by Mark Deming
synopsis
Child-actor turned novelist Joshua Miller now adds directing to his resume with this screen adaptation of his novel The Mao Game. Piper Laurie plays an older woman who gave up an early career as a hoofer to become a respected photographer. Her daughter (Kirstie Alley) has become a film star with emotional problems, with a son (Joshua Miller) who has a failing career as an actor and a drug habit. The Mao Game features a musical score by Vivian Kubrick, daughter of legendary director Stanley Kubrick; Whoopi Goldberg served as executive producer.
