Plot
Nancy Meyers' romantic comedy Holiday stars Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet as two women who exchange houses in order to get a new lease on life. After each suffers her fair share of romantic disappointments, Englishwoman Iris (Winslet) and L.A. woman Amanda (Diaz) meet on-line at a website devoted to helping people exchange houses for vacations. Each agrees to spend the Christmas holiday at the other's home. While each suffers from a minor case of culture shock, both women also end up becoming involved with a man. Iris makes the acquaintance of an upbeat everyman played by Jack Black, while Amanda spends time with a handsome Brit played by Jude Law. Both women must decide what to do with these new relationships as their pre-arranged house switch is scheduled to last less than two weeks. ~ Perry Seibert, RoviReview
With The Holiday, director Nancy Meyers aspires to something more than your average chick flick. At least, that would seem to be her intention, since she's building a standard romantic comedy using nonstandard parts. Cameron Diaz is the only real genre veteran here, with Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black all relatively new to the experience. But instead of their outsider talents elevating the material, under Meyers, Winslet et al. fall quickly in line with genre norms. This leaves The Holiday -- a film about the desperate need for new scenery -- feeling all too familiar. Which isn't to say it's not a watchable piece of seasonal romantic fluff; just don't confuse it for more than that. Winslet, the most surprising inclusion in the cast, actually seems rather joyous, liberated from the serious demands of her more typical roles. Quite the opposite is the case for Black, who's usually the zaniest guy in the room, and seems a little subdued playing it straight. But the Tenacious D prankster does sneak in some of the improvisational scatting his fans love -- a much-needed, all-too-brief reminder of how going outside the box is supposed to feel. Too bad the Black-Winslet storyline gets the short shrift, given only a hasty romantic angle after she's already spent considerable time befriending an octogenarian screenwriter. Diaz' high-maintenance film editor gets more celluloid, even though she's harder to warm up to -- and not just because she's in an actual wintry environment. Law's charm makes that task a little easier, especially when a surprise revelation gives the impossibly handsome womanizer -- both onscreen and in real life -- some extra dimension. The Holiday may not be as different as its director envisioned, but the target audience should be happy enough in these familiar surroundings. ~ RoviCast
- Cameron Diaz - Amanda
- Kate Winslet - Iris
- Jude Law - Graham
- Jack Black - Miles
- Eli Wallach - Arthur
Credit
Dan Webster - Art Director, James Foster - Art Director, Andy Nicholson - Art Director, Jennifer Eatz - Associate Producer, Randy Johnson - Boom Operator, Will Towers - Boom Operator, Robert C. Jackson - Boom Operator, Michelle Guish - Casting, Jane Jenkins - Casting, Janet Hirshenson - Casting, Susan Shopmaker - Casting, Rupert Gregson-Williams - Conductor, Marlene Stewart - Costume Designer, William Booker - First Assistant Director, K.C. Colwell - First Assistant Director, Nancy Meyers - Director, Vic Armstrong - Second Unit Director, Bruce A. Block - Second Unit Director, Joe Hutshing - Editor, Suzanne Farwell - Executive Producer, Jeff Blodgett - Executive Producer, Lona Vigi - Hair Styles, Chris Baugh - Location Manager, Kevin Funston - Location Manager, Benjamin Greenacre - Location Manager, Hans Zimmer - Composer (Music Score), Nick Angel - Musical Direction/Supervision, Linda Melazzo - Makeup, Robin Fredriksz - Makeup, Roz Music - Makeup, Sue Gibson - Camera Operator, Chris Seager - Camera Operator, David Worley - Camera Operator, Casey Hotchkiss - Camera Operator, Alf Tramontin - Camera Operator, Martin Hume - Camera Operator, Joseph Riggs Murdock - Camera Operator, Jon Hutman - Production Designer, Dean Cundey - Cinematographer, Sue Gibson - Cinematographer, Chris Seager - Cinematographer, Bruce A. Block - Producer, Nancy Meyers - Producer, Lauren Polizzi - Set Designer, John Warnke - Set Designer, Robert Fechtman - Set Designer, Julia Levine - Set Designer, Al Hobbs - Set Designer, Bill W. Benton - Sound Mixer, Tim Fraser - Sound Mixer, Alan Meyerson - Sound Mixer, Jeffrey J. Haboush - Sound Mixer, Petur Hliddal - Sound/Sound Designer, Mark Holt - Special Effects Supervisor, Darcy Crownshaw - Special Effects Supervisor, Helen Pollak - Unit Production Manager, Paul Frift - Unit Production Manager, Nancy Meyers - Screenwriter, Terrence Dunlop - Production Assistant, Tony Buccola - Production Assistant, Mike Tsucalas - Production Assistant, Shayne Fiske - Production Assistant, Adam Feingold - Production Assistant, Justin Maguire - Production Assistant, Danny Ward - Production Assistant, Scott Rader - Visual Effects Supervisor, D. Chris Smith - Sound Effects Editor, Heitor Pereira - Additional Music, Lorne Balfe - Additional Music, Atli Orvarsson - Additional Music, Henry Jackman - Additional Music, Ryeland Allison - Additional Music, Boone's Animals For Hollywood - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Peggy Mulloy - Unit Publicist, Richard Marks - Additional Editing, David Moritz - Additional Editing, Tommy Klines - First Assistant Camera, William Coss - First Assistant Camera, Mark Evans - Gaffer, Reg Boddy - Gaffer, Frank A. Montesanto - Key Grip, John Flemming - Key Grip, Michael Strong - Key Grip, Andrew Silver - Music Editor, Ramiro Belgardt - Music Editor, Daniel Pinder - Music Editor, Ryan Rubin - Music Editor, Heitor Pereira - Musical Performer, Jennifer Blair - Production Coordinator, Andrew Zack - Production Coordinator, Deryn Stafford - Production Coordinator, Nicolas Stern - Production Supervisor, Ralph Bertelle - Production Supervisor, Adam Browne - Production Supervisor, Mychael Bates - Properties Master, Jamie Wilkinson - Properties Master, Jeanne Marie Byrd - Script Supervisor, Richard Graysmark - Second Assistant Director, Paula Case - Second Assistant Director, Eric Rylander - Special Effects Coordinator, Gregory Lundsgaard - Steadicam Operator, Alf Tramontin - Steadicam Operator, Jacques Jouffret - Steadicam Operator, Simon Mein - Still Photographer, Zade Rosenthal - Still Photographer, Michael O'Farrell - Supervising Sound Editor, Dennis Drummond - Supervising Sound Editor, Bryce Brecheisen - Visual Effects Producer, Yulia Gershenzon - Costume/Wardrobe, Amy Arnold - Costume/Wardrobe, Michelle Morris Gertz - Additional Casting, Howard London - ADR Mixer, Ashley Burnham - Assistant Art Director, Frank Matthews - Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Richard Hill - Assistant Location Manager, Eva M. Schroeder - Assistant Location Manager, Duffy Taylor - Assistant Location Manager, Louisa Grant - Assistant Location Manager, Aaron Millar - Assistant Location Manager, Eve Petcher - Assistant Production Coordinator, Jason Salzman - Assistant Production Coordinator, Chuck Askerneese - Assistant Properties, Michael P. Sweeney - Assistant Properties, Galen Goodpaster - Assistant Sound Editor, Ann Ducommun - Assistant Sound Editor, David Sinfield - Best