Recent Review: ‘The Holdovers’

By JOHN CARTER JR

Tiger Media Network

You never know the entire truth behind one’s story. Unless you make a real attempt to get to know somebody, you may never understand even a fraction of their experiences. Passing you by every day are people of varying backgrounds whose untapped stories are filled with precious wisdom or understanding. If we were forced to sit down with these people and actually discuss what’s often left and said, then maybe we would have the opportunity to grow. To relate to others that we may never have considered to relate to in the first place, and subsequently become better people because of it. We all make mistakes, we all have triumphs,  we all have been hurt,  and we all love. Throughout these experiences or feelings, we may be able to come to a better understanding of one another only if they are spoken and shared. Maybe we could feel less alone through our understanding. 

This year has had some amazing film releases: “Barbie,” “Shin Kamen Rider,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “Scream 6,” “Ballerina,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” and who can forget “Insidious: The Red Door?” Well, some were better than others and my opinion has shifted on some of these entries. That being said, there is one film that was released in the last quarter of this year that stands among the best of 2023 films. The reason for this is in its aesthetic choices (colors, era theming, wardrobes, and environments), its cast’s performances, and the heart of its story – Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers.” 

The film stars Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham, Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Mary Lamb and newcomer Dominic Sessa as Angus Tully. It tells the story of Mr. Hunham, an instructor at Barton Academy, who is in charge of the holdover students for winter break. School cook Mary Lamb stays at Barton to make meals for the remaining students. After a certain set of events and most of the students leaving, Junior Angus Tully is the last student remaining. 

The film stands out as probably the best holiday film of the season and one of my favorites in the past five years. It serves a heaping helping of its 1970s theme through not only its colors but its framing. The clothing is aesthetically pleasing and so are the environments that the trio is able to explore. There are many images that I remember seeing throughout the story that stand out as striking. Whether it be a snowy image of Barton campus, the colors of Christmas lights gently floating in the periphery of these urban areas, or even the greenish tint that feels reminiscent of “Fallen Angels” yet for some reason gives nostalgic vibes. Most interestingly explored and shown is what a campus looks like without a bunch of people filling up its halls. As a student who often attended after-school care throughout my grade school years in a Catholic private school, called extended care back then, this film was a reminder of the empty hallways or classrooms to be explored by the remaining students. The film elicits feelings of running down a hallway, knowing that there’s no authority to tell you to stop running.

Each member of this main trio has a backstory that is not only deeply moving but is expressed through each cast member’s exquisite performance. Sessa is amazing in his role. Being left alone for the holidays can be heartbreaking and feeling unwanted as a child to parents who are either uninterested or unavailable can be one of the most harsh, isolating feelings of rejection. Sessa was able to deliver a performance that strummed an empathetic cord in my heart that made me shed a few tears for his plight with his parents. To feel like you have been forgotten and left behind, to not want to be like the people who brought you into this world, or to feel like you are a burden or bother to those very same people is a painful feeling to bear. 

Through this storyline, we are able to reinvigorate our feelings. We are not forgotten, we do not have to be like the people who brought us into this world, we will find our place among people who make us feel loved, appreciated, and respected. To do the latter, we must allow ourselves the openness to connect with others, even those we may not have considered. Mary and Paul are able to bestow some wisdom onto each other and to Angus, Which allows this film to feel even more like a real family for the three short weeks they spend together. There’s a moment in the film, without giving the exact moment away, where Mr. Hunham discovers Angus is more like him than he originally knew, which is striking. Moments like these make the ending of the film all the more effective in that they show that true connectivity is made through understanding or shared experiences. 

“The Holdovers” is a film that I would call a modern holiday classic with a nostalgic twist. It is an excellent film that is moving in terms of its emotional performance, aesthetic qualities, and wonderful story. It certainly has some heartbreaking moments, however through its character’s growth, it is able to give us a hopeful story of connection. The standout role among this excellent cast was newcomer Dominic Sessa who paired excellently with veteran actor Paul Giamatti. The film gave me hope not only for the potential for empathy in connecting with people but also for more performances by Sessa in the future. For those who haven’t seen it, it is an excellent film to see with either family or alone during the cold winter season. For those who have no people to spend the holidays with, it may help with those seasonal blues.