Product: Postcards from the Edge [VHS] (1990)
Rating: 4.0
Fisher Fiascos
"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.