Movie Title: The Holiday
Overall score (out of 5): 3.71
Rated: pg-13
Running time: 2h33m
Genre: Romantic comedy
Main premise: In the throes of heartbreak and seeking relief from the pain, Amanda stumbles across a website that arranges home-swapping vacations wherein she discovers an advertisement for a quaint cottage in England. She contacts the owner of the home via instant messaging and the deal is sealed. The two women each fly, in opposite directions, across the globe to spend two weeks over the holidays in a stranger’s home.
Main Cast (alphabetically):
Miles – Jack Black
Ethan – Edward Burns
Amanda – Cameron Diaz
Graham – Jude Law
Maggie – Shannon Sossamon
Jasper – Rufus Sewell
Iris – Kate Winslet
Overall score breakdown
Storyline and/or writing: 4
1 (amateur) – 5 (brilliant)
Comments (if any): This film is almost two separate movies intricately interwoven into one, hence the reason for the running length. Although fairly lengthy for a romantic comedy, the lives of the two main characters – Iris (Kate Winslet) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz) – are fleshed out so completely, it is easy to lose track of the time.
Dialogue: 3
1 (inane) – 5 (excellent)
Comments (if any): A fairly dialogue-driven movie, but not exhaustingly so. The distraction came in when Cameron Diaz’s character ran her internal monologues which became tiresome and overused.
Cinematography: 4
1 (irregular) – 5 (breathtaking)
Comments (if any): There was no special technique used. The locations made it a feast for the eyes.
Sets and/or location: 5
1 (common) – 5 (outstanding)
Comments (if any): Filmed on location in Los Angeles and England. The home chosen in California was my stereotypical idea of the over-the-top-wealthy-indulgence there in comparison to the quaint, picturesque cottage in England. Both locations were stunning.
Animation or Special Effects: not applicable
1 (satisfactory) – 5 (amazing)
Comments (if any):
Graphicness: 5
1 (intolerable) – 5 (tolerable)
Comments (if any): My nine year old daughter was with me and I never felt uncomfortable or as though I needed to cover her eyes. It gets it rating from 1 ½ uses of the “F” word and hints at sexuality.
Soundtrack: 2
1 (average) – 5 (extraordinary)
Comments (if any): I do remember thinking it was nice to hear some different renditions of old Christmas songs, but nothing inspired me to rush out and buy it.
Cast and/or Acting: 3
1 (weak) – 5 (powerful)
Comments (if any): In the beginning of this film, Cameron Diaz’s lines were poorly delivered and her acting was appalling. She eventually pulled it around and, if nothing else, was breathtakingly beautiful every time she was on camera. Kate Winslet gave a heartrending performance, especially in the scene where she became fully aware she had wasted three years of her life in unrequited love. She had my favorite line of the movie, “Well, now, that doesn’t really answer my question now, does it?” Rufus Sewell believably pulled off the role of heartbreaker and, because most of the movies I have seen him in he has played a jerk, I was completely comfortable with him being the jerk. Jude Law, however, brilliantly plays a loveable “good guy,” which was my first experience with him in that role. Although he did convincingly well at being the gentleman, I spent the first part of the moving waiting for him to turn out to be scum. Jack Black skillfully conveyed the feelings of a lovesick man. I had a difficult time with the unusual casting of him and struggled with taking him serious, especially when he occasionally donned his wide-eyed, witless look. The supporting character, Maggie, played by Shannon Sossamon was a vapid portrayal of a starlet. Most of her scenes required her to only smile. In the scene where she actually had lines, I wished she would have kept to her silence.
Overall score (out of 5): 3.71
Rated: pg-13
Running time: 2h33m
Genre: Romantic comedy
Main premise: In the throes of heartbreak and seeking relief from the pain, Amanda stumbles across a website that arranges home-swapping vacations wherein she discovers an advertisement for a quaint cottage in England. She contacts the owner of the home via instant messaging and the deal is sealed. The two women each fly, in opposite directions, across the globe to spend two weeks over the holidays in a stranger’s home.
Main Cast (alphabetically):
Miles – Jack Black
Ethan – Edward Burns
Amanda – Cameron Diaz
Graham – Jude Law
Maggie – Shannon Sossamon
Jasper – Rufus Sewell
Iris – Kate Winslet
Overall score breakdown
Storyline and/or writing: 4
1 (amateur) – 5 (brilliant)
Comments (if any): This film is almost two separate movies intricately interwoven into one, hence the reason for the running length. Although fairly lengthy for a romantic comedy, the lives of the two main characters – Iris (Kate Winslet) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz) – are fleshed out so completely, it is easy to lose track of the time.
Dialogue: 3
1 (inane) – 5 (excellent)
Comments (if any): A fairly dialogue-driven movie, but not exhaustingly so. The distraction came in when Cameron Diaz’s character ran her internal monologues which became tiresome and overused.
Cinematography: 4
1 (irregular) – 5 (breathtaking)
Comments (if any): There was no special technique used. The locations made it a feast for the eyes.
Sets and/or location: 5
1 (common) – 5 (outstanding)
Comments (if any): Filmed on location in Los Angeles and England. The home chosen in California was my stereotypical idea of the over-the-top-wealthy-indulgence there in comparison to the quaint, picturesque cottage in England. Both locations were stunning.
Animation or Special Effects: not applicable
1 (satisfactory) – 5 (amazing)
Comments (if any):
Graphicness: 5
1 (intolerable) – 5 (tolerable)
Comments (if any): My nine year old daughter was with me and I never felt uncomfortable or as though I needed to cover her eyes. It gets it rating from 1 ½ uses of the “F” word and hints at sexuality.
Soundtrack: 2
1 (average) – 5 (extraordinary)
Comments (if any): I do remember thinking it was nice to hear some different renditions of old Christmas songs, but nothing inspired me to rush out and buy it.
Cast and/or Acting: 3
1 (weak) – 5 (powerful)
Comments (if any): In the beginning of this film, Cameron Diaz’s lines were poorly delivered and her acting was appalling. She eventually pulled it around and, if nothing else, was breathtakingly beautiful every time she was on camera. Kate Winslet gave a heartrending performance, especially in the scene where she became fully aware she had wasted three years of her life in unrequited love. She had my favorite line of the movie, “Well, now, that doesn’t really answer my question now, does it?” Rufus Sewell believably pulled off the role of heartbreaker and, because most of the movies I have seen him in he has played a jerk, I was completely comfortable with him being the jerk. Jude Law, however, brilliantly plays a loveable “good guy,” which was my first experience with him in that role. Although he did convincingly well at being the gentleman, I spent the first part of the moving waiting for him to turn out to be scum. Jack Black skillfully conveyed the feelings of a lovesick man. I had a difficult time with the unusual casting of him and struggled with taking him serious, especially when he occasionally donned his wide-eyed, witless look. The supporting character, Maggie, played by Shannon Sossamon was a vapid portrayal of a starlet. Most of her scenes required her to only smile. In the scene where she actually had lines, I wished she would have kept to her silence.
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