I am not a fan of the Novels that Virginia Woolf wrote. My Friends insisted I go with them to see this Movie.
This movie is based upon the Pulitzer prize winning Novel by Michael Cunningham. Stephen Daldry was the Director, David Hare wrote the Screen Play and Phillip Glass wrote the Score.
It was release by Paramount Pictures in December of 2002. We watched the Movie for almost two hours. Because of the nudity and swearing the rating is PG.
Nicole Kidman plays Virginia Woolf
Stephen Dillane plays Leonard Woolf
Julianne Moore plays Laura Brown
John C. Reilly plays Dan Brown
Jack Rovello plays Richie, (Laura Brown’s Son)
Meryl Streep plays Clarissa Vaughn
Ed Harris plays Richard Vaughn
Allison Janney plays Sally, (Clarissa Vaughn’s ’’Partner in Life’’)
MY REVIEW:
Why was this Movie called THE HOURS? Because it is what happens to these three Women for one hour during a life time of hours they are feeling alone.
I can’t tell you how the Movie begins because that would help tell you what the ending was, (on one of the Women)!
The Hours focuses upon the lives of three women. Each of them live in at different time and in different places in the World.
All three stories open with a similar theme and all three end very differently.
The link is a Book called ’’Mrs. Dalloway’’ that was written by Virginia Woolf, (in 1925), that two of them are reading.
Mrs. Dalloway is a character who pretends to be brave but she feels that she is alone, afraid and has been kept away from the life she wanted and felt she deserved.
In the 1920’s and Virginia Woolf and she is living with her husband Leonard in England.
Virginia is mental ill, (she is depressed, has anxiety attacks and hears voices in her head). Mr. Woolf is keeping a close watch on her. He thinks that he can protect her from herself.
In 1951 in Los Angeles and Laura Brown is five months pregnant with her second Child. She walks around in a daze. Her Son Richie is the only one who seems to understand that his Mother is thinking about killing herself.
Her Husband Dan is ’’blind to all of this because everything in ’’his world is great’’. He sees nothing, hears nothing and does nothing!
In 2001 Clarissa Vaughn is an Editor working in New York City. She is famous for giving wonderful Parties. One day she is preparing for a special Dinner that she is having that evening. Her ex-Husband Richard is being honoured by being given a prestigious Writing Award.
She is so focussed on Richard and his medical problems, (he has AIDS), that she puts her relationship with her lover Sally ’’on hold’’.
I will end my review here because to tell you more would give away the ending that was, (of the other two Women.
GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS 2003:
Nicole Kidman best Actress in a Drama
Meryl Streep best Supporting Actress in a Drama
The Movie was given the Award for the Best Movie of the Year
MY THOUGHTS:
The only thing I found wrong with this Film is that the editing was choppy.
The Music was wonderful. You won’t recognise Nicole Kidman because of her prosthetic nose. She has become one of the best Actress in Hollywood. Meryl Streep played her role perfectly. Watching Ed Harrison is like watching ’’perfection in motion’’. The weakest link in this film is Julianne Moore.
I cried a lot while I watched this Movie because I could relate to what they were feeling, (I am bi-Polar).
My Husband didn’t like this Movie at all so it may be a ’’Woman’s Film’’. I loved this Film and if you haven’t seen it yet I highly recommend it to you, (he doesn’t).
Guess what? I’m still ’’afraid of Virginia Woolf’’!
Comments are always welcome and ratings don’t matter.
©LL2003