After having read Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Wolfe, I decided it was time to watch the critically acclaimed, the Hours. I've heard of its supposed monotony and depressionista egotism. But, the performances are beautiful on nearly every level. Nicole Kidman transforms herself entirely, fearing her isolation, and her self-control. True, the characters reveal themselves as foolishly ignorant and self-important. Julianne Moore, with her crumbling visage, shows losing her artificiality which she copes with every day and plans for her own happiness and veers from any insanity. Meryl Streep portrays someone needing something, that she will never obtain for herself, almost crashing into the whole mess of things. All the characters portray that behind closed doors, things aren't as perfect as they seem. The script and score perfect the movie, along with the effectively chosen supporting cast. Classic beauty.… Expand

Excellent! One of the best movies i have seen.

This film is perfect from frame to frame. Oscar well deserved for Nicole Kidman, I can't get over how perfect she really is. Best performance ever. Not exaggerating.

Wonderful! The movie may come across as depressing at first, but after repeated viewings, it's really a movie about hope and choosing to live your life as you wish. As Stephen Daldry said in an interview, "The height of discontent is the start of choosing life". Highly recommended.

This movie is brilliant, Kidman gave the best performance ever in a film, every move she made, every word she said every look she gave were so amazing acted, and that train scene just hilarius... Moore also shines and makes this movie amazing, that bath scene is really good... I liked Streep performance but its not her best thats a pitty she has very good lines "Why is everything wrong" i loved that one... Amazing screenplay and so beautifuly directed.… Expand

Well where do you begin? Quite simply one of those movies that restores your faith in modern film. The performances of the three leads is irresistible although in all honesty the oscar should have gone to Julianne Moore who in my opinion gave the best performance of any actress in recent years. The director manages to bring the lives of the three together beautifully in an astonishing finale, the supporting cast are also wonderful and the score compliments this masterpiece beautifully, the themes it touches upon tug at your heart and leave you emotionally drained at the end but its worth it because cinema doesnt get any better than this. Put simply brilliant, sensational, a modern masterpiece.… Expand

This movie makes you really believe that cinema is the 7th art form. The magnificent script is complemented by astonishing performances that are very well directed and edited to perfection. The cherry on top: Mr. Glass music.

As an avid move fan I thought this was on of the best, if not the best, film I've ever seen. The acting was superb. Even though I kept reminding myself it was Streep, Kidman, and Moore I kept getting sucked into the story. The directing brought all of the story lines together in a way that made sense, and the music set the mood appropriately. Considering the subject matter and the somber mood of the film I felt it was perfect in every aspect. This is truely why movies are made.… Expand

This is great filmmaking! One of the best pictures of the year.

This movie was amazing in everyway. The acting (especially Kidman), directing, editing, score, makeup, and everything else was top-notch. Not for everyone, but I feel it's one of the best of the year.

"The Hours" is such compelling viewing, it's impossible to say which of the three women's stories stand out the most. All that's missing from Nicole Kidman's section is a long take of her Woolf at work. If you've read Mrs. Dalloway, there's tremendous fun to be had here because the novel's plot points are all over the place. It offsets the dreariness of Michael Cunningham's material. If you haven't, you may find this movie just plain depressing. … Expand

Who says you need action and special effects for a film to be intense? This is about as emotionally harrowing as movies come - not necessarily one that jerks your tears, but is just... depressing. Or should I say moving? It will stay with me forever.

I agree with Brian. This is the movie that moved me the most from the past year. Sure, it's depressing, but it explains the subtlety of depression and how sometimes its motive is too abstract to fully rationalize. The performances here are truly remarkable, and I hope it cleans up come Oscar night.

