The Hours

Name: The Hours
Genre: Drama
Released: December 27, 2002
Duration: 114 min
Rating: 80
Cast: Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman

2002

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 183 Ratings

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8.8

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8.8	Your Score
8.8	User Score Universal acclaim based on 183 Ratings

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The Hours

Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: December 27, 2002

Starring: Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman

Summary: The story of three women searching for more potent, meaningful lives. Each is alive at a different time and place; all are linked by their yearnings and their fears. (Paramount)

Director: Stephen Daldry

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 114 min

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Awards & Rankings

28	#28 Best Movie of 2002
31	#31 Most Discussed Movie of 2002
56	#56 Most Shared Movie of 2002

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The New York Times - Stephen Holden

Ms. Kidman, in a performance of astounding bravery, evokes the savage inner war waged by a brilliant mind against a system of faulty wiring that transmits a searing, crazy static into her brain. Read full review

100

Salon - Andrew O'Hehir

Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore bring dignity and Oscar-worthy performances to The Hours, a lovingly crafted meditation on death, loss and literature. Read full review

The Hollywood Reporter - Kirk Honeycutt

The Hours makes for a fascinating and ultimately successful stunt in its cross-cutting among the decades. Read full review

Film Threat - Rick Kisonak

Proved that cheerless, existentially unflinching literature can provide the basis for exhilarating cinema. Read full review

Boston Globe - Ty Burr

Still: The Hours is a book about people writing, reading, and living another book, and that literariness makes the movie resist itself. Read full review

Dallas Observer - Gregory Weinkauf

It's a noble work, an elegant work, a compassionate work -- and a somewhat tedious and glaringly self-important work. Read full review

Time - Richard Schickel

A grim and uninvolving film, for which Philip Glass unwittingly provides the perfect score -- tuneless, oppressive, droning, painfully self-important. Read full review

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User Reviews

SamuelH.

Apr 11, 2003

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 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

0 of 0 users found this helpful

smijatov

Aug 12, 2010

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

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

DaniG.

Nov 15, 2005

The best picture of the year.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

IvanVecvil

Mar 10, 2013

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.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

beingryanjude

Aug 27, 2014

The Hours leaves you in awe. In awe of the brilliant performances, the impeccable writing and, certainly, the astounding direction. Literal excellence. Here's what perfection looks like. Bravo!

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ancientscream

Aug 6, 2013

A film that really succeeds in its attempt to time slice and stitch multiple stories across time together unlike so many others that fail at this, solidified by a strong cast and acting at a high level Meryl Streeps performance was mesmerising and Julianne's also superb, Kidmans prostheticA film that really succeeds in its attempt to time slice and stitch multiple stories across time together unlike so many others that fail at this, solidified by a strong cast and acting at a high level Meryl Streeps performance was mesmerising and Julianne's also superb, Kidmans prosthetic nose as Virginia Wolfe was a little distracting, yet she provides such a good performance she acts her way out of you noticing it after a while, Ed Harris pulls out an amazing perfomance in this film.

In fact to be honest this is one of those rare films in which every actor seems to have simultaneously magically brought their A game into a single confluence of genius. Fantastic work all round, everyone who worked on this film should rightfully be proud of it, great casting, fantastic writing with believable dialog, believable characterisations. A strong film in which both users and critics reviews are seemingly in agreement a good sign, if you only like action or violent films then don't view, if you want to see a portayal of the range and depth of human psychological existence and life then you will enjoy this film. Philip Greens soundtrack is masterful and moving, this film is what the 'art' of cinema was invented for, beware it may well move you to tears as real human existence can.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Steve

Apr 7, 2006

Typical overhyped Hollywood crap. "Let's stare at screwed up people for two hours while they talk about how screwed up they are" Oh, and they're better be gay people involved or someone might be offended. When will Hollywood get over themselves.

0 of 5 users found this helpful

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