The following review was made possible by attending a Press and Industry screening of The Holdovers at the London Film Festival 2023. The Holdovers will release in UK cinemas on January 19, 2024.
In The Holdovers, a curmudgeonly instructor (Paul Giamatti) at a New England prep school 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 (Dominic Sessa)— and with the school’s head cook (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), who has just lost a son in Vietnam.
Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers is rich in storytelling as it presents a constantly shifting dynamic of a student-teacher relationship forced to get along with each other, as they spend the snowy Christmas break together in what ends up becoming a heartwarming and hilarious story, which is not afraid to pull at the heartstrings.
Completely Authentic And Funny
What made this film so enjoyable was having the ability to laugh along with an audience through the film’s many comedic moments. For a film that tackles ideas of grief, separation and depression, it is incredibly nuanced thanks to its hilarious jokes from beginning to end. David Hemingson’s script features bizarre comedy including the likes of “candy canes”, sex stories said to “curl your toes” as well as Dominic Sessa’s Angus dislocating his shoulder leading to a scene of vomit and pushing it back in, making for a hilarious, yet grim moment.
I can’t express how impressed I was with how easily and quickly the film can restore your joy following an emotional scene playing out, it is a credit to both the writing and performances of the actors.
Payne’s vision for the film is completely authentic and helps make the experience that much better. The film feels like it was made back during its setting in 1970, thanks to its colour choices and various framing techniques used. It’s also worth noting that Payne has used technology and lenses from the exact decade too, really expressing how dedicated he is to his craft, and the final production of the film.
A Triple Threat
Each of the film’s three main stars brings something different to the table when it comes to their performances. Giamatti’s character, Paul Hunham, is clearly set out to be an incredibly lonesome person, one presented as a strict, grouchy History teacher who has had a career of disappointment, which leads to even more when he is required to look after The Holdovers – the term for students with nowhere to go during the festive holidays.
Giamatti is a delight to watch from start to end, managing to accomplish a huge range of emotions in one performance. With his skills on display, Giamatti takes no prisoner whatsoever, even when cracking a joke or when his character is providing words of wisdom to his student, Angus Tully.
Tully, portrayed by newcomer Dominic Sessa, is very outspoken as a teenager, especially when in the school setting – causing disruptions whenever he sees the opportunity to. But it is the proximity created by the holidays that makes for a really interesting chemistry to develop between the male leads. Tully doesn’t visit his mother and step-father for the holidays, all whilst grieving his father – he is forced to spend time with Hunham and Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) before they embark on a post-Christmas trip to Boston – something Tully had hoped to do with his mother.
It is Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s performance which touched me the most. Early on we discover that Mary Lamb’s son passed away, fighting in the Vietnam War. Whilst not in the film as much as I would have liked to see, her performance is just as impactful as her co-stars – on multiple occasions, the demonstration of her grief is utterly heartbreaking, and it is Randolph’s acting that tugs away at the heartstrings.
I did become emotional during one specific scene where Lamb is seen keeping her son’s military uniform in her wardrobe – I was a wreck… I hope this performance gets some form of award recognition, or at least hope to see her getting it in the future as I’m sure we will get it… Definitely one to keep an eye out for!
It’s A Christmas Film, What More Could You Want?
I will never say no to a Christmas film, so upon discovering that the events of the film unfolded over the holidays, I was incredibly excited. The film embraces the festive season, with the school choir providing Christmas hymns, plenty of old songs, as well as plenty of snow and decorations (even minimal ones, in an attempt for Giamatti’s character to spread as much joy as he can).
For a film that explores the themes of belonging and family, Christmas is arguably the most fitting and crucial backdrop. The festive season is generally synonymous with family gatherings, and given that the characters in the film are distanced from their own families, each facing distinct external challenges affecting their family lives, it seems intricately crafted. This setting enhances the emotional nuances of the film, making it even more impactful.
‘The Holdovers’ – Final Thoughts
Thanks to its perfect cast of three superb actors, The Holdovers ends up being the biggest surprise of 2023 for me. Whilst the film deals with deeply emotional themes such as grief, depression and separation – it’s quickly able to cheer the viewer up to make the perfect nuanced experience. Couldn’t recommend this film more…
The Holdovers is set to release in UK cinemas on January 19, 2024. Check out a trailer for the film below:
