A One Mann’s Movies Film Review of “The Holdovers” (2024).
Rather irritatingly for a ‘Christmas classic’ we have only just got “The Holdovers” released in the UK. (It seems to be on limited release this week, with more screenings promised from next Friday). But it was worth waiting for. And I can see now why Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and (to a lesser extent) Dominic Sessa have been getting such awards attention.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) is a cranky classics teacher at Barton Academy. The students hate him. Most of the teachers hate him too. He is given ‘babysitting’ duties between Christmas and New Year for four students who really don’t want to be there…. particularly given the harsh regime imposed by Hunham.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC web site: “strong language, brief nudity”).
Talent:
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa, Carrie Preston, Naheem Garcia, Brady Hepner, Ian Dolley, Jim Kaplan.
Directed by: Alexander Payne
Written by: David Hemingson.
Twitter Handle: #TheHoldovers.
Running Time: 2h 13m.
“The Holdovers” Film Review:
Positives:
- The acting here is simply superb:
- Paul Giamatti won the Best Actor award at the recent Golden Globes, and if it wasn’t for Cillian Murphy in “Oppenheimer” I would be predicting a clean sweep at all of the awards. His portrayal on the largely washed up teacher and his journey of enlightenment through the film is just brilliant. (Though in terms of a role model for drink-driving, he leaves a lot to be desired!).
- Equally impressive, and amaingly in his movie debut, is Dominic Sessa as the stranded and disturbed Angus Tully. As a foil for Hunham’s grumpiness, he is simply superb and the chemistry between the two of them in the finale is just magical.
- Finally, Da’Vine Joy Randolph (also a Golden Globe winner) is wonderful in the role of the grieving cook Mary Lamb. She actually doesn’t have a lot of lines – – but with looks and the odd grunt, she conveys so much.
- Many of the supporting roles are also worthy of praise. I particularly enjoyed Carrie Preston playing the flighty and flirty school secretary cum part-time waitress. If, like me, you were banging your head trying to remember where you knew her from so well, she played the comical Carrie Preston – the ditzy lawyer – in both “The Good Wife” and “The Good Fight” series.
- The direction by Alexander Payne is pacy and I was never bored despite its 133 minute run-time. Some of the shot-blocking is wonderful.
- The script by David Hemingson is razor sharp. It mixes zinging comedy lines with scenes of great pathos that moved me.
- I LOVED the 70’s setting (not a good advert for anti-smoking campaigns). This is set wonderfully in the opening of the film by the 1970’s style Universal logo and the grainy old logos for both Focus Features and Miramax. And preceeding all of this is an old BBFC “AA” certification card!
Negatives:
- It’s pretty much perfection. But the one thing that made me knock a half star off was a jokey reference to cancer in a closing scene. I had the same complaint from a Taika Waititi (presumed) ‘ad-lib’ in “Free Guy” so I feel I ought to be consistent. Cancer is not funny… period!
Summary Thoughts on “The Holdovers”
I was soooo near a 5* rating on this one. It’s a wonderfully put together film and a strong candidate already for my films of the year 2024 list. And nice of Everyman Salisbury to make their Screen 1 frigid to make you appreciate the snowy Christmas landscape! Who needs Cineworld’s 4D?!
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Trailer for “The Holdovers”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhKLpJmHhIg .
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