HOURS, THE

Released: January 17, 2003

In 1929, Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman) is starting to write her novel, "Mrs. Dalloway", under the care of doctors and family. In 1951, Laura Brown (Julianne Moore) is planning for her husband's birthday, but is preoccupied with reading Woolf's novel. In 2001, Clarrisa Vaughn (Meryl Streep) is planning an award party for her friend, an author dying of AIDS. Taking place over one day, all three stories are interconnected with the novel, as one is writing it, one is reading it, and one is living it. Now, sure, the prosthetic nose for Kidman is the real star here. When the make-up nose wasn't good enough, they digitally nostrilled it. For a movie called "The Hours" it certainly seemed to last for many hours. It's one of those movies that you shouldn't see if already depressed. While the performances are all wonderful and the direction good, I couldn't really find myself LIKING any of the characters. They all seem so pompous and selfish to the point of being oblivious to the world around them. Some may say the tie in of all three eras, with a character from one story visiting another, to be pretty cool - and it was - the overall watchability of "The Hours" was a tad difficult. However, if you'd like to see Ed Harris act like a dying guy with AIDS or Kidman sporting a snout that only George Lucas could have sculpted better, then this is the flick for you. Directed by "Billy Elliot" helmer Stephen Daldry.

114 Minutes
Miramax/Paramount

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