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Mrs. Dalloway said she'd buy the flowers herself.
by Golden (movies profile)
May 25, 2008
26
of
33 people found this review helpful
Gracefully adapted from Michael Cunningham's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "The Hours" is a film that plays tribute to Virginia Woolf and her novel, "Mrs. Dalloway." The story revolves around three women, who live in different eras and locations. The movie takes us on a passionate trip where we see the three characters' emotions, grievings, and lives.
All three characters are interwoven. Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman), a female author in 1923 England, who is in the process of writing a novel called "Mrs. Dalloway," Laura Brown (Julianne Moore), an internally gloomy housewife in 1951 Los Angeles, is enthusiastically reading the novel and thinking about making major changes in her life accordingly, and Clarissa Vaughan (Meryl Streep), a lesbian living in present day New York, has been bynamed "Mrs. Dalloway" by a close friend named Richard (Ed Harris), who is suffering from AIDS. Clarissa is planning a party for him throughout the film.
The film is packed with stunning performances. All three actresses were taken into consideration by the Academy. Nicole Kidman won critical acclaim and an Oscar for her portrayal as Virginia Woolf, the author who suffers from mental illness and obvious depression. The only person she struggles to live for is her loving and affectionate husband, Leonard (Stephen Dillane), for who she writes a deeply touching letter before she does herself in. Kidman actually changed her entire appearance for the role, and was practically unrecognizable as I watched the movie.
Stephen Daldry's direction is magical, connecting the character's lives scene by scene, moment by moment. The scenery in the beginning of the film is beautiful, as is the superb performances by three veteran actresses.
The film is just as good as the 1997 adaptation of Woolf's novel, "Mrs. Dalloway," for which Vanessa Redgrave received critical acclaim and attention. Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, and Meryl Streep shine in this dramatic film about three different women with three choices that had one life to live. |
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