Irreconcilable Differences (1984)

A nine year old girl (Drew Barrymore) takes her divorced parents, a film director (Ryan O'Neal) and a novelist (Shelley Long), to court for a "divorce" or in legal terms, a Declaration Of Emancipation. As the trial proceeds, we learn about the parents and the events that lead them all to this point. Directed by Charles Shyer (BABY BOOM), the film is a roman a clef "inspired" by the rise of director Peter Bogdanovich in Hollywood, his ex-wife Polly Platt with Sharon Stone (who gets "and introducing" billing) standing in for Cybill Shepherd and Sam Wanamaker standing in for Roger Corman. Reviews were mixed but the movie was a minor success. I found it exceptionally likeable, well acted by all and ultimately very affecting. The film can get too clever for its own good sometimes but it does an impressive portrait of how Hollywood success can corrupt even thee most reliable of people and how a child can be sacrificed on the altar of ambition and success. With Allen Garfield, Hortensia Colorado, David Paymer and Luana Anders.