Boy Electric, Paul Schmidt - Best Boy Grip, Derek Russell - Best Boy Grip, Colette Gabriel - Camera Loader, Randee Price - Casting Assistant, Michelle Lewitt Ward - Casting Associate, Grace Browning - Casting Associate, Michael Paul Orefice - Chief Lighting Technician, Jeff Passanante - Construction Coordinator, John Maher - Construction Coordinator, Lisa Lovaas - Costumes Supervisor, Mark Ferguson - Costumes Supervisor, Emily Greenberg - DGA Intern, Joe Schiff - Dialogue Editor, Mark Yardas - Dialogue Editor, Kim Drummond - Dialogue Editor, Brad Rea - Dolly Grip, Ronan Murphy - Dolly Grip, Jennifer Bender - Extra Casting, Mad Dog Casting - Extra Casting, Cynthia Phillips - First Assistant Accountant, Beth Waller - First Assistant Accountant, Keith Brachmann - First Assistant Editor, Gary A. Hecker - Foley Artist, Michael Broomberg - Foley Artist, Vincent Guisetti - Foley Artist, Pamela Nedd Kahn - Foley Artist, Eryne Prine - Foley Editor, Wayne Griffin - Foley Editor, Jon Marson - Greensman, Holly Davis - Key Costumer, Lori Stilson - Key Costumer, Ira Hammons - Key Costumer, Charlotte Child - Key Costumer, Megan Matthews - Key Costumer, Karen Blynder - Key Make-up, Shane Reed - Leadman, Richard Brunton - Leadman, Whitney Thomas - Personal Assistant, Ben Jackson - Personal Assistant, Jesse Lutz - Personal Assistant, Heather Longerbeam - Personal Assistant, Judson Grubbs - Personal Assistant, Janine Gray - Personal Assistant, Steve Moramarco - Personal Assistant, John Catron - Production Accountant, Nathan Woods - Production Accountant, Jennifer Tanksley - Second Assistant Camera, R. Scott Goodrich - Second Assistant Camera, Craig Comstock - Second Second Assistant Director, Victoria Allen - Second Second Assistant Director, Emma Stokes - Second Second Assistant Director, Merdyce McClaran - Set Dresser, Dan Marrow - Transportation Captain, Randy Burke - Transportation Captain, Simon Jones - Transportation Coordinator, Radium - Visual Effects, Sarah Cave - Visual Effects, Cindy Carr - Set Decorator, Anna Pinnock - Set Decorator, David Smith - Set Decorator, The Reel Team - ADR Loop Group, Jim Passon - Color Timing, Ed Turk - Construction Foreman, Bob Decourt - Construction Foreman, Michael Johnstone - Craft Service/Catering, Raymond Bulinski - Craft Service/Catering, Gala Catering - Craft Service/Catering, Tory Littman - Craft Service/Catering, Clive Mackey - Focus Puller, Shaun Evans - Focus Puller, Kyle Rochlin - Foley Mixer, Brad Brock - Foley Mixer, Jonathon Klein - Foley Supervisor, Mo Henry - Negative Cutter, Denise Hanrahan - Production Secretary, Sara Bartkiewicz - Production Secretary, Marie Nashold - Set Medic/First Aid, Donald Myers - Special Effects Foreman, Dale Ettema - Special Effects Technician, Michael Haight - Supervising ADR Editor, Kevin P. Boyd - Video Assist, Adrian Spanna - Video Assist, Edward A. Ioffreda - Graphic Design, yU+Co - Title Design, Charlotte Raybourn - Art Department Coordinator, Fred M. Wardell - Assistant Editor, Andrew Blustain - Assistant Editor, Debra L. Tennant - Assistant Editor, David Bilow - Assistant Editor, Brad Wilder - Department Head Makeup, Jason Torbett - Standby Properties, Bradley Torbett - Standby Properties, Nathan Schroeder - Illustrator, Vladimir Spasojevic - Illustrator, Federico Saccone - Compositor, Christine Goldby - Compositor, Kevin Prendiville - Compositor, Fergus Clegg - Assistant Set Decorator, Sophie Newman - Assistant Set Decorator| The Hole in the Wall (1922 Film), The Hole in the Wall (1929 Film) | |
| The Holiday Kitchen (2007 Film), The Holier it Gets (1999 Film) |
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