The Holdovers
Year: 2023
Rating: R
Length: 133 minutes / 2.22 hours
Ever since The Descendants (2011), I’ve appreciated the family dramas that Alexander Payne has brought to the big screen. After loving Nebraska (2013) and ignoring the mistake that was Downsizing (2017), I was ready to give another chance on The Holdovers (2023). I’m pleased to report that I think this film is his finest to date. Not only does it have a heartfelt story, but the way it was filmed made it truly feel like a movie from the 1970s was unearthed and brought to life through modern actors.
The story itself isn’t particularly original. A disliked teacher at a boarding school has to stay with the kids whose parents did not pick them up for Christmas break (the titular “holdovers”). However, the acting of the leads made it a joy to watch. It felt like The Dead Poets Society (1989) with the smart dialogue of a Tarantino film. Paul Giamatti stands out with his fantastic performance, which was merely lifted by similarly spectacular performances by Dominic Sessa and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. The amount of character growth and tough decisions all three go through in this film is enough to recommend it on that merit alone.
Having seen a lot of films in my life, it astonished me how well Payne mimicked the style of films from the 1970s. For most period pieces, the trappings of the era are the only thing the production designer considers. Cars. Clothes. Colors. Here, in a movie set during a time that had its own cultural identity in film, we see the emergence of a truly period piece—one that looks and sounds like it was made in the same era as its subject. I certainly hope Payne continues to make movies in this way, because it really adds depth to the immersion.
An expertly acted and perfect period piece, I give The Holdovers 5.0 stars out of 5.
