Director Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers is set in 1970 at the prestigious Barton Academy over the Christmas holiday. Barton history teacher Paul Hunham, played by Paul Giamatti, babysits a bunch of disgruntled college prep students whose families abandoned them over Christmas. Headmaster Dr. Hardy Woodrup, played by Andrew Garman, Paul’s former student, designates Paul as the boys’ keeper when his fellow faculty member faked his mother’s lupus diagnosis. Pretty low. Cafeteria cook Mary Lamb, played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph, prepared dinner for Mr. Hunham and the boys. Mary still grieves the loss of her son, who was killed in Vietnam. Spoiled rich kid Kountze, played with passionate zeal by Brady Hepner, says, “She [Mary] should just do her job!”
Placid Paul’s visage transforms instantly. He yells, “Will you just shut up!” He eloquently schools Kountze on why he’s a world-class asshole. Paul Giamatti is sublimely brilliant as the humanly flawed Paul, the tenured history teacher and lonely drunk. Paul Giamatti’s authentic decency resonated. Because of Giamatti, I was all in with The Holdovers.
Written by David Hemingson, The Holdovers is somewhat of a narrative tone mess that runs too long, taking its time to find its direction. Still, The Holdovers is imperfectly perfect; It’s all heart. The Holdovers is about family. Alexander Payne generates amazing performances from his talented cast, especially from Giamatti and Dominic Sessa, who plays suffering 15-year-old Angus Tully. Like Paul, Dominic is quietly powerful. Their touching screen partnership makes The Holdovers something very special.
Paul Giamatti’s Hunham resides on Headmaster Woodrup’s bad side. He failed the son of Barton’s richest benefactor because he was too stupid. Thus failing to get into Cornell. That cost Barton and Woodrup a lot of money. Originally, Hunham’s Christmas plans included staying home and reading. So, babysitting duty shouldn’t be some grave sacrifice. Besides, he’s getting paid.
Angus looked forward to the Christmas Holiday and spending vacation with his mom. However, his mom calls to inform him that she’s canceled their plans so that she can spend time with her new husband. Angus told everyone that his father had died and that his Mom had remarried some rich guy. He’s furious that he has to remain at Barton over the Holidays. When Hunham gives the boys their Holiday homework assignment, Angus cynically says, “I thought all the Nazis had left for Argentina.” Hemingson’s deft screenplay agilely flows with both pathos and comic irony.
Director Alexander’s narrative begins clumsily with the other Holderovers: entitled Kountze, Morman Alex, Korean student Ye-Joon, and quarterback Jason, believably played by Brady Hepner, Ian Dolley, Jim Kaplan, and Michael Provost. Alexander invests us in those boys. Yet, they’re a premeditated narrative diversion. In Act 2, Alexander touchingly enrolls in the lives of Paul, Angus, and Mary. Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph are starkly vulnerable and human in their roles.
While drinking whiskey with Mary, Hunham admits, “I like being alone.” In Paul Giamatti’s authenticity, that’s more submission than admission. Hunham never married, although he came close. His tragic flaw makes a relationship with women very improbable. When bright, charming Miss Crane, played by funny Carrie Preston, shows a distinct interest in Paul, he dismisses her. Paul Giamatti’s muted suffering as Hunham is heartbreaking. His life sucks, and openly surrenders to that.
Sessa’s Angus finger paints with pretty Elise, played by beautiful, spirited Darby Lee-Stack, at Miss Crane’s Christmas Party. Elise laughs, “Are you trying to look down my shirt?” Angus shyly admits, “Yes.” He’s genuinely sweet. Much of Sessa’s moving performance is in his eyes. His joy and his pain are profoundly in there. In the poignant narrative arc, Angus confesses his fear that he’ll become like his father. Paul gently looks at Angus. He says, “You are not your father. You are your own man.” Angus cried. So, did I. I get what it’s like to be Angus. Paul becomes the father who Angus needs, although he never had children of his own. Through their roles, Paul Giamatti and Dominic Sessa touchingly share their humanity.
Sad Mary visits her pregnant sister Peggy, played by solid Juanita Pearl. Mary lovingly lays the baby clothes of her late son in the dresser drawer. That touched my heart. Life is short. Time is undefeated. Those we love will pass on. Still, love passes on, as well. Da’Vine Joy Randolph is rock solid as Mary, the emotional anchor of The Holdovers.
Mary makes Christmas dinner for the three of them at Barton. Angus radiantly smiles, “This is the first family dinner I’ve had…” It’s the first real family he’s had, too. Life is about family, those we love, and those who love us back, whether or not we’re related by blood. In Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers, those we love live and pass away, yet love remains present. There’s always the possibility of love. That makes The Holdovers something very special, too.
Watch the official trailer for The Holdovers:
***
