Rating: 
Summary: fine comedy-drama
Review: Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine star in Carrie Fisher's autobiographical POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE, a funny and chilling expose on Hollywood and celebrity.Suzanne Vale (Meryl Streep) is a fading screen queen, determined to jump-start her languishing career. Her mother (Shirley MacLaine) is a wisecracking old barb, and knows just how fast Hollywood can chew you up and spit you out. With a talented supporting cast including Dennis Quaid and Rob Reiner, POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE offers a new, warts-and-all perspective on Hollywood and the "dream factory". The DVD also includes audio commentary by writer Carrie Fisher, talent profiles and original theatrical trailer.
Rating:
Summary: Sharp and fun to watch
Review: Meryl Streep stars as Carrie Fisher, best known previously as Princess Laya in Star Wars--actually Streep stars as the central character in Carrie Fisher's autobiographical novel of the same name. Fisher also wrote the screenplay for this very satisfying glimpse of Hollywood in rehab. The dialogue is sharp and knowing. I guess a few words about Meryl Streep are in order since she is one of the great actresses of our time. I always thought of her as flawless, but she's more than that. She just demands the camera, and she has the talent. In the finale she sings a country and western song (music by Carly Simon, by the way) and she can warble. She is almost absurd in the police uni she runs around in (playing a part in a movie within a movie). She doesn't seem to be achieving a comedic effect and then she does, just this side of the ridiculous. As usual with Steep, when the camera gets on her face, we believe her. And she never lets go of the illusion. Particularly telling was the opening scene, nicely directed by Mike Nichols. I saw the PV cliffs and the shots of the ocean below and waited for the SoCal scene to unfold, only it was Mexico, and I thought Gee, this looks like a cheap MOW set, and I continued to be fooled as Meryl is hauled from customs by the customs officer and slapped. It is only when they go to 'cut!' and the movie within the movie is exposed that I realized why the set looked cheap. (Because it was supposed to!) Meryl sold the scene within the scene, and irony, she was supposed to be doing a terrible job because of her character's drug dependency. Somehow a scene with Meryl Streep in it never drags. Maybe she guides the direction and the editing. Thinking back (this is the first movie I've seen her in in years) to Sophie's Choice, for example--1982 best actress Oscar and other honors--she hasn't changed much except that she's a little more relaxed, and while her concentration is still total, there is a touch less urgency in her performance. Shirley MacLaine is, if anything, even better here as Carrie Fisher's mother, one part alcoholic, one part stage mom, and one part frustrated actress jealous of her daughter's youth and talent, all parts overbearing. I recall Shirley MacLaine as a young woman of course. I can see her in Can-Can (1960) showing off those gorgeous legs (she shows her legs here too, but I cringed along with her daughter). She was pretty, healthy and busting her bodice as a young actress, and I liked her, but she was never more than a popular actress. Then came many years later, Terms of Endearment (1983). Excellent here is the hospital scene here at the end, mother and daughter renewing their bonds, Shirley without her wig, and no make-up. Ah, now that's a serious actress who will just let herself look terrible for the camera! Some great lines: 'endolphin rush.' (Streep corrects with, 'You mean endorphin rush.') 'You smell like Catalina.' (Makes me think of the song lyric 'I smell sex and candy.') Streep on her life now without the deadening effect of drugs: "I get to be hyper-conscious to the series of humiliations." Streep's timing on the '..And you weren't wearing any panties' line was great (talking about the embarrassment of her mother showing her legs drunk at a party in the past). This is a true tinsel town original in which Hollywood self-analyzes in public, to be ranked in the vicinity of Sunset Boulevard (1950) and The Player (1992)--in different ways, of course--for giving us a glimpse of what it's really like to live the dream.
