Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is bringing Alexander Payne’s extraordinary “The Holdovers” to home video in a terrific collector’s edition combo-pack. Sparked by two of the best performances of the year from Paul Giamatti and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, this funny yet heartfelt dramedy has deservedly received widespread acclaim and should remain a major player throughout awards season.
This Blu-ray collector’s edition of “The Holdovers”, including the film on standard DVD and Digital, released on January 2nd. See below for a full synopsis and release information.
About the Film:
Year: 2023
Runtime: 133 Minutes
Director: Alexander Payne
Screenwriter: David Hemingson
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa, Carrie Preston, Brady Hepner, Ian Dolley, Jim Kaplan, Michael Provost, Andrew Garman, Naheem Garcia, Stephen Thorne
Certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a score of 96% and nominated for 8 Critics Choice Awards including Best Picture, “The Holdovers” delivers an expert balance of comedy and warmth.
From acclaimed director Alexander Payne, “The Holdovers” follows a curmudgeonly instructor (Paul Giamatti) at a New England prep school who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually, he forms an unlikely bond with one of them — a damaged, brainy troublemaker (newcomer Dominic Sessa) — and with the school’s head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam (Da’Vine Joy Randolph).
Special Features:
Alternate Ending – “Mary Continues On”
Deleted Scenes
Introduction by Alexander Payne
New Room
Making a Scene
The Road Back to Barton
Ancient History
The Cast of THE HOLDOVERS – Sit down with the cast of THE HOLDOVERS, including Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and newcomer Dominic Sessa, while they discuss getting into the minds of their characters. Meet the boys of Barton and learn more about director Alexander Payne’s casting process.
Working with Alexander – Hear the cast and crew about their on-set experience working with acclaimed director Alexander Payne.
And just like that 2023 is done and what a wild year it has been for movies. As usual it was a year with its share of surprises and more than a few disappointments. Some movies made big splashes at the box office; some movies deservedly bombed; other highly anticipated movies were pushed to next year. One thing is for sure, 2023 gave us plenty to enjoy.
So here we are in late December, the time where we critics take on that annual tradition of picking the ten best movies from the past year. While some (understandably) argue that such lists are pointless and silly, what can I say? I love reading them and putting mine together. With that said, it’s time to get to it. Without further delay, here are my Top 10 Films of 2023.
As always let me start by showing some love to my #11-20….
#20 – “The Boy and the Heron”
#19 – “Revoir Paris”
#18 – “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
#17 – “May December”
#16 – “Society of the Snow”
#15 – “The Promised Land”
#14 – “The Boys in the Boat”
#13 – “The Holdovers”
#12 – “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One”
#11 – “Fallen Leaves”
The Top 10 Films of 2023
#10 “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” – File this one as the movie on my list that deserved way more attention than it received. “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” didn’t get a warm reception upon its release. That’s a shame. It remains my favorite horror movie of 2023. Stylishly mixing old-school supernatural chills with extraordinary practical effects, “Demeter” takes a lone chapter from Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” and turns it into a harrowing horror movie on the high seas. It all festers into a tense, moody, and gruesome delight from Norwegian director André Øvredal. [REVIEW]
#9 “Ferrari” – Among the more exciting announcements in 2023 was Michael Mann’s return to the director’s chair. “Ferrari” is a movie Mann has been trying to make for over two decades and his passion for the project penetrates every frame. The film follows three tumultuous months in the life of Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the luxury sports car manufacturer that bears his name. Adam Driver is as sturdy as ever while Penélope Cruz is outstanding playing his wife Laura. Mann caps it off with the racing of the Mille Miglia in what is one of the most breathtaking final acts of the year. [REVIEW]
#8 “Godzilla Minus One” – If you had asked me at the beginning of the year I wouldn’t have predicted that a Godzilla movie would be on my Top 10 list. At the time I didn’t even know one was set to be released. But Takashi Yamasaki’s “Godzilla Minus One” ended up being one of the biggest surprises of 2023. This engaging mixture of exhilarating spectacle and heartfelt humanity offers up a crash course on how to make a great blockbuster. The kaiju action is immensely satisfying. But it’s the story’s deeply ingrained human element that makes it stand out. [REVIEW]
