This intellectually melodramatic movie "The Hours" (which is the working title of Virginia Woolf's novel "Mrs. Dalloway") is an adaptation of the Pulitzer-prize winning novel by Michael Cunningham. This movie revolves around the story of three depressed and alienated women living in different time periods of the Twentieth Century and searching for love. Yet all of them at some point are compelled towards committing suicide, their struggle of choosing between life and death. The central character of the storyline is Mrs. Dalloway, which is Virginia Woolf's classic novel and its foundation and inspiration as well.
DETAILS
Release date .. 17/11/2003 Duration 1:54 (approx) Category .. Drama Director Stephen Daldry Produced By Miramax Screenplay .. David Hare Starring Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, Claire Danes, Ed Harris, Toni Collette, Jeff Daniels, Stephen Dillane, Alison Janney
ABOUT THE MOVIE
This film features three women from three different time periods who face depression, dissatisfaction,
and ultimately the option of suicide.
Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman) I didn't recognize Nichole Kidman in this character; the work of artistic makeup have given her a completely new look. Well this character profiles a writer, mentally ill and chronically depressed, as she writes her novel Mrs. Dalloway in rural England in 1923. It was later elaborated that she had already attempted suicides twice and her husband keeps an eye on her out of love and affection. This woman is totally confused or when I come to think of it later I think she is confused because we all think she is confused. The movie starts with the scene of her committing suicide by drowning herself in the river in the year 1941. Kidman won the Academy Award for Best Actress for this character.
Laura Brown (Julianne Moore) This character Laura Brown, played by Julianne Moore is a housewife living in Los Angeles in the year 1951. She is a fragile woman, five months pregnant, has a husband who love her and take good care of her and a son who depends on her, although she is not happy and feels that Virginia Woolf's novel Mrs. Dalloway is speaking to her on a deep and personal level, reading in it an impulse towards suicide. She finally tries to abandon her son and home but eventually fail to take her life. Here you will witness a lot of emotional scenes passed between a mother and a son relationship leading to a sad climax.
Clarissa Vaughn (Meryl Streep), The third plot of this movie is set in New York in 2001; Clarissa Vaughan is played by Meryl Streep who lives like Mrs. Dalloway, "always giving parties to cover the silence." She shares the same first name as of Woolf's character Clarissa Dalloway and her ex husband and lover nicknamed her Mrs. Dalloway. The main aspect about this character is that she tries to prove to the world as well as herself that she is a happy woman although she is not. In this movie Clarissa is preparing to host a party for her ex lover Richard Brown (Ed Harris) who is dying of AIDS. Ed Harris has played the role remarkably.
One thing which I failed to understand about these characters is that all three of them possess the lesbian nature to some extent but this aspect is not explained anywhere in the movie or maybe I fail to get the point.
AVAILABILITY
This movie is easily available on Amazon for £6.97 and there are 40 new and used copies from £4.19. You can also find it on Blah! DVD (www.blahdvd.com) for £6.99
WHY DID I LOVED IT
Well as I have written in the introduction that this drama revolves around the lives of three women living in different periods of time. One thing I loved most about this movie is the dramatic relationships between the characters that have no way of reaching out to each other neither can they ever meet except for a literary bond. Yet you will notice the twists and turns of the scenes enfolding in front of your very eyes, the film shifts back and forth in time both visually and thematically; the credit of which goes to the true mastermind of the film maker. Like when Nichole Kidman is staring at a dead bird the scene dramatically changes to the visuals of another character in another lifetime. I saw this movie last night (I know I have seen it late compared to when it was released but I am glad I am not too late.) Well I was saying that I watched this movie , liked it a lot and after watching it went to bed but what amazed me a great deal is that I cannot stop thinking about it, I have been thinking about it all day and each time a new aspect of the story come forward or a new discovery enfolds. One thing I am certain is that you might or might not like this movie but this will give you something to think about for a while. There are more to the characters in this movie than you can see in one glimpse. Every character has a background and I must say that the cast is well deserved and no doubt they have worked remarkably.
So take my word for it . I you haven't watched it yet, please do. And remember if you are looking for something that will make an entertaining pastime or something to laugh at then don't waste your time. Although if you are looking forward to watch a good movie with poetic talents and hidden secrets then go for it.
Thanks for reading . Hina.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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