This was the first movie I've seen in over a year that actually made me leave the theater wanting to better myself. This is a rare and beautiful film. Everything was great. Phillip Glass' score was beautiful and Julianne Moore was to me the star. Kidman was great, but the Oscar nominations should have been switched for the two. Julianne gave the best perfomance in the film, and in almost any film I've ever seen. Kidman and Streep, who were both amazing were still only supporting actresses to Moore. What a great film.… Expand

The Hours got the best ensemble in the SAG awards, probably because we don't see a single actor/ actress shine through the whole movie. Just like Chicago, Every cast members get at least some screen time. Nicole Kidman is just one of the actresses in this movie that's " It" Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman form the perfect ensemble in expressing the fears, the purpose of living, and the reason of happiness in life. The three women's lives are all intertwined with David Hare's magnificent prose and Philip Glass' great score. Ignore what you hear about the homosexual content of this film, and people not understanding what is going on. We should acknowledge Stephen Daldry's great adaptation of Michael Cunningham's novel of the same title. … Expand

The Hours got the best ensemble in the SAG awards, probably because we don't see a single actor/ actress shine through the whole movie. Just like Chicago, Every cast members get at least some screen time. Nicole Kidman is just one of the actresses in this movie that's " It" Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman form the perfect ensemble in expressing the fears, the purpose of living, and the reason of happiness in life. The three women's lives are all intertwined with David Hare's magnificent prose and Philip Glass' great score. Ignore what you hear about the homosexual content of this film, and people not understanding what is going on. We should acknowledge Stephen Daldry's great adaptation of Michael Cunningham's novel of the same title. … Expand

An amazing film about three women facing crucibles in their lives. Beautifully acted by main and supporting actors. I was really taken by Nicole Kidman's performance. She truly transformed into the Virginia Wolff character. Amazingly edited and told. A movie I will own when it comes out on video.

Definitely one of the year's best films. Quite shattering performances from Kidman, Streep, Moore and Harris. With a superb supporting cast. Scenes that will remain forever in my mind - Kidman's gifted grasp of the desparation and pain that Woolf must have been experiencing at this period of her life - staring with vacant gaze at lifeless bird...... confrontation at railway station with a pre- occupied husband...... writing...alone..lost in thought. Kidman manages to bring to life, in minimum screen time, Virginia Woolf. … Expand

THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR... DEEP AND TOUCHING. Kidman, Moore and especially Streep (the best actress EVER) gave AMAZING PERFORMANCES. Great Directing and Writing Too. The Hours is priceless...

Absolute perfection, Meryl Streep is simply amazing!

The best picture of the year.

This is one of the movies that either you get and love or you don

This is definetely my favourite movie ever. The performances and the script are flawless. It kept me looking at the screen without even blinking for the whole movie.

A masterpiece in every aspect.

Every performance is right on. A movie which will remain with you.

It's depressing, yes, but the film is so brilliantly acted, you can be depressed right along with it.

Excellent. I want to see it several more times to pick up on anything I may have missed. The one movie this year that truly moved me.

"The Hours" is nothing short of a masterpiece. It absolutely flies in the face of all expectations and challenges our very understanding of movies. For example, you know how in most movies, something happens? Well, "The Hours" bravely looks us in the eye (actually, "looking" implies more action than actually takes place, so think more metaphorically) and says, "I'm not just any movie." This is the most powerful and emotional film of this or any other year. It puts the "moving" in "moving picture," while also taking the "motion" out of "motion picture."… Expand

The Hours got the best ensemble in the SAG awards, probably because we don't see a single actor/ actress shine through the whole movie. Just like Chicago, Every cast members get at least some screen time. Nicole Kidman is just one of the actresses in this movie that's " It" Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman form the perfect ensemble in expressing the fears, the purpose of living, and the reason of happiness in life. The three women's lives are all intertwined with David Hare's magnificent prose and Philip Glass' great score. Ignore what you hear about the homosexual content of this film, and people not understanding what is going on. We should acknowledge Stephen Daldry's great adaptation of Michael Cunningham's novel of the same title. … Expand

The Hours got the best ensemble in the SAG awards, probably because we don't see a single actor/ actress shine through the whole movie. Just like Chicago, Every cast members get at least some screen time. Nicole Kidman is just one of the actresses in this movie that's " It" Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman form the perfect ensemble in expressing the fears, the purpose of living, and the reason of happiness in life. The three women's lives are all intertwined with David Hare's magnificent prose and Philip Glass' great score. Ignore what you hear about the homosexual content of this film, and people not understanding what is going on. We should acknowledge Stephen Daldry's great adaptation of Michael Cunningham's novel of the same title. … Expand

Definitely the best movie of 2002. Amazing story, characters, and acting. Non-linear storytelling at it's best.

