The Hours

It's Nicole Kidman week at our house. Last night, before we allowed ourselves to go to bed, we made ourselves think of 20 films she's been in. We came up with 18. haha Bean starts these trivia games sometimes. Am I glad she's back? Hmmm.. haha

Yes, I am very glad she's back. Bean Rules.

I KNOW I've commented on this film before, but not on this blog. Note to self: Compile movie reviews in one handy guide. haha

I always felt that Nicole Kidman was robbed of an Oscar for 'Moulin Rouge.' So I was glad to see she got one for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in 'The Hours.'

This is actually a pretty 'deep' film, which I couldn't concentrate on this time around since Bean and I were yelling out The Films of Nicole Kidman as we watched.

I'm sure you know the basic plot(s). Three interconnected stories:

Three women, each suffering with a personal crisis.

Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman, in great makeup), struggles with depression, lesbian tendencies, madness, and suicidal tendencies (which, sadly, she succumbs to in the end) in 1923 England, while writing 'Mrs. Dalloway.'

Laura Brown (Julianne Moore, another great actor), struggles with depression (are we seeing a theme here?), lesbian tendencies, and wonders if she can be a mother to her son and the baby on the way. She too debates death, but decides to live, just not with her family. Her story is set in 1951.

Clarissa Vaughan (Meryl Streep, awesome!), is a modern-day (2001) lesbian who's taking care of the only man (only person?) she's truly ever loved, (Ed Harris) a gay poet who's dying of AIDS. Clarissa is planning a party for him, to celebrate a poetry award.

All of these stories mirror Woolf's novel 'Mrs. Dalloway,' which I've never read, but which must have similar themes.

Fantastic actors, fantastic cinematography, and really, a great film. One of my favorite things in films, and in stories in general, is water. There's a great scene in this film:

Laura (Julianne Moore) lays on her bed, pills at the ready, contemplating suicide. All around her bed, water flows, as if it would swallow her up. One of my favorite images.

Next? Well, 'Biggest Loser' comes on tonight, so I must watch. But, I hear a 'Get ya get ya ya ya's out now!' in Bean's and my future. haha That's 'Lady Marmalade' from 'Moulin Rogue.' Which reminds me, Bean and I decided, about 'The Hours,' that it was really about lesbians and how depressed they all must be. haha JK I know a lot of lesbians, and they're a happy bunch. :) Happier than us straight folk. haha

Have a great day!

The Hours: A+