In “The Holdovers” Paul Giamatti once again reminds us of how great he can be when given a good character and good material. He gives an awards-worthy performance in director Alexander Payne’s latest. This is Payne’s first feature film since 2017’s so-so “Downsizing”. Call it a return to form or whatever you want. I’ll just enthusiastically say that even with its few minor issues, “The Holdovers” is one of Payne’s best films to date.
The story, written by David Hemingson, is set in 1970 around the Christmas holiday. At the New England boarding school of Barton Academy Paul Hunham (Giamatti) is a classical antiquities teacher who is widely hated by his students and is an outcast among the faculty. He’s a sad and lonely sort although he keeps his misery hidden, at times even from himself.
With its two-week Christmas break looming, students and teachers begin packing to head home for the holidays. But every year there remains a small group of kids with nowhere to go. They’re called holdovers and this year Paul gets the duty of staying on campus and looking after them. It’s not that he minds. After all he has no place to go himself. Among this year’s batch of five boys is Angus Tulley (Dominic Sessa), a smart but frustrated student who is left at school after his selfish mother and her new husband decide to take their belated honeymoon over the holidays.
A rather convenient something happens that gives the four other boys a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card. That leaves Angus and Paul, two seemingly polar opposites whose disdain for each other quickly festers. But “The Holdovers” is a movie about looking beyond what you think you know about someone. It’s about the empathy that comes from seeing and understanding the real person underneath their hardened exterior. So Angus and Paul slowly begin letting down their guards, and as a result they begin learning more about each other and themselves.
A key reason their stubborn hearts begin to soften is a school cafeteria worker named Mary. She’s played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph whose Oscar-caliber performance is full of heart and pathos. Mary is no stranger to tragedy which is one reason she too stayed at school through the holiday break. She’s a wise but straight-shooting woman who offers eye-opening perspectives that (at different times) both Paul and Angus desperately need to hear.
Payne clearly loves this unusual trio and he puts plenty of attention towards growing each character. He takes his time unpacking their individual stories which Hemingson lays out in deep personal detail. Both writer and director do a great job defining these distinctly different yet beautifully complimentary personalities. There’s also plenty of lighthearted moments such as Mary introducing Paul to The Newlywed Game or Paul’s choice of Christmas gifts for his newfound ‘family’ of sorts.
“The Holdovers” is bound together by Payne’s keen direction, Hemingson’s compassionate script, and some stellar performances particularly from Giamatti and Randolph who should be on every voter’s shortlist (the way Giamatti spouts things like “you hormonal vulgarian” without cracking a smile is awards-worthy in itself). It’s a little longer than it needs to be due to a slow starting first half. But once it hits its emotional stride, the film really connects. And anyone with a beating heart is sure to be moved by this unexpected delight. “The Holdovers” is out now in select theaters.
VERDICT – 4 STARS
keithandthemovies.com 
The 70’s could’ve been better
Will give it a spin when it streams.
It’s really, really good. It’ll be robbery if Giamatti isn’t nominated for Best Actor.
He’s a fine actor. Fyi, his older bro, is in Bosch, Legacy: season 1. He plays a bad guys lawyer. prime
Oh interesting!
I cannot WAIT to see this.
I think you’ll really like it. There’s such great chemistry between the three central characters
I loved this. Paul Hunham is, at least for awhile, like an anti-William Keating who takes pleasure in defeating the wealthy students, putting into place the future billionaires-in-training for the time he can. Dominic Sessa makes for a great sparring partner and Da’Vine Joy Randolph is again a scene-stealer. This movie is one of those you know exactly what it’s doing to you but it does it so damn well you really can’t stand in the way of it.
I’m with you. I was absorbed in it from its first moments. Giamatti and Randolph better get Oscar noms. That is if they want credibility.
totally meant John Keating, not the US representative lol
I hope you’re right; the two performances are great. I just have a cynical feeling that two nominations will not come out of this performance, though Giamiatti should be a lock. This has to be one of his best turns.
Ya know what, you’re probably right. I hate to think so, but it certainly wouldn’t be their first glaring miss.
Oh I gotcha. 😂
I do hope it’s still available in theaters by December as I do love Alexander Payne though Downsizing was a lesser effort as there was a good idea but the execution was eh…
This looks more like the kind of films closer to something like Nebraska and The Descendants as I love those films.
It’s REALLY good. Hope you can see it before it leaves. I too love Nebraska.
My dad liked that movie but he and mom my really loved The Descendants.
I liked parts of The Descendants. I haven’t seen it since the theater and would love to give it a rewatch.
To steal a line from one of my podcast guests, “it’s a feel good movie that makes feel good movies look good.”
Ha. I like that!
I loved this! I went into it hoping to like it and it surpassed my expectations. I miss seeing Giamatti get roles like this.
It’s really good and it better get some recognition from the Academy voters. I just watched it Friday and now have gotten a FYC screener. Watching it again tonight! Can’t wait.
No argument the lead acting is first-rate in this one. However, it was a little more downbeat than I hoped for considering the scenario. Was looking for a better balance of humor and drama and also came away feeling the ending wasn’t what I was looking or hoping for. Bottom line though…Paul is awesome in the role and I think people should see it if nothing else for that.
It’s interesting, this one has stayed with me a lot longer than I expected. Hoping to see it again this week (if I can find the time).
Great review! I also loved it. Here’s my personal review explaining why:
Good stuff. I’m really hoping to give it another watch sometimes before the end of the year.