Rating: 
Summary: entertaining and inspiring at the same time
Review: Postcards from the Edge is fantastic. Streep and Maclaine bring biting human qualities to the shallow world of Hollywood...realistic, moving, hysterical and first rate performances. Excellent, excellent, excellent.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Hollywood "insider" movies
Review: The insider here telling all is Carrie Fisher (of Princess Leia fame), daughter of crooner Eddie Fisher and songstress Debbie Reynolds. Carrie adapted the screenplay from her best-selling novel of the same name in which she tells us what it's like (through her protagonist Suzanne Vale) to drug rehab Hollywood style. As a writer she has a sharp eye for the hypocrisy of movie land culture, dysfunctional relationships, and a splendid gift for cutting one-liners. Her dialogue made the book, and is the heart and soul of the movie. Here are a few examples:
"Instant gratification takes too long." (A takeoff on, and a reinvention of, the doper's "Too much is never enough.")
"...Endolphin rush." (Annette Bening corrects with, "You mean enDORphin rush.")
"I am so glad that I got sober now so I can be hyper-conscious for this series of humiliations." (Suzanne Vale on her life without the deadening effect of drugs.)
Playing Carrie Fisher's alter ego is Meryl Streep, one of the great actresses of our time, while Shirley MacLaine, another outstanding star, plays the mother.
Streep is nearly flawless as always. She just demands the camera, and she has extraordinary talent. In the finale she sings a country and western song (from Carly Simon, by the way) and she does a great job. But she seems almost absurd in the police uni (playing a part in a movie within a movie). She doesn't seem to be achieving a comedic effect and then she does, just this side of the ridiculous. But, as usual with Steep, when the camera gets on her face, we believe her.
Particularly telling was the opening scene, nicely directed by Mike Nichols. I could see the familiar Palos Verdes cliffs and the shots of the ocean below. As I waited for the SoCal scene to unfold (actually it was supposed to be Mexico) I thought, "Gee, this looks like a cheap MOW set," and I continued to be fooled as Streep is hauled from customs by the customs officer and slapped. It is only when they go to "cut!" and the movie within the movie is exposed that I realized why the set looked cheap. (Because it was supposed to!)
Streep sold the scene within the scene, and irony, she was supposed to be doing a terrible job because of her character's drug dependency.
Somehow a scene with Meryl Streep in it never drags. Maybe she guides the direction and the editing. Thinking back (this is the first movie of hers I've seen in years) to Sophie's Choice, for example--1982 best actress Oscar and other honors--she hasn't changed much except that she's a little more relaxed, and while her concentration is still total, there is a touch less urgency in her performance. I've heard people complain about her mannerisms, that head to the side so that the corner of the mouth goes up, a little defensive smile, and then the flash of eyes, comes to mind, and some others; but compared with say, Dustin Hoffman or (horrors) John Wayne, she's as pure as Olivier.
I liked her timing on the "..And you weren't wearing any underwear" line (talking about the embarrassment of her drunk mother showing her legs at a party in the past).
Shirley MacLaine is, if anything, even better here as--dare I say it?--"Debbie Reynolds," one part alcoholic, one part stage mom, and one part frustrated actress jealous of her daughter's youth and talent, all parts overbearing. I recall Shirley MacLaine as a young woman. I can see her in Can-Can (1960) showing off those gorgeous legs (she shows her legs here too, but I cringed along with her daughter). She was pretty, healthy and busting her bodice as a young actress, and I liked her, but she was never more than a popular actress. Then came, Terms of Endearment (1983).
Shirley MacLaine is the classic example of the actress who really learned how to act as she got older, not unlike Betty Davis, who also got better as she aged. Shirley MacLaine (Warren Beatty's sister, one recalls) did get an academy award nomination for The Apartment (1960) with Jack Lemmon, but did not win.
I liked the hospital scene here at the end, mother and daughter renewing their bonds, Shirley without her wig, and no make-up. You know you've got a serious actress when she will let herself look naturally terrible for the camera!
