The Hours
What a fantastic film. It’s absolutely hypnotic and enthralling to watch how these three women, living in different periods and all grappling with their existence, portray the human experience in a way that still reassures us of its beauty despite how stifling it can get.
The editing is wonderful. Having Nicole Kidman think of writing: “Mrs Dalloway will buy the flowers herself,” to Julianne Moore reading that very same line, to Meryl Streep saying: “Sally, I think I’ll buy the flowers myself,” remains for me a genius way of demonstrating how all three women are interconnected.
Julianne Moore is terrific as well. Subtle and gradual. The ‘Morning Passages’ track, played during the opening credits, never fails to make me feel so many human emotions all at once.
The Hours is a powerful watch. It definitely fits the mold of Oscar bait (literary, depressed protagonist, period drama, Meryl Streep) but the performances are in service of the characters, its themes handled delicately, and it’s expertly crafted. Timeless work.