NoraEphron'sautobiographicalnovelchroniclingthebreakupofhermarriagetoinvestigativejournalistCarlBernstein(ALLTHEPRESIDENT'SMEN)isadaptedforthebigscreenbydirectorMikeNicholsandsolidlyactedbyMerylStreepandJackNicholson.RachelSamstat(Streep)isEphron'sstand-in,aNewYorkfoodwriterwhofallsforandmarriesWashingtonpoliticalcolumnistMarkForman(Nicholson)despiteherinitialmisgivings.Anditisn'tlongbeforeasecondpregnancy,separatehomes,andthereturnofMark'swomanizingplacesastrainonthemarriagethatresultsinabitterdivorceandinspiresRachel'scynicalmusingsonthenatureoflove,sex,andrelationships.