The Holdovers

 Nominated for: Picture, Lead Actor (Paul Giamatti), Supporting Actress (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), Original Screenplay, Editing

IMDB Summary: A cranky history teacher at a remote prep school is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a troubled student who has no place to go and a grieving cook. 

Let me start by saying I took very few notes during the viewing of this film, mostly because I was thoroughly enjoying the movie simply as a viewer, rather than a reviewer. There is so much to like about the nostalgia, plot, script, and performances! At a glance, it sets up to be another story about a grumpy teacher who works to reform his wayward students, setting them on the path to success for the future. While there are moments of that, this film takes a much more interesting turn than what it appears at face value. 

After the setup of the boarding school and basic character tropes, we're left to watch Mr. Hunham (Giamatti) survive the 2 week Christmas break with a band of 5 "holdover" boys who, for various reasons, are unable to go home to their families. At this point, I'm thinking "oh, the boys will learn and grow from each other, escaping their biased views of the world and learn some life lessons from their misunderstood grouch of a teacher, all while getting some comfort and love from the school's cook." And then, 4 of the boys are magically saved from their dull fate. Three lonely soles left - but no shortage of action, snark, or compassion. 

There is a lot to appreciate throughout the film, particularly the performances by the three leads. Giamatti and Da'Vine Joy Randolph are nominated for their portrayals of the seasoned teacher and saddened school cook and I have to admit, they were both such a joy to watch. I feel like I have seen Giamatti play roles of this nature before, but he had such a scary yet gentle way of bringing this seemingly stagnant character into full technicolor. He had some of the best lines in the script - some great one line zingers mixed in with profound perspectives on life. Being as his character is a history teacher, he has a natural way of mixing in themes from the ancient worlds he talks about in his class into many of his interactions with the modern world and the people around him. But, he also keeps you wondering how to feel about him: are we supposed to pity his life circumstance or do we revere him for his ability to influence? He is really fascinating to watch and I found myself acutely attuned to the words he was speaking, eagerly awaiting his next clever, whimsical quip. 

Like many great supporting actress nominees, Randolph steals scenes. Not because she's loud or overtly sassy, but because she's real and relatable. She often puts to words the thoughts and feelings of the viewing audience, calling out characters and situations for what they are. But, as entertaining as her character can be, she also has this palpable grief that dims her light. She has lost someone very important to her, and while the loss alone is a horrible tragedy, the unfairness of that loss is what really makes you grieve with her. And again, her character is not the sterotypical, comic-relief side character. She keeps the audience on pointe, oscillating between the voice of reason and a person equally in need of guidance. Most of Randolph's prior acting roles have been in comedic performances, she really shines in this lovely mix of drama sweetened with hints of laughter. 

The last holdover boy, Angus, completes the trio of misfits. He's portrayed by Dominic Sessa, who is just as captivating as Giamatti and Randolph. He isn't nominated for his performance, but there's a strong argument he should be. As with Giamatti and Randolph's characters, Angus is another role that reads deeper than the typical lost boy persona. Obviously, he has plenty if moments of the cocky teenager with plenty of angst towards the world, but he also has phenomenal scenes where his character stimulates the growth of the two adults who fill in psuedo parental roles. It's his first film role, but my word, he holds his own alongside the other two and brings just as much emotion, depth, and life to this story as his costars. 

This screenplay hits on so many levels. Besides going in a direction I wasn't fully anticipating, it had so many great lines of laughter and words of wisdom scattered throughout. I loved the ride this film goes on - I experienced so many emotions throughout this story from laughter to tears. There are varying levels of humor mixed in with moments that tug on the heartstrings. I also think this story gives viewers the freedom to adjust the level of immersion with it - I think it appeals for the casual viewer, but also offer so much depth to dissect for those who wish to pursue it. 

I just enjoyed this film. I tried to think of clever ways to describe it but honestly, at the end of the movie, I just really liked it. It's a linear story that you can watch at face value and appreciate. But it also has weight and depth to explore futher, which enhances one's appreciation of the story and it's characters. Many of the best picture nominees that I watch really make me ponder and require active note taking during the film to capture my thoughts and guide my review. Not the case with this one. It was enjoyable. Plain and simple. 

Available to rent on Amazon Prime.