The Holdovers *****

Starring: Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Dominic Sessna

Director: Alexander Payne

Duration Running Time: (approx) 2 Hours 13 Minutes (133 Mins)

Certification Rating Certificate :15

Distribution : Universal Pictures (UK) - (A Comcast Company), Focus Features (A Comcast Company), Miramax, (A be IN Media Group And Paramount Global Company), Gran Via

Ladies and Gentleman, we are only over halfway into the first month of January, and there are about only 'three hundred and forty odd days' until 'the festive season of 2024', but now we have a movie that is set during 'the festive period' and in the case of 'THE HOLDOVERS' from acclaimed movie director Alexander Payne - this is in fact 'his eighth movie' - plus this is the second collaboration between Giamatti and Payne - and who's also noted for directing satirical depictions of contemporary American society with movies such as 'CITIZEN RUTH' (1996), featuring Laura Dern (daughter of Bruce) as Ruth Stoops, 'ELECTION' (1999), featuring Matthew Broderick as a high-school teacher and also Reese Witherspoon as a student politician, 'ABOUT SCHMIDT' (2002), featuring Jack Nicholson, as Warren Schmidt, 'SIDEWAYS' (2004), featuring Thomas Haden-Church as Jack Cole, a 'past-his-prime' actor and also Giamatti as Miles Raymond, a depressed teacher, and also 'an unsuccessful writer' - these are two men in their forties who are simply looking forward to an adventure in a life that's set on the open road, 'THE DESCENDANTS' (2011), featuring George Clooney and Shailene Woodley and 'NEBRASKA' featuring Bruce Dern (father of Laura) as Woodrow 'Woody' T. Grant - an elderly resident of Montana.

However, as annoyingly cliched as it might be that when someone complains that they just don't make them like they used to then it doesn't make it any less true, but also that as a matter of fact that it's more truer that ever right now that include many streamers that are even more focused even more on smartphone content than movies for many cinema screens that when someone that 'actually does make one' like they used to do, then it's not hard to get a little moony.

And so as indebted to his noble 'nostalgic' mission of a crusade, Payne, who's not only a film director, but like Martin Scorsese and also Christopher Nolan has also become 'a cinema restoration enthusiast' - they are classed as 'cinematic champions' because they are very passionate about their craft and who has 'made an original old-school movie' - this is simply classed as 'a term' that is often used to describe something that is no longer in either fashion or even popular - but it is also refers to something that is also either classed as even classic or timeless - that is also 'set in the 1970's', ranging from the more gimmicky pure original vintage idents right at the beginning and also continues right down to the overall aesthetic, from many camera angles, fades, casting choices to original film stock, but then 'THE HOLDOVERS' which had its 'premiere' at Telluride Film Festival - 'TFF' - situated in Colorado, before moving on to Toronto, is far from pastiche; for this is in fact classed as 'a sensitively acted' and also 'a delicately written comedy-drama' that this movie in question even has a life of its own.

But not only does it recall as 'an intimate' and also a 'character-led' movies of its time, but has also got the sorts of movies that were made such as 'the nineties' and even 'the noughties' the 'MIRAMAX' Film Studios originally owned by the Weinstein Brothers - Harvey and Bob - 'INDEPENDENT' - 'INDIE' movies that originally 'broke out' at Sundance, - and also charmed all those who saw these on their original route ('think of this as 'THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD') en route to its final destination stop that's known to many as 'THE HOLY GRAIL OF CINEMA' - notably the ACADEMY AWARDS 'aka' 'THE OSCARS' situated in Hollywood, where dreams are made and also fulfilled when winning 'the coveted golden-statuette'.

Just for the record, the film in question may be set in December 1970, however it is not exactly 'BASED ON A TRUE STORY' but it is certainly inspired by real-life people and also the events that are close to the filmmakers in question.

David Hemingson, the film's screenwriter, had in fact drawn the original inspiration from his unique own experiences and also the many people close to his life - and that the original characters in the film - are in fact inspired by real people: ie: Paul's original character is in fact inspired by Earl Cahail, Hemingson's maternal uncle, the character of Mary is in fact inspired by his mother and also the character of Angus - also happens to be a version of himself, and so while the film in question - is not classed as - 'a direct recounting of true events', - but it does 'have extreme roots in real-life experiences - as well as people'.

The movie in question is classed as an American Christmas comedy drama set in December 1970, and the film follows Paul Hunham (Giamatti), described by many as 'a strict classics professor' situated at Barton Academy, a New England boarding school,Hunham (unlike the actor who's portraying him has 'a lazy eye'- just for the record 'a lazy eye' - amblyopia - is when the vision in one eye does not develop properly and rarely both eyes can be affected -but this does not always cause symptoms and is often first diagnosed during an eye test - although neither the actor nor even the film crew have revealed how the effect was produced) also Hunham is disliked by his students and also his fellow teachers for his harsh grading as well as his stern attitude, however as 'punishment' from Dr Hardy Woodrup, the headmaster of the Academy (Andrew Garman) who berates Hunham for costing 'the Academy' in question - involving 'an important donor', by simply failing his 'grades' and which also led to the donor's son being rejected from Princeton University - which as a result - Hunham in question is in fact 'forced to supervise' - the 'holdover' students that are left on campus for the festive holidays.