This is a true tinsel town original in which Hollywood self-analyzes in public, to be ranked in the vicinity of Sunset Boulevard (1950) and The Player (1992)--in different ways, of course--for giving us a glimpse of what it's really like to live the dream. (Or is it a nightmare?)
Rating:
Summary: One of the best U.S.screenplays written in the last 20 years
Review: This Carrie Fisher penned film is perhaps one of the best screenplays written in the U.S. in the last 20 years. All the dialogue is crisp, clever and reads like a mix between Neil Simon and Moss/Hart. Mike Nichols takes it to an even higher level, by casting Streep and MacLaine against each other and watching the sparks fly. Filled with wonderful supporting performances by Gene Hackman, Richard Dreyfuss, Dennis Quaid, Mary Wickes, Oliver Platt, Rob Reiner and Annette Benning among others. The extra features on the DVD are pretty scarce. But the Carrie Fisher audio commentary is priceless. Funny, whimsical and totally casual, Fisher manages to ramble on with no direction and still provides us a wonderful glimpse (in her own way) on what it was like on the set and making the film. A must have for fans of excellent dialogue and good, clean comedy with a sarcastic edge.
Rating:
Summary: Quirky fun look at the backside of hollywood
Review: This film, based on Carrie Fisher's novel, is a quirkey look at the flipside of fame. An aging actress must come to grips with her blossomming addictions, her famous movie mom, and her lack of life outside of work. Her personal relationships are focused on and how she can get back on track - or can she? I rate this film 4 1/2 stars simply because Meryl Streep is just so good and Shirley MacLean is phenominal! Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Funny Stuff!
Review: This is one of the funniest and smartest movies I've ever seen. And an absolutely wonderful performance by Shirley MacLaine. Who knew Meryl Streep could sing? Terrific!
Rating:
Summary: Kitchen forehead and den ears!
Review: This movie has so many great lines in it that you'll have to see it five times to get them all. The great thing is that you'll WANT to see it five times. Meryl Streep is unbelievably good in this movie, yet Annette Bening steals a great scene from her with a cameo that made her famous. The book was brilliant and redundant and confusing all at once, but this movie is brilliant and nothing else. Don't miss this one!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: This movie is simply brillant. The acting, writting, casting, everything.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Script and Dynamic Performances
Review: This movie was such a refreshing change for Meryl Streep. She truly shined in a brillant comedic performance as Suzanne Vale, a middle-aged movie actress struggling with drug addiction, her relationship with her aloof mother (Shirley MacLaine) and the challenges of day to day life. What impressed me the most about Meryl Streep is that you get to see her as a normal, frumpy woman. Basically, someone you could relate to and sympathize with. Finally, you get a chance to see Meryl in a film that doesn't take place in some era/period with extravagant costumes and accents. Ofcourse, many of you already know that this film is based on actress, Carrie Fisher's, bestselling book of the same name. The dialogue is so witty and fresh that I envy all the actors who got to opportunity to bring the words to life. One of my favourite scenes is between Suzanne and her mother on the staircase. In the scene, Suzanne confronts her mother about giving her sleeping pills when she was a child. She also confronts her about holding her back. A few memorable lines: "You don't want me to be a singer. You're the singer, you're the performer. I can't possible compete with you. What if somebody won ? You want me to do well, just not better than you." I love that scene. It even gets more histerical when her mother defends herself about the "birthday party incident". A memorable line: "I did not lift my skirt. IT TWIRLED UP !!". Then the scene of reconciliation in the hospital. Some memorable lines: "You know what dear ? I think I'm jealous of you. And that is because it being your turn and all. And I find it difficult to face that my time is almost up." Both of the Oscar-winning actresses bring such life and energy to their characters. For this film, Meryl Streep was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar and Golden Globe. Shirley MacLaine was nominated for a British Academy Award and Golden Globe. Don't pass up this fantastic comedy from director Rob Reiner (Misery, A Few Good Men).
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