At the time of its release, The Hours was probably the front runner in the Oscar race. Back then I compared it to A Beautiful Mind, since it received so much premature hype and yet was an ultimately unmemorable experience as a film. I maintain that The Hours was a grossly overrated film but now, having had a little space from my original viewing, I realize that it was definitely a well-made and a least somewhat memorable film. The film’s structure is very original, juxtaposing separate stories that all share a similar theme. Each of the stories is anchored by an incredible performance by one of Hollywood’s leading actresses: Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, and Meryl Streep. All of the actresses carry their storylines quite well, particularly Meryl Streep who had the most difficult role in the film and handled it with the depth and skill that only she can. There are also some notable performances from the male counterpoints, particularly from John C. Reilly, the busiest man in Hollywood, and from Ed Harris who has a very small role that serves as a sort of tragic muse for Streep’s character. The actual material is not all the spectacular by itself but with the intercutting and juxtaposing of the material, handled masterfully by director Stephen Daldry, the movie sticks out and makes it mark as an emotionally strong piece of work. As time moves on, I believe The Hours will stand out a lot more than a film like A Beautiful Mind because it offers two things that the latter film doesn’t: three of Hollywood’s greatest actresses at the top of their form and a creative, non-traditional narrative format. While it may not be Oscar-worthy and probably got an inordinate amount of press, The Hours is an extremely well-made film that features some top talent and a captivating, emotionally powerful story. The Hours definitely deserves its place among the top films of the year.