...all of whom connect, despite being separated by several eras in time
The tagline for The Hours says it all; three different women. All living a lie. Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore, arguably three of the most talented actresses to grace our screens at this time, are the central roles to the story. The first scene falls to all three characters, one writing a book, one reading the line she has written 30 years later, and another acting out said line in real life in contemporary day. It shows how one book (Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf) has changed their lives, their spouses' lives and their childrens' lives. Other major Hollywood names appear in the film; John C Reilly, Toni Colette, Allison Janney, Miranda Richardson, Ed Harris, Claire Danes. In my opinion these characters add to the mystery created, and continue their reasons for the lie in which they live.
Clarissa Vaughan helps her previous lover, Richard through AIDS, thus showing us the pain she holds inside. Her current lover, Sally and her daughter Julia are seen to be unknowing of her true feelings. Virginia Woolf has been moved from busy London, to the countryside to stop her depressive problems by husband Leonard. Her pain is shown through her loneliness and her need for the busy streets of London, there is a specific scene which, in my opinion, is very powerful in our view of Virginia which takes place at a train station. Laura Brown is reading Mrs. Dalloway throughout our viewing of her; she lives with her loving husband Dan and son, Richie, who adores her. The pregnant 1940s/1950s housewife in an American suburb is seen to feel trapped and this causes numerous heart rendering events...both on and off screen.
In my opinion, the Oscar win for Nicole Kidman for this film is completely just, she is fabulous at playing a complicated depressive in the 1920's. The transformation of her face (prosthetic nose), her voice (to an English smoker) and her air of beauty (which is changed into a women who is lost in many ways and who seldom smiles!)
Phillip Glass produces a superb soundtrack, drawing you closer to the characters, being subtle yet unforgettable after watching the film. I think the compositions can be viewed as both beautiful and timeless (hence the tie in of three eras on the 20th century!)
The Hours was primarily a novel written by Michael Cunningham, winning the Pulitizer Prize in 1999, therefore initially recognised as an outstanding story. Later this was developed by the screenplay writer, David Hare, who created a script which tied these three women together perfectly on screen.
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Production Year: 1989 - Drama - Director: Ken Cameron - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Nicole Kidman, Denholm Elliott, Hugo Weaving, Joy Smithers, Norman Kaye, Jerome Ehlers, Judy Morris
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
An adaptation of the novel by Michael Cunningham this is the story of three women living ... more
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Plissken 08.09.2001 ·
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