Title – The Holdovers (2023) 

Director – Alexander Payne (Sideways) 

Cast – Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, Da’Vine Joy Randolph

Plot – Cantankerous and lonely history teacher Paul Hunham (Giamatti) is tasked with overseeing a group of students stuck at his college’s remote campus over the Xmas period, leading to him to connect with troublesome student Angus Tully (Sessa) and grief-stricken campus cook Mary Lamb (Randolph). 

“History is not simply the study of the past. It is an explanation of the present”

Review by Eddie on 07/02/2023

A character driven film with very similar beats and components to past, present and future films, the familiar nature of much of what happens in Alexander Payne’s film and how it happens fails to dampen the spirits of a film that is the equivalent of a great big bear hug of goodness that is likely to set up The Holdovers as a new festive season classic. 

Recently nominated for 5 Oscars, where it has a significant chance to finally land its leading man Paul Giamatti a long overdue win, Payne’s newest slice of life tale that is set in a small-scale prep school in the Christmas period of 1970 is a film that is at times bitingly hilarious, sometimes sombre and at all times perfectly in tune with its central trio of Giamatti’s lonely teacher Paul Hunham, Dominic Sessa’s troubled student Angus Tully and Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s grieving cook Mary Lamb, mixing together elements that combine to gift audiences a film with a lot to invest in and takeaway from. 

Delivered in a style that makes one question if the film itself has come to us straight from the period in which it was set, Payne transports us back in time to a world where the Vietnam war raged on, social media and phones were things of science fiction and humans were as feeble and fragile as they are today with our films three main characters forced to confront themselves and others when they are forced to stay on campus over the festive period when most of the world is surrounded by family and fun. 

It’s a relatively slight set-up in many ways and Payne doesn’t attempt at all to try and instil his simple tale with any extra baggage than it needs but thanks to his on song performers and razor sharp script work from screenwriter David Hemingson, The Holdovers wonderfully balances the sweet with the sour and its great to see Payne once more exploring the human condition so well, much like he has done previously with his well-regarded prior offerings such as Nebraska, Sideways and Election. 

Delving into topics and character beats that one might not initially expect it to dive into, at all times the work of Giamatti, the rising star Sessa and Randolph are the films biggest assets, with these mismatched people making for entertaining and engaging anchors to a film that welcomes you in and takes you on a gentle and affecting journey, sure to gift many viewers with one of their most enjoyable cinematic experiences of the year. 

When we talk about this enjoyable experience it would be remiss not to take time to acknowledge what could well be the career best work of Giamatti who was born to play the wonky-eyed, history loving and awkward Hunham. 

An actor we are all well acquainted with thanks to a wide variety of memorable leading and supporting turns across multiple decades, if Giamatti were to succeed in Oscar glory over the equally deserving Cillian Murphy this year no one could possibly be unhappy, his Hunham is a memorable and noteworthy new addition to modern day cinemas great cinematic creations and Giamatti’s heart and soul performance is a major reason why The Holdovers has broken out as one of the most surprising audience favourites of the last few years. 

Final Say –

A film small in stature and scope but one that provides much to enjoy and be uplifted by, The Holdovers may dance to a familiar beat but thanks to Alexander Payne’s considered direction and a trio of great performances, this new Christmas classic is an all round winner. 

4 gymnasium mishaps out of 5