When Hollywood seems to take no trouble in (spewing forth from every hole) manufactoring one trash movie after another, it's painful to still rely on them to HOPEFULLY be glad I payed $5 out of my paycheck to entertain myself. Movies are movies, and while the percentage of indie/foriegn films that have kept me happy (about 98%), movies made to bring in the money (about 55% satisfy me) can still be good. The Hours is one of those times when you have to forget you gave AOL Time Warner money, ignore the reviews, swollow your youthful pride and kick your ego out the door. A good movie doesn't have to be trash BECAUSE of "glitz". "Glitz" is all about glossing things up, and in this case, it does. The Hours is one of the few movies in the past 3 years that have TRULY been important, as important as a movie can rarely be. The acting, the directing, the music, the script and so much more satisfied my need for a good film. Say what you will, but in my world (the only one that counts when it comes to opinions on the little things in life) I'm happier for seeing it.… Expand

This movie is really good. I really like the score. I'm surprised that a lot of people hate it.

This is the best movie of 2002! Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore made this film one of the best world classics! Screenplay-exellent Makeup-remarkable acting-best ever other stuff-brilliant! This is the best drama of 2002-surtenly!

What else can I say?, I was truly touched by the movie. It's nearly perfect, greatly written and the acting is absolutely amazing. You can feel the pain of the 3 characters just by looking at them, while the supporting roles are incredibly good, specially the kid who played Julianne Moore's son, pure magic. The movie is about life, what it is and how you deal with it and with death. How sometimes you just got to do things just to feel better with yourself, to get the pain out. A true masterpiece, I'd watch over and over again, jsut to see al the fine details.… Expand

Easily one of the best movies of all-time.

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is one of the masterpieces of the early 20th century, in my opinion.
Every aspect of the film works perfectly: make-up, costumes, editing, directing, the score and, of course, the acting.

Besides the perfect score by Philip Glass, one cannot but focus on the breath-taking performances that all of the actors have given us. Nicole Kidman is just mesmerising as Virginia Woolf and is literally unrecognisable. Very moving performances, that gives us a glimpse of what a genius' inner struggle could have looked like. Julianne Moore as well - perfect as the 50s housewife who goes through a life crisis of her own. Meryl Streep is just herself. Always good, with a devastating breakdown scene in her kitchen. The supporting cast is also spectacular - especially Ed Harris and Toni Collette.

And I must say that the film is very faithful to the book, which is praise-worthy. The screenplay was written so well, that one cannot but congratulate David Hare for it and wonder how he did not get more recognition for it, for he surely deserves it.
All in all - the best film of 2002, if not of the entire decade: 10/10.… Expand

I just saw it and all I have to say is that I am really speechless.
a truly beautiful film.
one of the best films I've ever seen.
****

Amazing movie who was robbed in the Oscars, instead Chicago, it should have won Best Picture. Perfect direction and performances of every each of the actor, mainly Kidman and Moore.

This film is beautiful and outstanding acting, Nicole's performance as Virginia Woolf is incredible. Love the train station scene.

Bouleversant. Une interprétation magistrale. un film référence...

A beautiful piece of art that puts you on the first row of the intense and uninterrupted drama of life of Virginia Woolf... and her legacy over the time. Even if you don't like the story of happiness conquered by intimate suffering and fatal choices in life, it's almost impossible, I mean if you really love film, to not be touched by the sensitive and marvellous work of Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Juliane Moore. Philip Glass and the curious screenplay are another two strong virtues of this masterpiece.… Expand

