Review: "The Holdovers" Makes For a Successful Payne/Giamatti Reunion
Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 4:00PM By Christopher James
A student, teacher and cafeteria manager are stuck together for Christmas in Alexander Payne's new film, "The Holdovers."
Alexander Payne has added another lovable misanthrope to his Avengers collection of curmudgeons. The Holdovers packages a lot of familiar tropes, both from Payne’s filmography and broader genre conventions. Luckily that doesn’t stifle the film’s wit and charm. After having an ambitious flop with Downsizing, Payne has returned to form with his eighth feature.
Mixing Goodbye Mr. Chips with Rushmore, The Holdovers is, like its protagonist, gruff yet sweet. For those looking for a Holiday coming-of-age comedy with a spike of melancholy, it'll be the feel-good, feel-bad movie of the fall season...
Not since Sideways has Payne so effectively empathized for the most broken of people, a change of pace for a filmmaker who can sometimes take a mocking tone towards his subjects. Legends like Paul Giamatti shine alongside rising talent Da’Vine Joy Randolph and newcomer Dominic Sessa. Our titular “holdovers” each have their own wounds for loneliness, but together they form quite a beautiful and unlikely trio.
Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) and Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa) are adversaries stuck together at school after everyone goes home for the holidays.Set in 1970, the all boys boarding school of Barton Academy prepares for their winter break. Home to the sons of senators and kids from other prestigious, wealthy families, most are off to glamorous breaks for the holidays. Only an unlucky few are stuck in the cold New England winter for the two weeks between semesters. Their warden is Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), a grouchy history professor who delights with pelting his students with subpar grades, vacation homework and reminders that, for many, the world is a cruel and unflinching place. His sole faculty partner, and drinking companion, is Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), the school cafeteria manager who recently lost her nineteen year old son in the Vietnam War.
Paul’s taskmaster tendencies force him to stick to the school’s strict rulebook for vacation supervision, a rulebook even the school’s headmaster (Andrew Garman) feels little need to enforce or follow. He finds his match in Angus (Dominic Sessa), a smart yet temperamental older teen who’s left behind when his Mom decides to go on a last minute honeymoon. Stuck together in the freezing cold with nothing but Jim Beam, school food leftovers and time, the three unlikely friends begin to share their wounds with one another.
Paul Giamatti gives one of the best performances of his career in "The Holdovers."Paul Giamatti performs his greatest acting magic feat yet. Every condescending comment that drips out of Paul’s mouth becomes comic gold. It’s not a performance that delights in accentuating the character’s failings for laughter. Despite his loneliness, Paul has a good amount of self-respect, enough to look down on most people he encounters in his life. Giamatti finds authentic ways to reveal Paul’s walls, but these revelations aren’t meant to melt his cold, smelly heart. As Giamatti’s scene partner, newcomer Dominic Sessa makes for a fantastic foil. He’s got an old fashioned charm, a handsome kid whose appeal is his “rebel without a cause” chip on his shoulder. Paul and Angus have similar, yet different wounds. Rather than fret that he could end up living a life working for his high school like Paul, Angus goes on a journey towards comforting in Paul, happy to meet a person who shares some of his morose qualities.
The Holdovers’ script, the first feature script by David Hemingson, hits the beats you expect it to, but thanks to well-drawn characters brought to life by fabulous performers, any contrivances or cliches rarely dull the movie’s charms, which are as strong as Paul’s body odor. Still, at 2 hrs and 13 minutes, the movie runs a bit too long, especially when the audience often knows what’s coming next. Hemingson should’ve trusted the audience was along for the ride and removed some repeated beats.
Da'Vine Joy Randolph should figure into the Supporting Actress conversation for her wonderful performance.Even with quite a runtime, The Holdovers squanders some of the more interesting subplots it sets up. Da’Vine Joy Randolph steals every scene. Her performance side-steps many cliches of a grieving mother, exploring moments where she gets to experience joy rather than just misery. A hairpin turn at a Christmas party gives her a particularly resonant moment of interiority. The third act mostly side-steps Mary, leaving her with her sister which could be a prime window into her family life outside of grieving. As is, Mary is a fantastic showcase character for Randolph and will hopefully net her a deserved Supporting Actress nomination.
Right off the bat with the charmingly retro Focus Features intro, the movie aims to transport the audience to 1970 and does so with fine results. The old fashioned nature of the film is a strength, not a drawback. Payne has an immersive vision that heightens both the comedy and pathos. The classic film print through Eigil Bryld’s idyllic framing gives The Holdovers the rustic charm of a Thomas Kinkade painting. All should be happy and bright during the holiday season, which only further highlights our central trio’s unhappiness.
They may not make them like they used to, but The Holdovers is a fantastic return to the kind of dramedy that used to be more prevalent. It’s charming, acerbic, prickly and likely to be a strange, yet beautiful, holiday perennial. B+
The Holdovers opens theatrically in select theaters on Friday, October 27th before expanding on Friday, November 10th.
Reader Comments (3)
I do want to see this as I do love Alexander Payne as I hope it's better than Downsizing which had an OK concept and solid performances from Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, and Hong Chau being the major standout. It was just kinda weak.
This is a lovely review and only builds my desire to see this film.
The Holdovers are a great return. Candy Crush