There have been other acerbic looks at the movie-land scene, but this one lacks either wit or any sense of humanity as we are escorted into the psychotic world of warped individuals.

Julianne Moore, who just won an Oscar for her role in “Still Alice,” is a standout as Havana Segrand, a faded actress who yearns for a comeback role playing her late, legendary actress mother, but the competition from younger actresses is stiff. Moore goes for broke in a bold performance remarkable for how well she descends the depths of desperation with behavior to match. In fact, in one sense this role makes more demands on her than her award-winning role in “Still Alice.” But her character is not a pretty picture.

Evan Bird is Benjie Weiss, a sicko 13-year-old actor out of rehab, who is arrogant and nasty to everyone around him, a dangerous, self-destructive type who can be destructive to others. The success he has had makes him impossible to work with.

Meet his older sister, Agatha Weiss, recently in a mental hospital and played by the excellent Mia Wasikowska. She and Benjie have been estranged, and for good reason. She had set fire to their house, perhaps with the aim of killing her brother. We can’t expect any good outcome from Agatha, who becomes assistant to Havana. They deserve each other.

John Cusack is Stafford Weiss, their father who has become a self-help therapist administering to stars, including Havana. Benjie’s mother, Cristina Weiss, played by Olivia Williams) is managing the career of her problem son, and she has her hands full. Nice family, the Weisses.

One can search for a sympathetic character, but the only one who comes near that category is Robert Pattinson as Jerome, a limo driver, who has movie aspirations—and who doesn’t in that world?

As one might expect, the look of the film is smart. Peter Suschitzky is director of photography, and Carol Spier is production designer. The costuming by Denise Cronenberg is on target.