The Holiday (2006)

Two women troubled with guy-problems swap homes in each other's countries, where they each meet a local guy and fall in love.

Director:

Nancy Meyers

Writer:

Nancy Meyers

Stars:

Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law

2 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cameron Diaz	...	Amanda
Kate Winslet	...	Iris
Jude Law	...	Graham
Jack Black	...	Miles
Eli Wallach	...	Arthur
Edward Burns	...	Ethan
Rufus Sewell	...	Jasper
Miffy Englefield	...	Sophie
Emma Pritchard	...	Olivia
Sarah Parish	...	Hannah
Shannyn Sossamon	...	Maggie
Bill Macy	...	Ernie
Shelley Berman	...	Norman
Kathryn Hahn	...	Bristol
John Krasinski	...	Ben

Storyline

In London, Iris Simpkins writes a wedding column in a newspaper and nurtures an unrequited love for her colleague Jasper Bloom. Near Christmas, she is informed that Jasper is engaged to marry another colleague, and her life turns upside down. In Los Angeles, the movie-trailers maker Amanda Woods has just split with her unfaithful boyfriend Ethan and wants to forget him. Through a house exchange website, Amanda impulsively swaps her mansion for Iris' cottage in Surrey for the holidays. While in Surrey, Amanda meets Iris' brother and book editor Graham and they fall in love with each other. Meanwhile, Iris meets her new next door neighbor the ninety year old screenplay writer Arthur, who helps her retrieve her self-esteem, and the film composer Miles, with whom she falls in love.

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Plot Keywords:

kiss | american in the uk | woman | jewish character | composer | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and some strong language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The example Arthur (Eli Wallach) uses to explain a "Meet Cute" was used in Bluebeard's Eighth Wife (1938). Strangers Claudette Colbert and Gary Cooper meet while shopping. She buys the bottoms and he buys the top of the same pair of pajamas.

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Goofs

When Iris is running around the house the way her scarf is tied changes from the movie room to the exercise room and back when she is seen running up the stairs. According to the commentary the scenes were shot separately.

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Quotes

Miles: Now let me ask you. Have you seen this?
Iris: Chariots of Fire. Loved it.
Miles: [doing an impression of the soundtrack] Such a great score by Vangelis. He took electronic scores to a new level. It was groundbreaking. I'm gonna test you on this later. Okay. Driving Miss Daisy. Hans. Very unexpected. Do you remember how great it was?
[doing impression of soundtrack]
Miles: Sassy! Love it. Is this a bad game?
Iris: No.
Miles: Okay.
Iris: Keep going.
Miles: Sometimes I get self-conscious about my...
[...]

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Connections

References Glitter (2001)

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Soundtracks

It May Be Winter Outside (But in My Heart It's Spring)
(1966)
Written by Barry White and Paul Politi
Performed by Love Unlimited
Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Almost Like Old Times

Well yes, a 2006 romantic comedy that delivers what it promises. Mostly due to the disarming likability of the four leads plus Eli Wallach. Not for cynics, naturally, but very few things are and what the hell I laughed I was moved and I surprised myself all the way through. I came out of the theater smiling from ear to ear. Listen, that's not small feast in a world that seems too self conscious to be cute, even smartly cute like in this case. Kate Winslet can't help but being truthful so, there you go, you identify with her Rufus Sewell situation rooting for her - and I'm a guy! Cameron Diaz is, how can I put it? Yes adorable. A scatterbrain with a brain. Jude Law is another than I don't remember when was the last time he was this charming and Jack Black manages to keep it real and I was taken for a ride, going along, falling happily in Nancy Meyer's lovely trap. Well done!

Details

Official Sites:

United International Pictures [Germany]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 December 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Holiday

Filming Locations:

1883 Orlando Road, San Marino, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$85,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,778,913, 10 December 2006

Gross USA:

$63,224,849

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$205,841,885

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Universal Pictures, Relativity Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

136 min

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1