The Hours (A or 4/4 stars)
Fiction becomes reality in 'The Hours', a melodrama directed by Steven Daldry. This film tells the story of how Virginia Woolf's novel, "Mrs. Dalloway", affects 3 generations of women. Woolf writes the novel in 1923, a 1950's housewife reads it, & a new-millennium publisher lives it. All are affected by it; and all have to deal with themes of depression & suicide (due to it). The plot of the film 'can' be existentially overwhelming. Not only is it a methodical (almost to a fault), dark, heavy movie to watch; but it's very female-centric. Being a guy, it took me several viewings to realize the gainful insight that this film offers.
Surrey, 1923: recuperating in the countryside from one of her numerous nervous breakdowns, Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman) starts to write 'Mrs. Dalloway'. The beginning of her book states that Clarissa is planning a party. Los Angeles, 1951: Laura Brown (Julianne Moore), a lonely, depressed, pregnant housewife, is planning a low-key birthday party for her husband (John C. Reilly). However, after reading a few chapters of 'Mrs. Dalloway' she realizes some things about herself, and the false life that she leads. NYC, 2001: Clarissa Vaughn (Meryl Streep), a modern, lesbian publisher is throwing a party for her terminally-ill ex-boyfriend, Richard (Ed Harris), a famous author dying of AIDS.
Anymore exposition on this plot would prove superfluous. Just watch the movie to find out how the shocking lives of these 3 women intertwine. The care that is given to create a complex narrative such as the one in 'The Hours' is incredible to behold. And all 3 connecting stories occur over a span of 1 day. i.e., flowers are being put into a vase in 1923; and in the very same scene (in 2001), Clarissa goes to the nursery to buy some flowers for her party, etc. These kind of overlapping transitions (or parallel occurrences) happen throughout the duration and are executed seamlessly.
There are 2 strong themes in 'The Hours': Suicide & Bisexualism. One theme is reason for the other. Virginia is depressed; and it doesn't help that she cannot love her husband fully due to her tendency for other women (including her own sister, played wonderfully by Miranda Richardson). Laura is a dutiful wife & loving mother to her little boy. But she's depressed & has a hankering for her neighbor (a stellar Toni Collette). And Clarissa also battles depression. Her upbeat nature hides an enormous amount of sorrow. She has a lovely daughter (Claire Danes), a thriving career, a decent relationship (the great Alison Janney); but regrets have haunted her. And it doesn't help that her one-time lover, Richard, may no longer be around soon. His looming death could be the straw that breaks her back.
Life & death. Losses & gains. Mental illness & mental clarity. All 3 women struggle with these dichotomies en route to discovering what it means to be both alive & happy. Daldry does an exceptional job managing the many components of the film. It offers an intelligent script, top of the line set design, masterful editing, a gorgeous musical score, and most of all ... uncanny acting. Kidman 'becomes' Virginia Woolf here; we feel her every utterance, her every move, as if she were Woolf herself (prosthetic nose notwithstanding). Not to be dismissed are Julianne Moore & Meryl Streep. Their roles are of equal importance, and they absolutely nail their characters. Never have I seen 3 female performances of equal brilliance as these 3 in this film. We feel for & understand them all.
Ed Harris gives a taut performance of his own as the brilliant author consumed by his impending fate. And I love how his particular character connects to no less than 2 of the 3 overlapping stories. I praise 'The Hours' for its complexity, its nuance, it's technical & emotional achievements. I think it's fascinating that it's all about people writing, reading & living ... a book. However, a word of caution to viewers who aren't in the mood for a cerebral film experience -- 'The Hours' is a deliberately paced, dour picture. It's beautiful, elegiac, but also fairly grim. As previously mentioned, it took me several viewings to get 'The Hours'. So while I was initially frigid towards it, the frigidity gives way to both admiration & respect after the multiple viewings. It's truly an outstanding movie.
Surrey, 1923: recuperating in the countryside from one of her numerous nervous breakdowns, Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman) starts to write 'Mrs. Dalloway'. The beginning of her book states that Clarissa is planning a party. Los Angeles, 1951: Laura Brown (Julianne Moore), a lonely, depressed, pregnant housewife, is planning a low-key birthday party for her husband (John C. Reilly). However, after reading a few chapters of 'Mrs. Dalloway' she realizes some things about herself, and the false life that she leads. NYC, 2001: Clarissa Vaughn (Meryl Streep), a modern, lesbian publisher is throwing a party for her terminally-ill ex-boyfriend, Richard (Ed Harris), a famous author dying of AIDS.
Anymore exposition on this plot would prove superfluous. Just watch the movie to find out how the shocking lives of these 3 women intertwine. The care that is given to create a complex narrative such as the one in 'The Hours' is incredible to behold. And all 3 connecting stories occur over a span of 1 day. i.e., flowers are being put into a vase in 1923; and in the very same scene (in 2001), Clarissa goes to the nursery to buy some flowers for her party, etc. These kind of overlapping transitions (or parallel occurrences) happen throughout the duration and are executed seamlessly.
There are 2 strong themes in 'The Hours': Suicide & Bisexualism. One theme is reason for the other. Virginia is depressed; and it doesn't help that she cannot love her husband fully due to her tendency for other women (including her own sister, played wonderfully by Miranda Richardson). Laura is a dutiful wife & loving mother to her little boy. But she's depressed & has a hankering for her neighbor (a stellar Toni Collette). And Clarissa also battles depression. Her upbeat nature hides an enormous amount of sorrow. She has a lovely daughter (Claire Danes), a thriving career, a decent relationship (the great Alison Janney); but regrets have haunted her. And it doesn't help that her one-time lover, Richard, may no longer be around soon. His looming death could be the straw that breaks her back.
Life & death. Losses & gains. Mental illness & mental clarity. All 3 women struggle with these dichotomies en route to discovering what it means to be both alive & happy. Daldry does an exceptional job managing the many components of the film. It offers an intelligent script, top of the line set design, masterful editing, a gorgeous musical score, and most of all ... uncanny acting. Kidman 'becomes' Virginia Woolf here; we feel her every utterance, her every move, as if she were Woolf herself (prosthetic nose notwithstanding). Not to be dismissed are Julianne Moore & Meryl Streep. Their roles are of equal importance, and they absolutely nail their characters. Never have I seen 3 female performances of equal brilliance as these 3 in this film. We feel for & understand them all.
Ed Harris gives a taut performance of his own as the brilliant author consumed by his impending fate. And I love how his particular character connects to no less than 2 of the 3 overlapping stories. I praise 'The Hours' for its complexity, its nuance, it's technical & emotional achievements. I think it's fascinating that it's all about people writing, reading & living ... a book. However, a word of caution to viewers who aren't in the mood for a cerebral film experience -- 'The Hours' is a deliberately paced, dour picture. It's beautiful, elegiac, but also fairly grim. As previously mentioned, it took me several viewings to get 'The Hours'. So while I was initially frigid towards it, the frigidity gives way to both admiration & respect after the multiple viewings. It's truly an outstanding movie.