Time: 133 Minutes
Age Rating: M – Offensive language
Cast:
Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham
Dominic Sessa as Angus Tully
Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Mary Lamb
Director: Alexander Payne

I have been hearing things about The Holdovers, mainly that it was a major awards contender directed by Alexander Payne and starring Paul Giamatti. I was a little sceptical going in, but it actually lived up to all the acclaim.

The premise is very familiar, with it being about a few people who bond together over the holidays. It doesn’t do anything revolutionary by any means, but it does it very well nonetheless. It is helped by an amazing script, I was hooked instantly, and the pacing was pretty smooth throughout. It definitely draws inspiration from 70s comedy dramas, and the time period of the movie is firmly in the 70s, with the ongoing Vietnam War in the background. It is very heartfelt, heartwarming, and emotionally absorbing throughout. It’s very sweet and sentimental, but in a genuine and sincere way. It is also a very funny movie, the dialogue is very snappy and memorable. At the same time, there is this bittersweet element to it, and works as a study on loneliness and grief, especially with the three main characters. It travels between tones seamlessly and works in all aspects.

The cast are all great, but it mainly comes down to a few actors, Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. This trio is amazing and they share great chemistry. Paul Giamatti gives one of the year’s best performances, playing a grumpy old curmudgeon of a teacher who’s widely disliked at the school. He’s definitely funny, but also gives the role such nuance and depth, it might be his best performance. The biggest surprise is Dominic Sessa, who plays a troubled student that Paul Giamatti has to look after. This is actually his big screen debut, but he’s fantastic and holds his own against the other actors, especially Giamatti. Da’Vine Joy Randolph is also amazing and has her own story that fits in very well with the story, as her character is dealing with her own grief during the holidays.

The handling of the direction is solid. Something that’s immediately clear is that it is going for a a 70s feel and aesthetic, with the retro studio logos, film grain and zooms, fades and dissolves. The costumes and production design also help to capture the 70s very well. It’s actually shot on digital, but you wouldn’t know that by looking at the movie, it looks shot on film. The fact that they filmed at real locations and not sets really adds to the movie, and helps it feel real. This is particularly the case with all the snow, the cold environments and winter atmosphere are really felt on screen. The song choices are also great and fit the vibe its going for.

The Holdovers is a heartfelt, funny, bittersweet and sincere dramedy, excellently written, and with amazing performances from Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa. One of the best of the year, and it’s not surprising that some people have already called this a future Christmas classic.