Three day weekends at five day a week pay should be compulsory.
Three day weekends at five day a week pay should be compulsory.
Member since:05.11.2002
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Hollywood is vastly under-using one of its greatest assets, and 'The Hours' just goes to prove it. Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore provide three riveting central performances that show that female actresses can create stories with as much strength and courage as any man. In fact, it is hard to pick out any one actress that provides a performance that is more accomplished than the rest - regardless of Kidman being singled out by gaining a Best Actress Oscar. These are three fantastically detailed performances, from three obviously talented women that are only strengthened by a supporting cast that cannot be faulted.
Adapted from Michael Cunningham's book of the same name, 'The Hours' is set in three different eras, and charts a momentous day in the life of each of our three central characters. A day which starts like any other, but exposes emotional events that lead to long-term decisions - whose simultaneous unravelling exposes the similarities in their lives. It is 1925 in England, and Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman) believes she may have the first sentence for her fourth novel, 'Mrs Dalloway' (the inspiration for Cunningham's book).
It is 1951 in Los Angeles and Laura Brown (Julianne Moore) is reading 'Mrs Dalloway', forcing her to confront her unhappiness as a suburban housewife through the baking of a cake for her husband's birthday. And, it is the present day in New York and Clarissa Vaughan (Meryl Streep) has been nick-named 'Mrs Dalloway' by Richard (Ed Harris), her one-time lover and a poet who has won a prestigious award - for which she is throwing a party in his honour that evening.
The way in which the story cuts and changes between eras takes a little getting used to. But is clearly distinguished by easily recognisable costumes and a subtly different use of colour in film and design - the 1920s use mainly browns, the 1950s are lit as if on a hot Summer's day, and the present day appears to use more neutral colours and film. But, essentially it is this chopping and changing between the different stories that gives the film its intriguing structure. It also allows the stories to relate to each other in an appealing way. There are times when watching Virginia and her husband Leonard (played with real compassion by Stephen Dillane) that we understand elements of Clarissa, or when Virginia changes her mind about an element of plot that almost appears to dictate a decision that Laura makes. It is a credit to David Hare's superb script that these relations do not ever feel too contrived, but instead gives the film a distinctive feel.
Stephen Daldry has combined an impressive cast, and one that appears to do real justice to the subject matter. His theatrical attention to detail has led to performances that do justify their Oscar nominations. Surprisingly, Streep does not qualify for one in this film (she was nominated for 'Adaptation'), although her performance, and era, appear to form the focus of the film. Streep simultaneously seems to provide a controlled yet vulnerable figure whose complex relationships are well mastered. The relationship between Harris (another Oscar nominee for this film) is especially so, as his illness eats away at him he appears at times unstable and painfully honest, which slowly pushes Clarissa closer to the edge. Moore's performance is also accomplished, giving Laura a remoteness, and a veneer of happiness that is paper thin. Perhaps the most talked about is Kidman's role, although I do wonder if the make up artist does owe some responsibility for her Oscar. Kidman does truly embody her fictionalised and intensely focused Virginia Woolf - an aloof character, obviously at some odds with the world yet passionate about writing and her relationships. The prosthetic nose that she is given in the film truly changes her appearance allowing us to become more absorbed in the role, but I would dispute that her actual performance rises above the other two stars.
Philip Glass' atmospheric score is pivotal to the success of 'The Hours'. The film's one weakness is that in focusing on the emotional lives of the characters in such detail, the pace does slow. The clever script and detailed performances do make the film feel ponderous, yet Glass' score, with its reoccurring crescendos somehow managing to keep momentum and also interest going.
What Daldry has created is a brilliant film that will not appeal to everyone. It is a character led piece, which relies on excellent acting across the board and showcases three exemplary lead performances. Regardless of Glass' stirring score, the pace does at times feel slightly meandering, often leaving the audience member feeling slightly removed from the emotional events on screen. However, all the benefits are well worth the patience required in seeing the film through to its final notes, especially when you consider that the subject material is potentially depressing yet somehow remains uplifting. Although, as one who has not read 'Mrs Dalloway' it would be interesting to know how this film relates to the source material, and whether it does justice to the inspirational characters, themes and writing of Virginia Woolf.
Drama - Director: Baz Luhrmann - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Tara Morice, Paul Mercurio, Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman, Claire Danes, Leonardo DiCaprio
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 1993 - Drama - Director: Steven Spielberg - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Embeth Davidtz, Ben Kingsley, Jonathan Sagalle
This was an excellent movie...and your review only clarifies that....Nicole glowed and deserved her Best Acress oscar....Extremely well written review!!! Chris xxx
ClaireG86 15.02.2004 17:52
i loved this film too
FrenchCancan 07.01.2004 14:37
Seen it and won't see it again. Did I miss something ? I am not sure, I though the whole movie was only supported by great acting, not by any story or message underlying it... I must have missed something.... Great review though, good to see it thru someone else's eyes. Thanks !
An adaptation of the novel by Michael Cunningham this is the story of three women living ... more
in different time periods of the Twentieth Century all linked by a work of literature. In 1923 Virginia Woolf starts to write her novel 'Mrs Dalloway' whilst stru...
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A trio of the screen's best actresses - two-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep (Best ... more
Actress, Sophie's Choice, 1982; Best Supporting Actress, Kramer Vs. Kramer, 1979), Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman (Best Actress, The Hours 2003) and Julianne M...
Advantages: The DVD has endless special features. The acting is spectacular. Disadvantages: The films ends with a need to know more about what happened; this could be part of the mystery.
jenniewren26 07.06.2009 ·
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Review of The Hours (DVD)
Advantages: Great chemistry between Chan and Tucker. Ridiculously entertaining. Disadvantages: About as substantial as...(Insert your own Chinese food joke here)
Plissken 08.09.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Rush Hour (DVD)
![The Hours [DVD] [2003]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78523499.jpg "The Hours [DVD] [2003]")
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