Every once in a while a picture comes along where the acting, directing, writing and editing all are in synch and it becomes a wondrous film to watch. Such an experience awaits you when you go to see--- and you MUST GO TO SEE ---"The Hours". Based upon a book that everyone said could never be made into a movie, the movie succeeds over the doubting Thomas' and their skepticism. The acting of Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore are, to say the least, extraordinary. These three ladies play their parts so well that any one of them could (and I'm sure will) be nominated for an Oscar. They are breathtaking in their performances and thrilling to watch. The quality of this movie lies in the fact that three different women in 3 different time eras weave in and out of the screen with a smoothness and ease of pace that makes you wonder at the editing and directing that brought this miracle about. The music, for the most part composed by Philip Glass, is likewise to be applauded for it is so much a part of the photoplay that you are almost unaware of its individuality or severablility. The little boy who plays Julienne Moore's son (I forgot his name) is a scene stealer and a star in his own right. Although aware of W.C.Field's comment that you should never play a scene with a charming child, Ms. Moore more than holds her own. This is a movie you must not only watch but participate in. It is an exciting experience that requires focus and concentration. It won't be an effort to do it, more like a labor of enjoyment. These are real characters with lots to say and feel and, thanks to the aforementioned talent, they are brought to life and then some. You'll hear a lot more about this movie when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences makes its nominee announcements early next year. Certainly, directing, acting, writing, editing and music will be some of the categories noted. Watch, too, for a special award for prosthesis effects since this is also an area where the technical staff that worked on the movie really excelled. I am pleased to give this movie 3 and 1/2 stars and a strong recommendation that it be seen by all who enjoy watching really good films. … Expand

A beautiful piece of art that puts you on the first row of the intense and uninterrupted drama of life of Virginia Woolf... and her legacy over the time. Even if you don't like the story of happiness conquered by intimate suffering and fatal choices in life, it's almost impossible, I mean if you really love film, to not be touched by the sensitive and marvellous work of Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Juliane Moore. Philip Glass and the curious screenplay are another two strong virtues of this masterpiece.… Expand

An engrossing, time-tripping story of three women who are connected to each other through their loves, anxieties and hopes. Nicole deserved the Oscar, but Julianne Moore gives a stunning performance in a role spanning 50 years. In the end you don't know whether you admire or despise her.

It makes me laugh when people call movies like this "Chick" Flicks or "Awards" movies. Did they think it would be an action movie when going in? Were they disappointed because the movie was about People and not explosions? All you do is have to look at the poster of the movie and you pretty much know what type of film you are getting. A minority of the public thes days are used to watching lite fluff so its no surprise that these same people dont like movies like this. Ashame really. This is the best movie I have seen all year. Amazing! Its about "People" and "Life" and Emotions. Yeah, its deliberately pased but it goes by faster than you would think. I was in awe of these performers and will go see it again. Life isn't all neat like most movie represent these days, take some time and go see it, you wont be sorry.… Expand

A richly rewarding film experience. Has the best ensemble acting of any film in recent memory. Everyone is pitch perfect. If you truly love great acting, excellent writing, and overall outstanding cinema, run to see this. If you just like "play in Peoria" popcorn movies, then don't waste your time - run to catch your cheap matinee of Shanghai Knights.

A beautiful,sad, and powerful film.Everything about it is excellent. Despite its deep and heavy theme, in the end you get a sense of catharsis and closure.

Touching and thought-provoking. The three leads are fantastic, with an excellent supporting cast, particularly Toni Collette, Ed Harris & Miranda Richardson. The direction is great and the screenplay is perfect, especially the scene with Nicole Kidman and Stephen Dillane at the train station.

The Hours is a pleasant suprise for anyone with a smidgen of background information on Virginia Woolf and her amazing life. If your looking for another crumby, action packed, badly acted, predictable generic film the hours is not for you. If $9 is worth challenging yourself to understand the lives of women in more complicated and depressing situations than your own, spend it. It is an eye opener and you will leave the theatre wanting to be close to the ones you love the most.… Expand

Although The Hours was a different sort of film, I found its mood very Woolfish. I liked the little details, the way the film focused on such small things as baking a cake and buying flowers and ginger that all the big things seemed irrelevant. The music was fantastic.