Hours, The
Spine tingling and classy performances created a sensational and
emotionally riveting story of three women during different time periods, all
connected by a novel. Each woman is consumed with her own life's troubles and
each one deals with coming to terms with her suffering.
Our story begins with Virginia Woolf ( Nicole Kidman), the brilliant
writer who is working on her novel "Mrs. Dalloway. Virginia's world has
been suffocating her, as she battles with the demons of mental illness
inside her weakening mind and troubled soul. Fighting these horrors have
been eating away at her willingness to live in the world, which has been so
tedious and sad for her to relate to.
In the 1950's we are introduced to Laura Brown ( Julianne Moore), a
homemaker with one small child and pregnant with another. Laura finds life
unrewarding and unimportant and everyday situations seem pointless and difficult
to comprehend. Laura can't come to terms or even catch a glimpse of
happiness in her life, for she sees herself trapped within it. Laura will take
it upon herself to change her world and the world of her family forever.
The third story brings the viewer to the hustle and bustle of present day
New York City, were we meet Clarissa Vaughan ( Meryl Streep), a woman whose
world has stopped dead short in meeting her own needs and wishes in life, in
order to care of her friend and once lover Richard ( Ed Harris), who has
been stricken with AIDS.
Each story is haunting and disturbing in its own horrific way. Three
women from different times try and deal with their pain, suffering and the
loss of themselves as women, and mostly as people.
As impressed as I was with Nicole Kidman's performance, in which she
received her first Academy Award win for Best Actress, I was disappointed
in the win. My personal opinion is that I found her work more exceptional
in To Die For, and The Others. But Ms. Kidman certainly shaped her character's personality,
as well as captivating the screen with her mesmerizing talent.
Julianne Moore once again ravished the screen with her indubitable talent,
as one of the most shining examples of supreme talent from her generation.
Nominated for a supporting role not only in this movie, but for Best
Actress in another period movie, in which she also played the
character of a fifties house wife. In that movie, Being Far From
Heaven, she had a role in which the honor of an Academy Award should have been bestowed to her.
Meryl Streep's performance carries grace, confidence,
and pure talent.
Ed Harris a fine and strong actor, capable of unraveling such
astonishing performances in his craft, excelled within this role. He was
incredible and so moving in his acting, that I was fixated on his character's
complex world.
A deeply sad, intoxicating movie, whose gorgeous cinematography and
incredible acting came together, with monstrous appeal to the heart of its
viewers.
Written by: Lynda Dale MacLean
Reviewers Rating: 8.5
Reader's Rating: 9.67
Reader's Votes: 3
Added: 8-Sep-2003
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