The Hours (2002)

I usually do not embrace spoilers in reviews, but as I find it difficult to present this film without using examples in scenes, I will abide to the social norms and issue a spoiler alert.

The Hours have a gut-wrenching and rather disturbing start, played out by director Daldry with utmost patience and care, and with a lovely build-up by minimalist composer Philip Glass. After this, we go back to start with three different stories.

These stories are filled with parallels in story-lines as well as in small details, i.e. the breakfast-nagging, the lingering insanity, the flowers and forbidden kisses... and of course Mrs. Dalloway. Despite the film's relatively slow pace, there are so many nuances, topics and details to pay attention to that it at times feels like a rollercoaster-ride nonetheless.

The cutting of the three eras is done with much intricacy and must have cost Daldry some difficulties. The casting is superb and worthy of an ensemble movie. Kidman, Moore and Streep all do shine, and this really was Julianne Moore's year, as she was Oscar-nominated (and snubbed) for "Far from Heaven" in addition to her marvelous performance here. The support (Dillane, Janney and Harris) are quiet and allow the three women room to impress. Herein lies in my opinion perhaps the little advantage for Nicole Kidman. Stephen Dillane brings an astute calmness and dignity to his character and the scene in which he surrenders to her wish to move to London, and loses those features, ever so slightly, ever so short, as he sheds a tear, makes her horrible decision abundantly clear to make. A frenzy of a scene ending with utter silence as the viewer is left to read between the lines. Sheer brilliance.

And as Woolf decides to end her life to let her husband live, another Oscar-nominee, Ed Harris, decides to end his as he does not wish to live solely to keep another happy. Another astonishing scene with a subtle change of mood as Glass adds just a single dark note to his main theme and Richard Harris plunges to his death... And life goes on with the one that got away hosting a rather mediocre party for her husband and son. "Some of us will have to die so the rest will appreciate life more".

And so it was. The poet had to die. A very good piece of drama, with some first-rate scenes.

8/10