Postcards from the Edge

Rating:
Summary: Fisher Fiascos
Review: "Postcards From The Edge" is by all means an autobiographical account of a very chaotic period in actress Carrie Fisher's life. Her inspirations for her debut novel (originally published in October of '89) were her personal experiences in a drug rehabilitation center surmounting a cocaine habit, the relationship between she and her screen-veteran mother Debbie Reynolds and, generally, her wry perspective of life itself. However, instead of sharing her mordant musings as the main character, Fisher created her counterpart in a character named Suzanne Vale (Streep). Vale is a rising talent in the film industry with - surprise - an addiction to cocaine. She has other indulgences as well and one day pops pills until the inevitable occurs - she is rushed to Cedars Sinai emergency room to have her stomach pumped. Upon her near-death experience, she is committed to rehab and makes a deal with her director Lowell Kershak (Hackman): stay sober, get paid. Of course, this is a grueling period not only because Suzanne is trying to curb her addiction but also because part of the deal involves living with her mother Doris Mann (MacLaine), an aging starlet who is eccentric, overburdening and an occasional alcoholic.

Meryl Streep said while reading Fisher's acerbic but earnest screenplay that she immediately fell in love with the story from a single line uttered by her character during her struggle with sobriety: "I know my life is good - I just can't feel it." Streep undertakes one of her more complex roles; using Fisher's insight on the driving force behind drug dependence and building from her own interpretation, she portrays Suzanne as a conflicted but staunch individual struggling to gain a sense of authority over her own life. Although the role of Suzanne called for a serious dramatic depiction, Fisher's dry humor and Streep's impeccable comedic timing make her conflict frivolous and fun to watch. Director Mike Nichols (Regarding Henry, Working Girl, Biloxi Blues) had brought out the best in Streep before - she earned an Academy Award nomination in his 1983 film "Silkwood" as the title character. He proved once again to be her good luck charm when Streep caught the Academy's attention for the ninth time, earning her seventh nomination for Best Actress.

Nichols also enlisted Shirley MacLaine as Doris Mann, Vale's brazen mother. She had already been intimately acquainted with the role of an oppressive parent, winning an Oscar for her endearing performance as Aurora Greenway in "Terms Of Endearment". This bawdy, russet-tressed thespian has a long resume; although she has portrayed many a character, she gives Doris a much-needed spark combated by a unique sensitivity, making her performance a markedly impressive one. This is a sorely underrated role, overshadowed by critically acclaimed performances of her past.

Gene Hackman and Dennis Quaid make for entertaining supporting roles as Jack Faulkner and Lowell Kershak, respectively. Quaid is adept at playing the smug spinster and therefore makes his character easy to despise. Hackman, a refined player with credits like "Target", "Mississippi Burning" and "The Firm" plays a hard-edged but sympathetic film director who is willing to forgive and forget, knowing that Suzanne has so much more to offer to the film industry.

Both MacLaine and Streep get a chance to boast their musical theater skills - Shirley sings a lively rendition of "I'm Still Here", a song by Stephen Sondheim that the man himself amended with personalized lyrics especially for her. Streep sings the languid Ray Charles classic "You Don't Know Me" and at the very end of the film belts a country-western tune "I'm Checking Out" written by Shel Silverstein with little-known Canadian rockers Blue Rodeo in accompaniment.

When Fisher was asked to write the screenplay for her novel, the producers wanted the film to focus more intimately upon Vale's relationship with her mother, even though much of the content of her book dealt with her tenure in rehab. Fisher didn't mind the change but much of the facts were slightly exaggerated not only for the drama but the comedy as well. People will find this out as well as several other factoids while listening to Fisher's gravelly voiceover during the commentary mode. It's almost as if one is sitting in the very room with Fisher while watching the movie, cracking odd jokes and having a drink or two. Her dry wit is unique and distinctive, making it easy for the audience to realize and identify with the overall philosophy of the film.

On the whole, "Postcards From The Edge" is an endearing portrait of the impenetrable bond between mother and daughter and, coming from Fisher's point-of-view, a quirky and poignant portrait indeed.

