Two weeks of someone else’s life
Saw The Holiday yesterday–there could not BE more of a chick flick. But other than a few wincers, the movie provided just what I needed–totaly escapist entertainment, with Jude Law looking particularly fine (I’ve even decided to overlook his bad behavior in his personal life as a result of his performance–and I do not forgive easily (that means you, Tom Cruise)). Got my good cry in, and that’s always a bonus.
You’ve probably seen the ads for The Holiday, so I’m not revealing much by telling you it’s about two women who decide to trade places for two weeks to escape their romantic mistakes. Kate Winslet goes to Los Angeles, Cameron Diaz goes to Surrey.
There’s a very realistic scene of Kate first exploring the massive L.A. house. It’s exactly how I would feel if someone lent me those digs for two full weeks–from the huge DVD collection to the gorgeous kitchen to the most comfortable-looking bed in the world. And Cameron gets to live in a real live English cottage, another fantasy of mine. That whole movie, improbable as it is (including how perfect Jude Law’s character is–but man, is he good), is one big fantasy feast. It really stirs the imagination.
So here’s the question: if you could exchange houses with anyone in any part of the world for two weeks, where would you want to go? And furthermore, what kind of house would you like to take over–homey nest, high-tech playground, or something else? Would you like a staff catering to your needs, or would you prefer to be alone? In other words, if you could trade the trappings of your life for someone else’s for two weeks, what would you most like to have?
Technorati Tags: The Holiday
December 11th, 2006 at 8:33 am
Tuscan Villa. May not be the most imaginative or original idea, but there you have it.
December 11th, 2006 at 8:36 am
I am jealous of both you and PCD;you’re in different parts of the country and yet you both saw The Holiday! Maybe I’ll get to see it before the New Year.
To answer your question,I’d like to trade places with someone in England,preferably London. The one time I did go over to England,I didn’t spend any real time there. A nice flat with plenty of books and DVDs would be keen.
If not London,my second choice would be Bath-it is so beautiful and those cobblestone streets,to die for!
December 11th, 2006 at 8:36 am
Diana, does that mean you’re a fan of Under the Tuscan Sun (movie version), despite all its flaws? That’s where I stand on it.
Lady T, I know you and I were both doing a Jane Austen tour in England in recent times (mine was this past summer), so we probably saw a lot of the same places. London was amazing–like NYC with the traffic all going the wrong way. That was actually my problem with it. I never felt like my brain got the habit of looking in the opposite direction for traffic to come at me. Too many close calls. I’d do much better in one of those villages, with cottages and sheep everywhere. The cobblestones of Bath were nice, though–you’re right. Especially because we could walk the streets and imagine Jane Austen’s Persuasion taking place there.
December 11th, 2006 at 1:17 pm
Ocean Front Property in Gloucester, MA.
December 11th, 2006 at 1:31 pm
Heather, Diana, Lady T: Servants or no servants?
December 11th, 2006 at 2:12 pm
No servants for me but if use of a car was part of the deal,I’d need a driver.
Bath was the biggest city that I spent time in-most of the trip was in small villages(our group had a whole day in Lyme Regis,which reminded me of home due to all the hilly streets!)which were nice. Bath was so lovely to walk around in,I broke away from the group for abit and didn’t feel lost at all.
Still would love to see London,even if it’s hectic at times.
December 11th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
At the risk of naively walking into something, I’d switch homes with Patrick for the next shuttle launch. The Chicago suburbs during January/February can’t be beat. (without servants)
December 11th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
Does this mean I would have to go to Herb’s house?
Where ever I go, servants are necessary. Although, Hugh Grant’s flat in Notting Hill would be amusing for a bit. I don’t know if that would fit all the servants.
Robin, could your first sentence BE any more _Chandler_? And I was just thinking how much Diana(Food Critic) makes me think of Monica… Not sure why.
December 11th, 2006 at 4:57 pm
Patrick, my first sentence was Girl Speak. I can’t help if Chandler sometimes indulged in that.
December 11th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
Does that mean that if I said, “On Dec 20th there’s going to be a PHA that passes within 10.1 LD. Scary, Huh?”
, it would be Guy Speak?
December 11th, 2006 at 6:10 pm
Uh, no. That would be Geek Speak.
And Herb, we’re waiting to hear if you and Patrick will be switching houses. That is part of the deal (see the chick flick and you’ll know).
December 11th, 2006 at 8:33 pm
I make you think of Monica? I’m not sure what to think of that. I always liked Phoebe, happy go lucky with dark depths, purveyor of random knowledge and unusual secrets, very decided person…
I actually have no seen or read Under the Tuscan Sun. I’m afraid of having it ruined for me. But I have lived in Rome, and that rocked, so now I want to try the countryside, which is the home of one fourth of My People. Seriously, my grandmother just got rid of their farm.
And one servant, at least, is utterly necessary — the chef.
December 12th, 2006 at 5:52 am
Doesn’t everyone have servants?
December 12th, 2006 at 6:40 am
You know, one of the many things to envy about Meg Cabot’s life is that her husband actually is a chef.
I read an article some time this year about how busy families have started resorting to hiring a personal chef. Apparently it costs about what it would to eat out as much as some of these working parents are.
The greatest thing about the service is that the chef not only cooks the meal, but he or she also plans the menu, makes up the grocery list, and DOES THE SHOPPING. Can you imagine? Sounds heavenly.
If I ever strike it big . . .
