The Hours (2002)

The story of how the novel "Mrs. Dalloway" affects three generations of women, all of whom, in one way or another, have had to deal with suicide in their lives.

Director:

Stephen Daldry

Writers:

Michael Cunningham (novel), David Hare (screenplay)

Stars:

Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, Nicole Kidman

Won 1 Oscar. Another 38 wins & 71 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Meryl Streep	...	Clarissa Vaughan
Julianne Moore	...	Laura Brown
Nicole Kidman	...	Virginia Woolf
Ed Harris	...	Richard Brown
Toni Collette	...	Kitty
Claire Danes	...	Julia Vaughan
Jeff Daniels	...	Louis Waters
Stephen Dillane	...	Leonard Woolf
Allison Janney	...	Sally Lester
John C. Reilly	...	Dan Brown
Miranda Richardson	...	Vanessa Bell
Eileen Atkins	...	Barbara in Flower Shop
Margo Martindale	...	Mrs. Latch
Linda Bassett	...	Nelly Boxall
George Loftus	...	Quentin Bell

Storyline

In 1951, Laura Brown, a pregnant housewife, is planning a party for her husband, but she can't stop reading the novel 'Mrs. Dalloway'. Clarissa Vaughn, a modern woman living in present times is throwing a party for her friend Richard, a famous author dying of AIDS. These two stories are simultaneously linked to the work and life of Virginia Woolf, who's writing the novel mentioned before.

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Plot Keywords:

novel | party | reading | housewife | publisher | 

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Taglines:

The time to hide is over. The time to regret is gone. The time to live is now.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, some disturbing images and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 January 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Las horas

Filming Locations:

Biltmore Hotel - 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$243,089 (Japan) (30 May 2003)

Gross:

$3,246,655 (Japan) (4 July 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Miramax Films, Scott Rudin Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The spaceship fabric that can be seen in young Richard Brown's room is the same that one of the blankets is made from that older Richard wraps around him when he is ill.

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Goofs

When Laura (in 1951) picks up Mrs. Dalloway from the floor next to her bed, there are six novels in total. Two of the other books are Melbourne by Lord David Cecil and Under the Net by Dame Iris Murdoch, both published in 1954.

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Quotes

Angelica Bell: What were you thinking about?
Virginia Woolf: I was going to kill my heroine. But I've changed my mind.

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Connections

Referenced in My Big Fat Independent Movie (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Beim Schlafengehen"
from "Four Last Songs"
Music by Richard Strauss
Text by Hermann Hesse
Performed by Jessye Norman, Soprano, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig (as Gewandhaus Orchestra,
Leipzig)
Kurt Masur, Conductor
Courtesy of Decca Music Group Limited
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Best Movie of 2002.

"The Hours" was the first movie I've seen in 2003. I'm easily going to name it as the best movie of 2002 and something tells me that in 12 months time, I will be saying it's one of the best movies of 2003 as well.

Based on a Michael Cunningham novel, "The Hours" combines a real life story (Virginia Woolf), a re-written one (Laura Brown's interpretation of "Mrs. Dalloway") and an original creation as well (Clarissa Vaughn).

We get three different stories, each fascinating on its own edited together into a complex, intriguing drama that will have you in tears a couple of times before the ending credits start rolling.

What glues the stories together is "Mrs. Dalloway" - the book. Virginia Woolf, a suicidal author in England (1923) creates the character, the novel inspires a lonely housewife in Los Angeles (1951) and a 'trivial' 2001 New York City gay woman is called "Mrs. Dalloway" by her dying friend who points out the similarities between them. Later on, we find out another connection between the characters.

It's clear that the thoughts that have been put into this movie go beyond the screenplay and acting. Things like the settings & clothing for each story help compile a perfect, believable plot.

However, what really left me with awe was the PHENOMENAL acting.

Nicole Kidman (with the word "Oscar" stamped on her forehead) delivers a performance of a lifetime playing a rather difficult role while disguising everything that is usually so associated with her. With a fake nose, a cold, dark and distant attitude and above all a rough change to her voice, Kidman portrays Mrs. Woolf exactly as the writers wanted us to grasp her and manages to be the most outstanding of the three despite getting the least screen time. Absolutely amazing.

Meryl Streep (C. Vaughn, 2001) and Julianne Moore (L. Brown, 1951) give impressive lead performances themselves with memorable emotional scenes. Cameo appearances by Ed Harris, Claire Danse, John C. Riley, Alison Janney & Toni Collette all support this exquisite masterpiece.

MUST SEE. 10/10