The Holdovers Movie Review
“Sublime” is the perfect word for director Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers.” The film stars Paul Giammati as a shitty teacher who discovers he actually has a heart, thanks to an unlikely friendship with a student who also has a heart. asshole. Dominic Sessa plays Angus Tully, a smart but troubled teenager stuck under the strict tutelage of teacher Paul Hunnam during the winter holidays. They hate each other, but their petulant attitudes gradually begin to damage each other’s vulnerable facade. “The Holdovers” is a movie that never interested me, but Mr. Payne (“Election,” “Sideways,” “Descendants”) should never be underestimated. This is a small movie with the least amount of plot inertia and the lowest stakes. Still, every moment of this damn movie is just…sublime. Beautifully shot with a soothing old-school aesthetic that all but massages your tender muscles in your chair, Payne establishes a wonderful atmosphere that feels lived in–and makes you feel as if you’re they’re, too.
Working from a screenplay by David Hemingson, the actors and their incredible chemistry with one another elevate the material beat by beat. Giamatti is at his very best, which says something, and Sessa is downright fantastic. Da’Vine Joy Randolph is also sensational in a supporting role; it’s an award-worthy performance if I’ve ever seen one.I struggle with writing reviews that work so well, so I’ll cut this short: The Holdovers is easily one of the best movies of the year, a perfect little piece of filmmaking and performance art that is funny, entertaining, powerful, and immersive. Oh, and sublime.