Favorite things about… The Holiday

The favorite film:
The Holiday, a home-swapping 2006 romantic comedy written and directed by Nancy Meyers

The synopsis:
Iris Simpkins is a London writer who wants to get out of town when she finds out that the object of her unrequited affection, Jasper Bloom, is engaged. Meanwhile Amanda Woods, who makes movie trailers for a living in LA, has just broken up with her boyfriend Ethan after finding out that he was unfaithful.

Both ladies head to a housing exchange website with hopes of getting away for Christmas. Finding each other on the site, the two decide to swap lives for a while. Amanda heads to Iris’ sleepy Surrey cottage, and Iris heads to Amanda’s big Hollywood mansion.

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The cast:
Kate Winslet as Iris Simpkins
Cameron Diaz as Amanda Woods
Jude Law as Graham, Iris’ brother
Jack Black as Miles
Eli Wallach as the adorable neighbor, Arthur Abbott
Edward Burns as Ethan
Rufus Sewell as Jasper Bloom

Fun facts:

• The film was written specifically with the four leads (Winslet, Diaz, Law and Black) in mind.
• Dustin Hoffman makes an unplanned cameo in the film. He happened to be driving past the video store where they were shooting and stopped by to see what was going on. He and Nancy Meyers, who knew each other prior to the film, came up with his scene on the spot.
• Jude Law’s daughter in real life is named Iris, like his on-screen sister.
• Kate Winslet and Rufus Sewell dated long before working together on this film.

Favorite things:

• I’m usually not a fan of Cameron Diaz at all. This film makes me dislike her less.
• Iris is probably living my future. On the bright side, she has an awesome house.
• The terrible Lohan/Franco movie trailer
• The film utilizes the always awesome “Let me say what I’m typing while I type it!” technique.
• The soundtrack is a mix of classic Christmas songs and random stuff like The Killers.
• I want to be best friends with Arthur!
• SO MANY GREAT CLASSIC FILM REFERENCES
• Amanda hearing everything that happens to her as a trailer voiceover
• Mr. Napkinhead
• Iris watching His Girl Friday
• Arthur’s theme song and speech
• Quotes:
  • Iris: “We are the unloved ones: the walking wounded.”
  • Iris: “I don’t do his laundry! Did someone tell you I do his laundry?”
  • Amanda: “Why does it bug you so much that I can’t cry?”
  • Arthur: “Cary Grant was from Surrey!”
    Iris: “That’s right! How did you know that?”
    Arthur: “He told me once.”
  • Arthur: “Honey, I haven’t been busy since 1978.”
  • Graham: “I sew, and I have a cow. How’s that for hard to relate to?”
  • Iris: “Irene Dunne is fantastic!”
  • Miles: “Iris, if you were a melody… I used only the good notes.”
  • Miles: “You are a prodigy. A doodle prodigy.”
  • Iris: “Barbara Stanwyck is dazzling!”