Opened: September 14, 1990

Directed by: Mike Nichols

Starring: Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine, Dennis Quaid, Gene Hackman, Richard Dreyfuss, Rob Reiner, Mary Wickes, Conrad Bain, Annette Bening, Simon Callow, Gary Morton, C. C. H. Pounder, Robin Bartlett, Barbara Garrick, Anthony Heald, Michael Ontkean, Dana Ivey & Oliver Platt

Actress Carrie Fisher’s screenplay is loosely based on her own life with her drug addiction and complicated relationship with legendary mother Debbie Reynolds. Keeping that in mind, Postcards from the Edge shows personal struggles but contains heart.

Suzanne Vale (Meryl Streep) is forced into rehab after overdosing. She’s forced to live in the care of her mother Doris Mann (Shirley MacLaine), who is also a successful actress, while she makes her latest film.

Streep and MacLaine’s sparring contests are to die for. If you know much about the relationship between Fisher and Reynolds, it’s easy to see how Streep and MacLaine fall into that real-life dynamic.

You can see the admiration and love Suzanne and Doris hold for each other. Family dynamics are hard and adding Hollywood on top makes it more complicated.

Final say: Familial trauma at its best. ★★★★★