The Holdovers
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Directed By: Alexander Payne
Rated: R
The holidays are a time for family, friends, and celebration. A time of comfort and joy. For some, the holidays aren’t quite filled with cheer. They can be a time to reflect on a less than stellar year, a time to think about the Christmases of the past, and remember the loved ones we’ve lost.
For boarding school student Angus (Dominic Sessa), this holiday season was supposed to be his time to get away from the stifling halls of Barton Academy. He was going to spend Christmas with his mom at the beach. Sure, her annoying new husband would be there, but at least he’d get a break from school. That all changes when Angus gets a call. Plans have changed and his mom decided to cancel the trip to go on vacation with her husband. He’s going to be one of the holdovers, a group of students with nowhere to go for the holidays. It’s a nightmare scenario considering Mr. Hunham (Paul Giamatti) is in charge, the most hated teacher in the school. To call him a grinch would be an understatement. He makes the holdovers observe their school schedule during the break while every ounce of Christmas decor is stripped from the school. So much for a fun holiday break. At least Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), the school chef stays on to work through the season. She seems to be the only person around with compassion. Will Angus make it through the holiday break with Mr. Hunham in charge?
Alexander Payne (About Schmidt, Election) directs one of my favorites of the year in The Holdovers. This is part coming-of-age tale and part Christmas movie with a whole lot of character depth. Payne captures the 70s aesthetic wonderfully throughout the film. The costuming, sets, and music choices fit the theme in a way that transports you to the time period. It feels like we are right there with the characters. What begins as a crabby teacher/rebellious student dynamic turns into something much more interesting as the film unfolds. Payne paces the film so we get just enough information about these characters to keep us deeply invested.
What an excellent script by David Hemingson. This isn’t a groundbreaking concept or wild scenario. Yet, The Holdovers feels extremely realistic. In many ways, it’s a coming-of-age film for Angus, Mary, and Paul - an impressive feat considering two of the characters are already adults. I’m impressed by the film’s depiction of grief and depression, a common thread that binds the three leads. The dark twisted halls of Barton Academy act as a prison for Angus’ holiday season and on a much larger scale, the characters emotional turmoil. Mary grieves her first holiday season without her son, Angus laments his complicated family life, and Paul is in a rut at the claustrophobic school he can’t seem to leave. Through the course of the film, the three try to open up and help each other through their struggles. Getting out of Barton makes things a little brighter. It’s lovely to see these very different characters in varying stages of life learn from each other and find common ground. Don’t misunderstand, The Holdovers has plenty of humor and heart. It’s not all sad. It balances the line in such an impressive way.
Paul Giamatti leads the film as Mr. Hunham, the teacher who lives by a strict code of conduct at Barton Academy. He is rigid in his teaching approach with little breathing room for his students. Giamatti’s humor shines in the film with sarcastic one liners on display as he has a comeback for every insult the students throw at him. Giamatti plays Hunham with an impressive acting range. He may seem like a stereotypical grumpy old man in the beginning of the film, but Giamatti turns him into a fascinating character with an emotional backstory.
This is Dominic Sessa’s first acting role, which is amazing. He is exceptional as Angus, the troubled teen who just wants a normal Christmas vacation. Angus is living through a nightmare scenario for many. Stuck at school for Christmas break with a teacher who wants you to study the whole time? Angus seems like a cocky troublemaker set on defying the rules any chance he gets. He and Mr. Hunham butt heads at every turn. Sessa’s layered performance shows there is much more to Angus than the rebellious exterior. As we get to know more about him, we see there is much more going on that he keeps under the surface. His dynamic with Mr. Hunham is very humorous as the two bicker endlessly but eventually find unexpected common ground. Sessa and Giamatti are excellent scene partners who bring out the humanity in their respective characters.
Davine Joy Randolph is a scene stealer as Mary, the school chef. Randolph showcases a side of grief that is not over-the-top or too understated. It’s incredibly realistic and true to life. Her journey of life after her son is one she never expected to walk, but bravely moves through. This is a wonderful performance that should receive awards attention.
The Holdovers is a wonderful film with a message of humor, heart, and healing. Don’t miss this one this holiday season.
My Rating: 9/10