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Postcards from the Edge

Postcards from the Edge

Comedy · Drama · 1990

A substance-addicted actress tries to look on the bright side even as she's forced to move back in with her mother to avoid unemployment.

Movie details

Postcards from the Edge

“Having a wonderful time, wish I were here.”

1990 Comedy · Drama 1h 41m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.6 / 10

Community rating

A substance-addicted actress tries to look on the bright side even as she's forced to move back in with her mother to avoid unemployment.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Postcards from the Edge?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Mike Nichols

Written by

Carrie Fisher

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep

Suzanne Vale

Shirley MacLaine

Shirley MacLaine

Doris Mann

Dennis Quaid

Dennis Quaid

Jack Faulkner

Gene Hackman

Gene Hackman

Lowell Kolchek

Richard Dreyfuss

Richard Dreyfuss

Dr. Frankenthal

Rob Reiner

Rob Reiner

Joe Pierce

Mary Wickes

Mary Wickes

Grandma

Court is in session

Put Postcards from the Edge on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.