#7 “Past Lives” – Writer-director Celine Song blessed us with the very best feature film debut of 2023. Her endearing and poignant drama “Past Lives” received widespread praise after premiering at Sundance. Since then that praise has (rightfully) only grown. “Past Lives” tells a sophisticated and bittersweet story that’s subtly romantic and thematically rich. It’s driven by a sublime Greta Lee who delivers one of the most evocative performances of 2023. Warmly written and beautifully shot, “Past Lives” marks the emergence of a new and truly exciting cinematic voice. [REVIEW]
#6 “John Wick: Chapter 4” – It’s the time of year where many of us start setting guidelines for our ‘Best of the Year’ lists and begin narrowing down what constitutes a “worthy” movie. Take a film like “John Wick Chapter 4”. Fellow critics have rightly sang its praises. But is it an awards caliber movie? Allow me to answer with an emphatic YES! JW4 is far and away the best action movie of the year, with its incredible blend of vision, style, and craftsmanship. The action sequences are mind-blowing and the intensely committed and inherently likable Keanu Reeves is icing on the cake. [REVIEW]
#5 “The Iron Claw” – You don’t have to be a fan of professional wrestling to love Sean Durkin’s brilliant “The Iron Claw”. This wrenching drama tells the true story of the legendary Von Erichs, a family whose in-ring achievements were only outshined by their personal tragedies. Durkin approaches the story with honesty and empathy through one of the year’s best screenplays. The film also features some terrific performances led by a career best turn from Zac Efron. Fans will love the numerous name drops and cool callbacks. Yet it’s the deeply affecting human drama that sets the movie apart. [REVIEW]
#4 “The Killer” – “The Killer” gives us two long awaited returns – that of David Fincher and Michael Fassbender. Directed by Fincher and written by Andrew Kevin Walker, this lean, smart, and stylish action-thriller proves to be the perfect vehicle for Fassbender’s ice-cold charisma and steely magnetism. Fincher’s steady screw-tightening builds some great tension within the film’s effectively deliberate and deceptively layered frame. “The Killer” is a first-rate pulpy neo-noir that seems to get better with each viewing. And I already have a hankering for the next Fincher-Fassbender collaboration. [REVIEW]
#3 “The Zone of Interest” – Movies rarely leave me speechless. “The Zone of Interest” certainly did. This is no ordinary historical drama nor is it like any Holocaust movie you’ve seen before. Writer-director Jonathan Glazer has made a daringly precise and artfully calculated feature that puts what Hannah Arendt called “the banality of evil” on shocking display. This is a quietly chilling work that doesn’t need gruesome imagery to make you uncomfortable. Explorations like this are never “fun”. But Glazer has delivered a vital movie that is a landmark achievement both in filmmaking and as a historical reflection. [REVIEW]
#2 “Killers of the Flower Moon” – “Killers of the Flower Moon” seems like a movie only Martin Scorsese could make. From its scope to its craft to its style of storytelling, everything about it feels like a Scorsese picture. And it’s not recency bias to say it’s one of the acclaimed director’s very best films. I’ve seen “Killers of the Flower Moon” three times – all three hours and 26 minutes of it. Each time I found myself absorbed in nearly every facet of the film – the performances from the top stars to the terrific supporting cast, the incredible production design, the sweeping epic feel, the unshakable honesty of the story, the moody magnetic score. It’s a masterwork. [REVIEW]
#1 “Oppenheimer” – The sheer achievement that is “Oppenheimer” cannot be overstated. From a simple box office perspective it was the biggest surprise of the year. A three hour biography of a theoretical physicist isn’t the kind of movie you would expect to make nearly $1 billion. But such is the Christopher Nolan effect. From the brilliance of his screenplay to the stunning execution of his direction, Nolan has a made a film that defies expectations. It’s an utterly mesmerizing piece featuring the best ensemble cast of the year, a haunting score, and phenomenal cinematography. It’s extraordinary filmmaking and storytelling making this yet another career defining accomplishment from one of the best in the business. [REVIEW]
And those are my picks for the best movies of 2023. What did you think of my list? What would make yours? Let me know in the comments section below. Till next year….
