Postcards from the Edge by Carrie Fisher

Her gift for inhabiting others' skin is on fine display, as she gives Suzanne Carrie Fisher's wry intonations and wan half-laugh. Whatever the props, Meryl herself makes me laugh, something I never expected. Nichols helps by putting her in situations that are very un-Streepish, like being threatened by cheesy 'Scarface' extras or inhaling Fritos. No dingoes running off with babies in this production.

Streep's comedy turn is the big surprise here, especially given how successfully she pulls it off. She and Streep seem to feed off the best aspects of each other's prior screen work, Streep picking up on MacLaine's sass and comedic chops, MacLaine on the way Streep can give you a sea of sadness through just a flickering gleam in her eyes. 'I wish I could go through this for you.' MacLaine gives, frame for frame, the best performance in the film, one of her best ever. 'I really hate that you have to go through this,' Doris sighs upon visiting her daughter in the rehab clinic. Her mother, a screen legend in her day named Doris Mann (Shirley MacLaine), happily takes on the responsibility of overseeing Suzanne's recovery, especially given the attendant oversight she gets on daughter's life and career.

Carrie Fisher, the actress who played Princess Leia, channeled hers into a novel that became another winning Mike Nichols domestic comedy, 'Postcards From The Edge.' Meryl Streep stars as Carrie alter-ego Suzanne Vale, a once-successful actress trying to restart her career after a near-fatal O.D. Luke Skywalker is not the only member of the Star Wars gang with parent issues.

Postcards from the Edge by Carrie Fisher