The Holdovers

The Holdovers (2023)

The festive story of a grumpy boarding school teacher forced to chaperone any students who don’t go home for the Christmas holiday. In this instance it’s just him, the school cook and one rebellious pupil.

Director Alexander Payne, who brought us delicious savagery with Election and Sideways, is on much cosier terrain here. And as with About Schmidt, he certainly triumphs with the cranky-old-man-with-a-heart trope.

Paul Giamatti owns the rights for the put-upon curmudgeon. But there’s something so rich about his performance that makes you root for him. Be it the way he worships academia or his charming flirtation with Carrie Preston. Or even his crystal clear disdain for the spoilt students. We’re on this guy’s side.

As the left behind teen Dominic Sessa displays all the acting-out of an abandoned child. Perfect casting here with Sessa towering knock kneed over his reluctant guardian. He rightly earned a Best Supporting Actor BAFTA nom.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph grieves for her recently deceased son while still working at the school he attended. Quietly dealing with her bitterness at being surrounded by students rich enough to avoid being drafted to fight in the war that killed her child. Absolute Best Supporting Actress fodder.

Payne crafts a familiar yet beautifully shot Christmas film about loneliness and kindness, with joyful cynicism and finding good company in the most unexpected of situations.

8 Hopeful Thumbs Up 👍🏻