2 Movies Like Hamlet (1948)

Why do we stay alive? Do we owe it to people to stay alive? Not everyone thinks about these existential questions, and even less are obsessed with them. But the characters in The Hours, who span centuries, do. It’s one of the few things that tie them together, along with female malaise and a love for literature. The film is so seamlessly stitched together, you barely notice when it slips into another era, or speaks to us through another character. It feels natural to jump into different timelines and collect all these different memories and observations, in the same way it feels natural for everything to happen all at once in life. Some reviews claim that, because of the dark themes the film covers, it can be hard to watch, but I don’t think I’ve had an easier time watching anything. The script is poetic, the performances heart-wrenchingly good (what a trio!), and the editing so smooth. This is a thoughtful film through and through, not just in content but in delivery too.

Genre: Drama

Actor: Allison Janney, Charley Ramm, Christian Coulson, Claire Danes, Colin Stinton, Daniel Brocklebank, Ed Harris, Eileen Atkins, Jack Rovello, Jeff Daniels, John C. Reilly, Julianne Moore, Linda Bassett, Lyndsey Marshal, Margo Martindale, Meryl Streep, Michael Culkin, Miranda Richardson, Nicole Kidman, Sophie Wyburd, Stephen Dillane, Toni Collette

Director: Stephen Daldry

Rating: PG-13