Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers” is the must-see film of the holiday season.
Every now and again, a movie comes out of nowhere and sneaks up on you in all the right ways. THE HOLDOVERS is certainly one of those movies. In addition to being a wonderful throwback to 70s cinema, this is also an ode to some of the more thoughtful character-driven dramas of the late 80s and early 90s (think DEAD POET’S SOCIETY and SCENT OF A WOMAN.) What’s more, this is one of the best Christmas movies I’ve seen in quite some time.
In the 70s-set “The Holdovers,” cranky history teacher Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) is forced to stay put at a prep school campus to look over a few students with nowhere to go during Christmas break. Eventually, he and grieving campus cook Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) find themselves developing a bond of sorts with Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), a bright but often angry and defiant student with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Throughout this turbulent Christmas break, layers are peeled away and certain truths are revealed. Truths that will all but force viewers to re-examine these multi-layered characters with a new pair of eyes.
As directed by Alexander Payne (“Election”) and written by David Hemingson (a t.v. writer with episodes of “Black…ish” and “Bones” to his credit), THE HOLDOVERS is all about the tiny nuances. It’s a movie that feels authentic and lived in. It also manages to be sentimental without being cloying. It’s certainly dark around the edges and even bittersweet at times but it’s always hopeful and it’s this attribute, along with the Christmastime setting and chilly New England backdrop, that add to its overall holiday-inspired tone.
Payne does an expert job with the direction delicately fashioning a mostly understated movie that walks several lines without crossing them. Of course, it helps that he has a trio of stellar leads in Giamatti, Randolph, and Sessa. While we’re on the topic of Giamatti, this is some of the best work of his career! Of course, he has the luxury of shorthand with Payne which should come as no surprise as they made beautiful cinematic music together in the form of the exceptional “Sideways” nearly 20 years ago but Hunham is a considerably different animal.
With Hunham, Giamatti has fashioned one of the most entertaining characters of the year. He’s a man that seems cold at the surface, but it’s clear that there’s a lot more to him than his body odor, his lazy eye, his sarcasm, and his curmudgeonly ways. Look no further than the undeniably effective look on Hunham’s face when he quickly realizes that a sweet flirtation isn’t exactly what he initially thought it was. That simple look speaks more than 1000 words. Giamatti is just outstanding in this picture bringing subtlety, fire, and vulnerability in equal measure. Again, it’s some of his very best work.
Likewise, Randolph is a force to be reckoned with here. As the grief-stricken Mary, she brings a raw, emotional charge to THE HOLDOVERS The pain she displays feels all too real but at the same time, she shows real toughness and a biting wit. In the end, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Randolph is showered with much-deserved accolades during an upcoming awards season.
Rounding out this stellar trio is newcomer Sessa whose experience in theater has served him well as this is quite the big screen debut. As is the case with Hunham, there’s a reason for Tully’s hardened exterior and Sessa plays the proceedings beautifully. In fact, there were times throughout THE HOLDOVERS that he reminded me of a young Tom Hanks.
Simply put, Giamatti, Randolph, and Sessa have created three of 2023’s most memorable characters but as much as they excel as individuals, it’s their chemistry and interactions with one another that give this movie its big beating heart. THE HOLDOVERS is a movie about people, after all, and these are three characters I had absolutely no problem spending 135 minutes with.
Ultimately, this is a film that’s every bit as honest and poignant as it is heartfelt and thoughtful. Going in, I knew Payne and crew would bring the funny but what I didn’t expect was to walk away from this one with a great big lump in my throat. THE HOLDOVERS stands high amongst 2023’s very best films.
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