have been more background about Suzanne and Doris, Nichols really waits the end to tell us why Suzanne ended up in rehab. Incredible performances by Streep and Maclaine. Shirley also shows off a great pair of legs, even at age 56. Quaid does as great job as a sleazeball, while Gene Hackman as always is good as a tough, but caring director. Richard Dreyfuss and Carl Reiner have cameos and the great character actress Mary Wickes has a hilarious bit as Suzanne's grandmother.BTW, my friend is still clean and sober after 20 years.

"Postcards From the Edge" is a very funny movie, based on the biting novel by Carrie Fisher, about the pressures of being the child of a show business star.Director Mike Nichols is in top form as is Meryl Streep and an amazing supporting cast that includes Shirley McClaine, Gene Hackman, Richard Dreyfuss and Dennis Quaid.The movie is really quite short, and, to be honest, not a lot actually happens. In spite of this, it is thoroughly entertaining and a mighty good laugh. Owes a lot to the insightful, honest writing from Fisher's novel of the same name which was followed by two thematic sequels.Friday, March 1, 1991 - Forest Hill Chase