Harry here and from the sound of this thing it sounds like they hired great actresses, gave them great material and allowed them the freedom to do what these three wondrous women do best... Bring characters to life, make us care and blow us away! Here ya go....
Hey Harry and AICN crew!!!! Long-time fan, first-time writer from NY here. Call me Dr. Michaela Quinn.
I had the honor of seeing a preview screening of Stephen Daldry's "The Hours" (which is based on Michael Cunningham's novel) tonight in Manhattan. Just so everyone knows, I plan on giving NO DETAILS on the plot away, because it's too fascinating to spoil.
This movie is amazing. For some reason, however, I don't think many people at the screening agreed with me. I found it incredibly powerful and touching. A basic idea: There are three stories about three different women in three different time periods. The women are Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, and the earth angel Julianne Moore. I won't go into the specifics of anything, but each strand of the plot takes the women through a day in their lives.
This was a rough cut with no end credits, a temp score (didn't recognize it), and sounds wonky sound issues. What was intact, however, are some UNBELIEVEABLE performances. Meryl Streep, who is an actress I've admired more than loved, does what I think is her best work. She shows amazing restraint in dealing with her personal pain, and then lets it all out in one unforgettable scene. I've been a Nicole Kidman fan for years, and this is a wonderful performance by her. The friend I went with turned to me after it was over and said "I thought Nicole Kidman was in this" That's how unusual Nicole's performance is. She's barely recognizabe. But the real jewel of this movie is Julianne Moore, who I have considered for many years to be the best actress in movies today. Julianne tends to gravitate towards darker, more troubled roles, but this time, she delves SO deep to really bring out her character's desperation and sadness. Her segment was so touching that I was openly weeping.
Being a woman myself, I'm not 100% sure how men will respond to the film. I saw a lot of men leaving the screening, shaking their heads. I was shaking mine too, but it was to try and stop crying. What an amazing women's picture!!!
OK That's all everybody. Peace.
Dr. Michaela Quinn
