POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE (USA)

 I had never heard of this 1990 film. What was I doing in 1990? I went on a month long trip touring Western Australia with my parents. And turned 32 while on that with them. That is all I remember about that year. . 

Well while my memory of the actual film is pretty dim, the film itself is replete with flashes of recognition. The opening scene is of Meryl Streep stepping out of a helicopter, a tourist on her way to an airport, seemingly somewhere in South America, when she is accosted by the local police and accused of having a sexual interlude with a public official. And being a whore. After being punched in the face, and blood oozing between her teeth, the lights go up, and it is a movie set. A scene that has just shot for a movie. 

I am already in a turmoil. I do not like Meryl Streep and am tempted to change channels right away. But then I saw another familiar face, Gene Hackman, playing the film's director. Then the one with bedroom eyes and a cheek grin who has always been one of my favourite actors, Dennis Quaid. Then another of an already bumper crop: Shirley McLaine, playing Meryl's mother. By then I was hooked. 

It was so quirky. More like the 60s and 70s than the 90s. Was it a send up of Hollywood? A spoof? Sort of, but it's underlying theme was deep and meaningful. Exploring a difficult relationship between a showbiz mother and daughter, like a reprieve of the groundbreaking book about this subject, My Mother My Self by Nancy Friday published in 1977. Entwined with the related subject of addictions, in this instance, alcohol, drugs and sex. 

As the film went on, I realised what I liked about it was that all of the actors were much younger than they are today. Around 30 years younger in fact. That had a lot going for it in my eyes. Which was maybe why I liked Meryl Streep. She played an out of control, sassy, wild child very well. 

The other familiar face I took longer to recognise was that of the actor in Jaws. I knew his face but not his name. He played the doctor who pumped Meryl's stomach after she had taken an overdose and later wanted to take her out. Richard Dreyfus. 

The film is based on a book written by Carrie Fisher, daughter of Hollywood darling, Debbie Reynolds when she was married to a former husband of Elizabeth Taylor, Eddie Fisher, about her own life. 

And there were surprising moments that made me stop and think. During the opening scene, during the big reveal that the action was taking place on a film set, not in real life, some of the crew were wearing white T-shirts with the words Evil Angels on the back. Now that was the name of the 1988 film Meryl made about a dingo taking a baby from a camping ground in Central Australia. 

So a not so subtle call out to Meryl. 

I have since discovered that Meryl is the same age as me, 73, but born 16 days later. I'm a Gemini but she is on the cusp with Cancer. 

I really enjoyed this movie, despite my initial reservations. What I did not like was the title. I could kind of see what it was trying to say, but it is too obscure. The meaning needs to be more obvious to attract a wider audience. Funnily enough, while I have no recollection of the film itself, I do remember the promotional poster, with the two female leads wearing large sunglasses with blue lens. There is probably a hidden meaning in there somewhere. 

It would be a good movie to watch with a group of friends while conducting a running commentary throughout. Highly recommended. It had the potential to become a cult film if it is not one already. I have to see it again because I missed knowing that much of the music was by Carly Simon.