THE HOLIDAY
US, 2005, 135 minutes, Colour.
Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslett, Jude Law, Jack Black, Eli Wallach, Edward Burns, Rufus Sewell.
Cameos: Lindsay Lohan, James Franco, Dustin Hoffman.
Directed by Nancy Myers.
Writer-director Nancy Meyers cuts off potential attacks by having Kate Winslett say half way through this romantic comedy concoction, ‘I like corny’. This is rather lush corny - and romantic with two parallel stories and two picture book settings.
We are introduced to Amanda, a bit of a control freak who runs her own company making trailers in Hollywood. She is breaking up with her fickle boyfriend. On the other side of the Atlantic, Iris, a journalist at London’s Daily Telegraph is dumbfounded when her fickle boyfriend publicly announces his engagement to someone else. What to do when a woman is disappointed, bewildered and feeling alone? Well, Iris suddenly puts her charming country house on the net for an exchange holiday. Amanda thinks it would be just the secluded place for her. So, Iris goes off to LA dream luxury and Amanda gets some rude surprises in wintry England. And men?
With Cameron Diaz as Amanda and Kate Winslett as Iris, we are assured of two strong performances that grab our attention and don’t let go. And the men? Iris’s brother calls in unexpectedly on Amanda and the relationship rushes ahead. Iris, on the other hand, befriends her 90 year old neighbour, a veteran screenwriter, helping him, ultimately, to go to a tribute ceremony. She also encounters a composer for the movies who has been betrayed in love as well. She has to go beneath the surface to appreciate him because he is played, of all people, by Jack Black. He is not the romantic comedy star that immediately comes to mind, but he handles it nicely and does get in a chance in a video store to do his schtick of music and face-pulling as he comments on different movie scores. No problem about the surface of Iris’s brother, Graham, since he is played by Jude Law at his really nicest.
It takes a bit to get into the feel of the piece, which is certainly contrived. However, there is quite an unexpected plot twist concerning Jude Law which changes the mood of the proceedings, making them even more sweet and emotional.
It is a great joy to see Eli Wallach (at 90) playing the role of the screenwriter. He has some good and wise lines, some nice sentiment and some comedy, a persuasive reminder of the old days of Hollywood and the durability of its best actors.
1.A Christmas entertainment? Romantic comedy?
2.The UK and the US appeal? Characters, locations, attitudes?
3.The Los Angeles setting, the weather, the Santana, the luxury home, the gardens, the pool, the streets, neighbours, the theatre, the video store? Atmosphere of the city?
4.The contrast with the UK, the telegraph offices, the snow, the old-fashioned house, the country village, cosiness, the pubs, homes?
5.The title, plain, for both Amanda and Iris? The musical score?
6.The introduction to Iris: the Daily Telegraph office, the party, Jasper and her talking with him, the past romance, her being upset, the announcement of the engagement? Writing her article, talking with Jasper? Her friend summing up her attitudes? Upset, the train ride home, weeping at home?
7.Amanda, making the trailers, the humour of the trailer and its action with Lindsay Lohan and James Franco? Her work, her relationship, the truth, the challenge, his lying, his being ousted, in the garden? Her inability to cry (and her later telling her story to Graham and explaining this)?
8.The mechanisms of the exchange, Google, advertising, the messages back and forth, the agreement, packing, Amanda and her first-class flight, Iris in economy, the two arrivals, the different reactions to the houses?
9.Iris, her grief, her love for the house, the DVD collection, the blinds, Miles’ visit, seeing Arthur walking, her driving, taking Arthur home, chatting, the meal out, revealing herself, Arthur’s letters, the event, persuading him, swimming, walking, his exercise? Miles’ visit, the Hanukah celebration and the old friends, Miles enjoying it? The kiss goodbye? Going to the DVD shop, Miles and his imitating the various musical scores? Jasper and his sending the manuscript, his arrival, the discussions and her seeing through him? Going to the event, celebrating Arthur? Her transformation?
10.Miles in himself, Jack Black’s comic style, romantic lead? His work, the musical scores, the visit, his relationship with Susan, the phone calls, sending her a present, discovering her lies? Sharing with Iris? The joys, the upsets? Going to Arthur’s event? Composing the music for him?
11.Amanda, having a hard time in England, trying to sleep, Graham’s sudden arrival, the discussion, the sexual encounter, going to the pub? Her impression of England, wanting to go home, going to the airport, changing her mind, going to the pub, with Graham, staying, the lyrical outings, the restaurant, in the gardens? Olivia and Sophie? Discovering the truth about Graham when she visited? The bond between them, the children, sharing the outings and the presents, the tent?
12.Graham and his drinking, arrival, Iris’s brother, the sexual proposition, the next day, the outings, the visit to his home, the truth about his daughters, his being a good father, loving the daughters, the tent, sharing?
13.Iris, the phone call and her talking to Graham and Amanda, mixing up the calls, hearing the truth?
14.Amanda, her love for Graham, his declaration? The discussion about their being apart, the possibilities of visits? Her leaving, his saying that he loved her, the taxi ride, her weeping, going back – and discovering Graham weeping?
15.The New Year celebration, everybody happy together, presents, songs, dancing?
16.Life and busyness, midlife crises, opportunities, seeing the truth, the difference between sex and love, themes of hope?