The first cut of Zack Snyder’s “Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire” has released and Netflix has dropped a series of cool character posters to go along with it. To absolutely no surprise the film has been met with scalding reviews from many critics. Yet equally predictable is the film’s enormous success as it quickly became the #1 movie on Netflix worldwide.
This first installment in Snyder’s sprawling space opera introduces us to a fascinating original world full of interesting characters, jaw-dropping locations, and of course stylish action. It’s a fun two hours but it does more to entice than fulfill, ramping up the anticipation for the already announced extended cut. You can read my full review of “Rebel Moon – Part One” HERE.
Check out the new “Rebel Moon” character posters below…
You can almost hear the voice of late, great Andy Williams singing “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”.It’s Christmas day and I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone of you a very Merry Christmas. I hope all who celebrate has a special day full of family, food, and festivities.
I also want to say “thank you” for another great year for this little site of mine. Just by reading, liking, commenting, and conversing, you help make this whole movie review gig worthwhile. I’m really excited to see what kind of movies we will be talking about in 2024. May God bless each of you and your families, and I hope you all have a healthy and prosperous new year.
For those who don’t know, The Phenomenal 5 was a once prominent feature on this site. It was a blast to do and with the holidays upon us I thought it would be fun to look back at one of my Christmas themed lists – Five Phenomenal Movie Meanies. Originally shared ten years ago, this list features five Christmas movie misers who have become synonymous with the holidays. These are fantastic characters who could use a good dose of Christmas spirit. Now with so many Christmas movie meanies out there I wouldn’t call this the definitive list. But I have no problem calling these five grumpy sticks-in-the-mud phenomenal.
#5 – Burgermeister Meisterburger (“Santa Claus is Coming to Town”)
Ok, so this is a cheat as it’s not from a movie. I don’t care. I love Burgermeister Meisterburger. Not only does he have one of the greatest names, but he’s a fantastic Christmas “movie” meanie. This stop-motion television classic from 1970 has been a perennial favorite particularly with older audiences (such as myself?). One of the many reasons I love it is because of Burgermeister. This cranky old cuss is the head of the fittingly named Sombertown and has the nerve to ban toys and imprison anyone caught with one. The great voice actor Paul Frees plays Burgermeister and he is such a treat. He brings this great character to life and I had to sneak him on my list.
#4 – Hans Gruber (“Die Hard”)
I still don’t consider “Die Hard” a Christmas movie (a debate for another time), but I’ll play along for the sake of this list because it certainly has a memorable holiday meanie. Evil German mastermind Hans Gruber and his merry band of terrorists crash the Nakatomi Plaza Christmas party and take the building hostage. Talk about a Grinch! The police department, SWAT teams, and the FBI all converge on the skyscraper, but Gruber is always one step ahead of them. What he didn’t count on was the “poison pill” (aka John McClane) running loose in the building foiling his plans. Alan Rickman gives a standout performance as Gruber in what was his feature film debut (still hard to believe).
#3 – Granville Sawyer (“Miracle on 34th Street”)
The sniveling and fidgety Granville Sawyer certainly tried to put a damper on Christmas in George Seaton’s wonderful “Miracle on 34th Street”. As Macy’s resident psychiatrist in name only, Sawyer is tasked with giving the store’s new department store Santa (aka Kris Kringle) a psychological evaluation. But Sawyer’s ego kicks in when Kris turns the table on him and he makes it his goal to have Santa Claus committed. Porter Hall is perfectly cast and you’ll certainly want to thump his head just as Santa did. In the end he gets whats coming to him and all ends well in this all-time Christmas classic.
#2 – Mr. Potter (“It’s a Wonderful Life”)
An argument could be made that old man Potter from Frank Capra’s classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” is the meanest, most despicable miser in any Christmas film. Henry Potter, a wealthy slumlord, is a constant thorn in the side of Bedford Falls and particularly George Bailey. He drains money from the small town and tries his best to shut down the Bailey Building and Loan which is the community’s one safe haven from Potter’s tyrannical hand. Potter lies, cheats, and steals. It’s no wonder we can’t stand the guy. The great Lionel Barrymore is brilliant in his portrayal and he gives us an unforgettable Christmas movie meanie.