December 12th, 2006 at 10:13 am
I just saw the Ebert and Roeper review of “The Holiday” Aisha Tyler the guest reviewer was thumbs up and Richard Roeper was thumps down. It was defintely a gender divide. Beside Jack Black with Kate Winslet? Come on, who slapped their head and thought brilliant. Maybe Jack has seen certain web sites. But talk about out of charater.Thank God for DVDs and more then one DVD player in the house. My question is if a movie is so obviously a chick flick, is it cruel and unusual punishment to bring a male to the movie.
Patrick, if you’re interested, there is Peninsula Hotel downtown. They have plenty of servers.
December 12th, 2006 at 10:18 am
Yeah, Herb, I saw that Ebert & Roeper show, too. And I fully agree that no man has any business going to that movie.
I also agree that the Jack Black/Kate Winslet pairing was . . . odd. I love Jack Black with a passion, but I could never really buy him in this role. It seemed like he was acting, instead of being himself, you know? School of Rock just does not blend with Sense and Sensibility and Titanic.
December 12th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
I liked Jack Black best when Bruce Willis shot him. What a great scene!
Is that over $600 per night? If not, they probably don’t meet my standards.
December 12th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
Kate Winslet has been known for odd pairings. Come on, Harvey Keitel?
But I must say that I love the idea. I have a huge movie crush on Jack Black. I’ll see him do anything. If it was just a movie about them, I’d see it in a heartbeat, but the very thought of Jude Law as a romantic lead makes me worried about the condition of my currently hive-free skin.
December 12th, 2006 at 2:26 pm
Diana, suspend judgment of Jude until you see the movie. As I said, I have huge chip on my shoulder about him and his extra-fiance antics, but he won me over–this time.
And yeah, what about that flick with Harvey Kietel? It was fascinating, but I could have gone a long time without seeing Kate pee on herself while standing there naked.
(You know a few people are going to run right out and rent that now.)
December 12th, 2006 at 2:29 pm
I’ll go anywhere as long as Jude Law is there with me.
December 12th, 2006 at 2:39 pm
They have the Peninsula Suite for $6,500 per night, but why would you want a private outdoor terrace with jacuzzi with your suite? After all why would you want anything that smacks of Florida when coming to Chicago in late winter. Like warm weather, sunny skies and a jacuzzi. We have beaches, but the water will be frozen.
December 12th, 2006 at 2:44 pm
See? Deborah has an open mind.
December 12th, 2006 at 4:44 pm
Is Jude good at cooking or driving or cleaning or something? And could I call him Martuf?
I’d go anywhere with him if he acted as a proper manservant should.
“Hello, I’m here. Have you met my new manservant Martuf?”
“Isn’t that Jude Law?”
“Yes, but we call him Martuf.”
December 12th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
hi bloggies,
every now and again i have to work at something we in the real world like to call a real job. it seems i have a lot of catching up to do.
1. lady t.–who, or what, is PCD?
2. diana–total compliment to be compared to monica. she’s so, so…clean, and she cooks. it’s a running joke between my daughters and me that they would be perfect, if only they were more like monica. so of course i’m hoping for a daughter-in-law who will fill that void and share my incredibly sophisticated and nuanaced sense of humor. also, you (and anyone who hasn’t) must read “under the tuscan sun” (i didn’t see the movie, so maybe that too)–it is literally delicious. be prepared to gain a few pounds as it will put you into a cooking/feeding frenzy–ahhh.
3. herb–are you aware that patrick’s house does not come with servants but rather one small male child to whom you must apparently endlessly read and reread one of those “sammy the steam engine” or “etta the earth mover” kind of books. wouldn’t it just be easier to watch the launch on tv? or easier still to just envision it? last, how nice would a $6,500 hotel room have to be? ouch–i hope the mini bar is comped.
4. deborah–is the jude law fixation something you would want your young children to know about you, really?
5. patrick–and i know i may regret this, is “martuf” someone, or something, that i should know (maybe a character in “princess bride”) (that’s right, i’m NOT going to google it).
now i can sleep at night.
December 12th, 2006 at 6:32 pm
Annette, please don’t go away for so long, no matter what your duties are in the real world. They can’t be as important as this.
I can answer your question about who PCD is. She’s Pop Culture Diva, and you can find her link on Lady T’s webpage (living read girl–that link is to the side here).
Welcome back. Stay.
December 12th, 2006 at 7:33 pm
Patrick-who cares if he’s good at cleaning, cooking, driving, or whatever?
Annette-please don’t tell them about Jude and me-they think I want to marry the lead singer of The Fray and they are happy with that.
December 13th, 2006 at 5:33 am
annette - He does the reading now and will require you to play Super Monkey Ball. He’s reading Junie B. Jones now. Normal for a four year old? I don’t know, but you have to tell him he can only read two chapters before lights out. Not sure if I’m a fan of the books yet. She’s a grouch and I don’t want him getting any ideas.
And you forgot to mention the red-headed goddess who resides at the house. You know, the one who willingly marched down the aisle to Darth Vader’s theme.
and I don’t know where Martuf came from. Actually, I think he was Samantha Carter’s love interest for a few episodes. He’s a Tok’ra.
December 13th, 2006 at 5:35 am
True Deborah. It’s good for me to have a man that goodlooking near. It reminds people how much I am above the rest.
December 13th, 2006 at 9:03 am
OK, forget the whole thing. I will not bab… er watch over a child who is a notch or 2 above me intellectually