Rating:
Summary: "You're the realest person I've ever met in the abstract."
Review: 4.5 stars. The best thing about this DVD, besides the great script and fantastic cast of fine actors, is the price. Brand new, this DVD is under ten dollars?! I should write this review emphasizing that fact alone. As for the writing, it is excellent and witty and cerebral and dramatic, and it is all the more evident with all the incredible actors making the words their own. This exceptional cast includes former Oscar-winners Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine, Gene Hackman, and Richard Dreyfuss. Dennis Quaid, Rob Reiner, and Annette Bening also have good performances here and are worth mentioning. But the finest actor in this film is Meryl Streep, with yet another Oscar-nominated performance, this time showing great comedic timing with hilarious expressions and delivering her dialogue with impeccable precision. I'll stop now, before I wax rhapsodic. The script is sharp and intelligent, the acting is superb all around, and the price for this DVD is amazing! Thank you.

Rating:
Summary: Craig Lewis
Review: Anyone who has dealt with any substance escapism-or overbearing mothers-need to revisit this movie. Just try to catch all the humorous interactions you might not have caught the first time between stars McClain and Streep as a famous aging movie star who drinks and her actress daughter dealing with drug abuse. Based on Carrie Fisher's novel, if "rationalization is part of the addiction" then watching McClain ("Now I just drink I like an Irish Person" and Streep ("Well, the behavior may have been suicidal...but I am not!) have great one liners supporting this notion. Don't all of us one day or another think Streep's line "Well...I'm glad I've gotten sober so that I am hyper-concious for this series of humiliations!" Mike Nichols says that he shoots every scene by asking himself "How does it really happen??" With cameos by Rob Riener, Richard Dreyfuss and Gene Hackman you get some of the best films moments acteds by pros; supporting roles taken by future stars Oliver Platt and Annette Bening are also funny but brief.

Rating:
Summary: Inside Hollywood Movie
Review: Great acting with Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine. Streep was nominated for best actress award both by the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards. It is a chance to see Meryl Streep in her prime about 15 years ago. I very much enjoyed her role in the film as a country and western singer. I think it is the first time I have seen her sing.

Rating:
Summary: Hollywood glitz, glamor, and worms
Review: Great cinematic rendition of Carrie Fisher's semi-autobiographical novel with wonderful performances from Shirley MacLaine as the aging screen queen and Meryl Streep as her star-druggie daughter. The cameos are wonderful...Richard Dreyfuss as the doc who pumps Streep's stomach?! Gene Hackman as Streep's suffering director...the list goes on. The "bad" thing is that we're left with one big unanswered question - when is Meryl Streep going to record a real album? Her voice is incredible! Fun, funny, and all too true - this one's a winner.

Rating:
Summary: What a riot!
Review: Hilarious! Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine are right on the mark with this sharp and clever story by Carrie Fisher. Both hand in performances that are close to comic perfection. With a star-studded supporting cast, a story we can somehow all relate too despite its Hollywood overtones and low-key hysterics throughout, this is a DVD you'll want for your collection.

Rating:
Summary: One of my all-time favorites
Review: I love the acting.
I love the story.
And I looove the dialogue.

I even love Meryl Streep's singing! Really! Even when she sings country, and I don't like that!

Rating:
Summary: heart-warming and hilarious!
Review: I loved the whole movie! Anything Shirley and Meryl do is fabulous. They should work together more often because they make a great team! I didn't know Meryl was such a great singer. A popular problem with celebrities and their children as well as the general public is brought into focus in a way that is very believable and touching. I highly recommend this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Listen the the Carrie Fisher Commentary
Review: I've always loved this film. It has great dialog, great casting, great production and direction. Carrie Fisher wrote the screeplay based on her book, and her commentary on the film is very insightful, honest and funny. She discusses her rehab from drug addiction and her relationship with her mother, Debbie Reynolds. She points how the film differs from her real relationships with her family, discusses the writing process and how she had never written a screenplay before and wasn't sure how to do. And, of course, she's very funny on top of everything else. Buy the movie because its a good movie. The commentary is the icing on the cake.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious!
Review: Meryl Streep and Shirley Maclaine both give great comic performances in this film. The rest of the cast is great, too. This is based on Carrie Fisher's novel and it is a very entertaining read. There are a few touching moments during the film and they all ring true. I highly recommend it.