POPZ-CULTURE Movie Reviews – The holdovers (2023)
By: Marton Szakadath
Genre: Comedy, drama
Rated: 12
Directed by: Alexander Payne
Written by: David Hemingson
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa
Although Christmas has passed, the festive spirit fortunately does not disappear from one day to the other. If you’re planning to stay at home and watch movies until New Year’s Eve, we’ve got another streaming gem for you. The Holdovers was one of the best contenders in the 2024 Oscar line-up. It’s much more than an average Christmas movie, and it won’t leave you without some valuable thoughts.
The long-awaited winter break has arrived for teachers and students at Barton Academy. However, there are some who, for various reasons, will not be able to go home for the holidays. Tully (Dominic Sessa) is staying away from his family because his mother wants to honeymoon with her new husband. Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) is mourning the loss of her son and insists on staying within the school walls until the New Year. And Professor Hunham (Paul Giamatti), the school’s stern and insufferable history teacher, is appointed by the headmaster himself to oversee the remaining students.
As good dramedy should be, The Holdovers offers the most in terms of detailed characterisation and dialogue between the participants. There is enough time for us to get to know each of them in depth. The personality-shaping moments in their past are gradually revealed. And when they disagree, the intentions and feelings of the opposing parties are fully understood. The creators are able and willing to deal with issues such as loneliness, regrets carried over decades, grief and mental illness. These are serious issues, but the film makes tasteful use of humour. You may not laugh loudly, but if you’re open to the sarcastic style, you’ll find plenty of moments of levity.
The story itself doesn’t have much to offer, but the second half of the film is much more eventful. There is more situation comedy and unexpected events. The visuals are deliberately old-fashioned. Of course, for a dialogue-driven creation we don’t want to complain, but we would have liked to see some more imaginative shots. The point is that the actors are all excellent. Paul Giamatti’s performance is commendable. Dominic Sessa has a bright future ahead if he is given similar opportunities to develop. Da’Vine Joy Randolph deservedly won the gold statue for Best Supporting Actress.
Experiences like The holdovers are sometimes much needed. It helps us recognise the constructive potential of community, the importance of gratitude, and that first impressions are not necessarily reliable indicators. As the famous saying goes: Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Have you seen the movie? If so, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. If not, we hope we’ve made you want to see it. All that remains is to thank you for your attention this year. We wish you a happy new year. You can still count on us in 2025 if you’re at a loss for cinema and streaming options. And if you’re in the mood for a tasty snack while watching a film or series, POPZ popcorn is the best choice.