#1 – Ebenezer Scrooge (“Scrooge”)
There have been many cinematic tellings of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. My personal favorite is the movie/musical from 1970 starring Albert Finney. Now we all know the story of Scrooge. He’s a miserable old miser who makes everyone around him equally miserable. He hates people and he most certainly hates Christmas. But three Christmas spirits bring along an amazing transformation in Scrooge. Finney is great as both the lovable and detestable Scrooge. And while I’m a little picky when it comes to musicals, the numbers in this film are a real treat. I know Scrooge is an obvious choice, but how could he not top this list?
There they are – a look back in time at five of the meanest Christmas movie characters. What do you think? Please take time to share your thoughts or your choices in the comments section below.And Merry Christmas.
Today the voting body of the Southeastern Film Critics Association (which I’m proudly a member of) has announced their choices for the best of the 2023 movie year. The big winner was Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” which was named Best Picture. In addition, the film took home honors for Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Ensemble, Best Cinematography, Best Score.
Below is the official press release from the Southeastern Film Critics Association along with a full list of the winners.
Monday, December 18, 2023 – The Southeastern Film Critics Association (SEFCA) has named Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer as the Best Picture of the Year. SEFCA’s eighty-nine members located across nine Southeastern states also recognized Christopher Nolan for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. Additionally, the film earned Best Actor for Cillian Murphy, Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey, Jr. and Best Ensemble for its star-studded cast that includes Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Aldren Ehrenreich, Jason Clarke, Tom Conti, Josh Hartnett, Kenneth Branagh and others. Behind the camera Oppenheimer took the top prizes for Best Cinematography (Hoyte Van Hoytema) and Best Score (Ludwig Goransson). “This fall featured three big films from three grandmasters of cinema,” said SEFCA President Scott Phillips. “Martin Scorsese released Killers of the Flower Moon. Ridley Scott brought Napoleon to the big screen and Michael Mann hits theaters next week with Ferrari. Despite this bumper crop from heavy-hitting auteurs, Christopher Nolan’s film from six months ago is walking away with eight SEFCA awards. Oppenheimer is a stunning cinematic achievement. Our members recognized that in July, and they are rewarding it in December.” When asked about the film year that was 2023, SEFCA Vice President Jim Farmer said, “2023 will be remembered by many as the year that featured the commercial, critical and cultural phenomenon known as Barbenheimer. But it was also a season that offered a stunning amount of high-quality films, with master filmmakers near the top of their games, fresher faces making strong impressions and performers showing new dimensions. It was a pleasure to take in all that 2023 had to offer.” Those “fresher faces” include writer/director Celine Song whose debut feature, Past Lives, lands at # 4 on SEFCA’s Top 10 of 2023, and writer/director Cord Jefferson whose debut feature, American Fiction, placed seventh in the SEFCA Top 10. The diverse list also includes an animated film (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) and two foreign films (Anatomy of a Fall, The Zone of Interest).
Read SEFCA’s full list of winners below. Visit SEFCA on the web at SEFCA.net to learn more about its members as well as past winners. You can also follow SEFCA on Twitter at @SEFilmCritics.
Top 10 Films of 2023
Oppenheimer
Killers of the Flower Moon
The Holdovers
Past Lives
Barbie
Poor Things
American Fiction
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Anatomy of a Fall
The Zone of Interest
Best Actor: Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Best Actress: Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
Best Supporting Actor: Robert Downey, Jr., Oppenheimer
Best Supporting Actress: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
Best Ensemble: Oppenheimer
Best Director: Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Best Original Screenplay: David Hemingson, The Holdovers
Best Adapted Screenplay: Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Best Documentary: Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
Best Animated Film: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Best Foreign-Language Film: Anatomy of a Fall
Best Cinematography: Hoyte Van Hoytema, Oppenheimer
Keith & the Movies 