Inside Hollywood, from the P.O.V. of a recuperating pill-popper with a stellar mother out of the old Factory System. It helps to know that these are pseudonymous versions of Carrie Fisher (who adapted the screenplay from her own novel) and Debbie Reynolds. This helps, that is, to keep your interest. There is little enough on screen to do so, even with bit-parts and walk-on roles inhabited by the likes of Gene Hackman, Richard Dreyfuss, Dennis Quaid, Rob Reiner, Michael Ontkean, et al. (The knowledgeableness, the hipness, sags badly whenever we are admitted on the set of an alleged film-in-progress: first day of shooting, the leading lady is lashed to a cactus encircled by snakes.) The movie peaks early, with Shirley MacLaine (the Reynolds figure) performing Sondheim's "I'm Still Here" at her daughter's informal homecoming party. MacLaine fits the part like hand in glove: a Golden Age star who lives in a spotlight of her own imagining. Meryl Streep, for all her marvels, including a country-western song at the curtain, is too mature and powerful for both her role and the movie overall. Directed by Mike Nichols. (1990) — Duncan Shepherd
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