The Holdovers: LFF Film Review
After the mess of Downsizing, I didn’t hold much hope for Alexander Payne‘s The Holdovers. Thankfully, it is a return to form and a festive delight.
Paul Giamatti plays Paul Hunham, a history teacher at the Barton Academy private boarding school for boys. With no family or social life to speak of, Hunham is asked to stay at the school over Christmas and look after five boys who cannot go home. After four of them sort out alternative plans, Hunham is left at the school with rebellious student Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa) and the cafeteria manager Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph).
The script for The Holdovers is superb – I loved the premise, the story beats, the dialogue and how certain character revelations played out. The writing is laugh-out-loud hilarious, sharp and heartfelt. Hunham has an extraordinary way with words and almost everybody is on the receiving end of his venomous tongue. His cruel barbs will make you laugh in shock at times! Angus and Mary are written really well too and are given plenty of laughs and moving moments themselves.
I also loved the appearance of the film. Payne has made it look like it was shot in the ’70s, adding a layer of visual authenticity to the story. It has the grainy look of that time and opens with title and rating cards from that period.
Giamatti, who previously worked with Payne on Sideways, is perfect as the grumpy loner who has dedicated his life to his work and expects the same from everyone else. I cannot imagine anyone else in the role. It’s hard to believe that Sessa is a complete newcomer because he holds his own against Giamatti so easily. Randolph adds a different energy into the mix as a grieving mother who doesn’t want to go home for Christmas. Obviously, neither Hunham nor Tully are happy about their situation but their time together changes them for the better.
The Holdovers is a funny, life-affirming movie with tremendous writing and performances. I loved it.
Seen at the London Film Festival. In cinemas from Friday 19th January