Now among the holdovers is Angus Tully (Sessna), whose mother Judy Clotfelter (Gillian Vigman), abruptly canceled a trip to Saint Kitts (officially known as Saint Christopher - 'the patron saint of travellers' - and is an island that's situated in the West Indies) to honeymoon with Stanley Clotfelter (Tate Donovan), her new husband and also Angus's stepfather, but also staying behind at the Academy is Mary Lamb (Randolph), a cafeteria administrator,( the meaning of a cafeteria is in fact a 'restaurant' where many customers who use this 'unique service' serve and also select 'the many items' that are required for consumption - ie : eat and also drink - from a service counter - and also pay their purchases of food and drink - before consuming themselves) who also happens to be grieving for the loss of her son during the Vietnam war where he was serving and also fighting not only for his beloved country he was also an alumnus at Barton Academy and is silently and also quietly grieving her first Christmas without him, however despite the initial dismay Hunham imposes studying and also the exercise during the holdovers' festive break.

But then six days later, into the festive break, the wealthy father of one of the students arrives by helicopter and agrees to take all the students on the family's ski-trip for the duration of the festive holidays, however when Angus, unable to reach his parents including Thomas Tully,(Stephen Thorne), who also happens to be Angus's institutionalised father (who by the way is still 'ALIVE' and is in a sanitorium due to past mental illnesses and also violent outbursts) for permission to go on the ski trip with the other students - these include the following such as Teddy Kountze (Brady Hepner) Angus's enemy, Alex Ollerman (Ian Dolley), a member of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Ye-Joon Park (Jim Kaplan), an international student from Korea, and also Jason Smith (Michael Provost), the Barton's football team quarterback - it is then that he is left behind at the Barton Academy along with Hunham and Mary, it soon turns out when Hunham catches Angus trying to arrange a hotel room, Angus then impulsively runs through 'the school halls - as you do' while Hunham chases him but then Angus defiantly 'leaps' into a pile of gym equipment - thus resulting in dislocating his arm - as a result, but upon arriving at the hospital Angus in question 'lies' simply to protect Hunham from the original blame.

Later on Hunham flirts with Lydia Crane, (Carrie Preston), the deputy headmistress after both he and Angus first encounter her at a restaurant, and in return she invites Hunham and Angus to a festive Christmas Eve party.

Then on Christmas Eve, Angus, Hunham, Mary and also Danny (Naheem Garcia), the janitor situated at Barton Academy all attend the party that's hosted by Lydia herself, and while Angus hangs out and also kisses Elise (Darby Lily Lee-Stack), which also happens to be Lydia's niece, Hunham is extremely disappointed that Lydia in question has a boyfriend (Ian Lyons), and also Mary, who by now, is extremely drunk has 'an emotional breakdown' over her son's death. but Hunham in desperation insists on leaving the Christmas party early, and while arguing with Hunham, Angus shouts very angrily that his original father is dead, and that this causes Mary to chastise Hunham for his insensistivity.

Hunham having reflected upon his behaviour, then puts together a package consisting of a small Christmas celebration, and with Mary's persuasion grants Angus's wish for a 'field trip' to Boston, the three of them along with Danny reunite on New Year's Eve -December 31 - but en route they drop off Mary in Roxbury to spend time with Peggy (Juanita Pearl), Mary's sister who's also pregnant, and when Hunham and Angus arrive in Boston, the two of them bond over various activities including ice-skating and also a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts, but while both Hunham and Angus are there visiting the museum, they happen to bump into one of Hunham classmates from Harvard University who has become a successful academic.

But when prompted, it is Hunham who lies about his career, and that Angus simply plays along, but Hunham confesses to Angus that he was expelled from Harvard University after assaulting a colleague, and who happened to be the son of a legacy donor who framed him for plagiarism - (this is actually classed as the representation of another person's language, thoughts, ideas or even an expression as one's own original work) - with a car, and that after the unfortunate incident that simply ruined Hunham's career prospects, a simple connection to a teacher at Barton Academy had allowed him to secure a teaching position at the Academy and that between the two of them that they express each other in a unique friendship between teacher and student.

However between the three main leads consisting of Giamatti, Randolph and Sessna who all give memorable performances throughout by simply coming together, then apart for a while and then back together again are far subtler and that the trio in question create an unlikely unit - the writing by Hemingson in question is without doubt is superb as ever, as is the pure direction from Payne who sweetens and also sprinkles this film that's also sugarcoated with success.

But 'THE HOLDOVERS' which also has a fab movie soundtrack is also classed as a festive movie - this means that around the festive season that comes only 'ONCE A YEAR' are either 'reissued in many movie theaters' that movie fans will go and see and also appreciate the storylines around 'this special time of the year' because of the experience - which is ok - but they are shown on tv channels as well and many of us make it a yearly ritual -and that in many years to come this is one of the festive movies of all time.

This is one masterpiece of a movie that's simply not to be missed.

DON'T MISS IT !

David M.G.Mitchell