The Verdict
"Beautifully bittersweet,The Holdoversmarks a satisfying return to form for director Alexander Payne."
"Cute and touching if not laugh-out-loud hilarious,The Holdoversis a thought-provoking dramedy for viewers seeking a dialogue-driven movie with a throwback feel."
Movie Review and Other Insights
The Holdovers is a visionary Holiday, Comedy, Drama film directed by the acclaimed Alexander Payne (Mark Johnson). Released in theaters on Nov 10, 2023, Wide, this cinematic experience offers a fresh take on the classic narrative. Produced by Miramax and distributed by Focus Features, the film features a runtime of 2h 13m.
The story follows from acclaimed director Alexander Payne, THE HOLDOVERS follows a curmudgeonly instructor (Paul Giamatti) at a New England prep school who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually he forms an unlikely bond with one of them -- a damaged, brainy troublemaker (newcomer Dominic Sessa) -- and with the school's head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam (Da'Vine Joy Randolph). Leading the cast are star performers Alexander Payne, Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, who bring depth and intensity to their roles.
Rated R for Language|Brief Sexual Material|Some Drug Use, The Holdovers delivers a Dolby Digital audio experience presented in a Flat (1.66:1) aspect ratio. Critics have praised the film, stating: "Beautifully bittersweet,The Holdoversmarks a satisfying return to form for director Alexander Payne."
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Cast & Crew
Critic Reviews
"The format may be unsurprising but there is nothing unsurprising about just how good and enjoyable this is... this is the kind of bittersweet, character-dialogue driven piece they just don't do anymore."
"It is the genius of Paul Giamatti to make us, over the course of this great movie, not just re-evaluate and learn to respect this mess of a man but actually... to love him."
"There’s a bracingly astringent bleakness under its surface layer of melancholy humour; a biting, sharp edge that counters the occasional lurch towards sentimentality."
"Paul Giamatti plays Professor Paul Hunham with an external assertiveness and delicate humbleness that makes him easy to root for."
"The Holdovers will be one of those films that becomes part of every Christmas. [Full Review in Spanish]"
"This is easily the best role Giamatti has had since Sideways and for fans of that film or Payne’s work in general, Holdovers will be on the top of their (and many others) 2023 “best of” lists."
Audience Reviews
The Holdovers was great
I love this movie. Even bought the dvd and I almost never buy films anymore. My favorite Giamatti movie after sideways.
Recommend. Very touching story that opens the doors to challenging our views of our selves.
Good story, well acted, good pace to the movie.
Authentic and vulnerable, young actor Dominic Sessa performance was surprisingly moving, and stood up against veteran co-star Paul Giamatti, who is so reliably good that we take it for granted that anything he's in is going to be worth seeing--and we're never wrong (royally speaking). Randolph's performance was also noteworthy, although I feel in this movie Sessa is the one who ought to have been nominated for supporting actor--his performance is that good.
It has such a good story of two people that had more in common than they thought. It is a great movie from the teacher perspective. Even the ones that seem lost and have bad behavior can be reached. Don't give up on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Holdovers released?
The Holdovers hit theaters on Nov 10, 2023, Wide. It became available for streaming on Nov 28, 2023.
How long is the movie and what is the genre?
The film has a runtime of 2h 13m. It falls under the Holiday, Comedy, Drama genre, featuring a sound mix in Dolby Digital.
Who is the director of The Holdovers?
The movie is directed by Alexander Payne. The script was penned by David Hemingson.
Who are the main actors in The Holdovers?
The top billed cast includes:
- Alexander Payne as Director
- Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham
- Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Mary Lamb
- Dominic Sessa as Angus Tully
- Carrie Preston as Miss Lydia Crane
Why is The Holdovers rated R?
It is rated R (Language|Brief Sexual Material|Some Drug Use)
Which studio produced the movie?
The Holdovers was produced by Miramax and distributed worldwide by Focus Features.
About the movie
NEWFrom acclaimed director Alexander Payne, THE HOLDOVERS follows a curmudgeonly instructor (Paul Giamatti) at a New England prep school who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually he forms an unlikely bond with one of them -- a damaged, brainy troublemaker (newcomer Dominic Sessa) -- and with the school's head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam (Da'Vine Joy Randolph).
- Director
- Alexander Payne
- Producers
- Mark Johnson, Bill Block, David Hemingson
- Screenwriter
- David Hemingson
- Distributor
- Focus Features
- Production
- Miramax
- Genre
- Holiday, Comedy, Drama
- Release Date
- Nov 10, 2023, Wide
- Run Time
- 2h 13m
- Rating
- R
- Sound Mix
- Dolby Digital
- Aspect Ratio
- Flat (1.66:1)