Alexander Payne is one of those directors that I never realized I was a fan of and The Holdovers is a perfect example of this. Sideways and The Descendants were two comedies that I found myself watching when I was younger and just absolutely loving them while not really knowing why. The Holdovers reunite Giamatti and Payne from Sideways, which seems to be a team that works well, as Giamatti gives his best performance since his performance as Harvey Pekar in American Splendor. Despite Giamatti’s brilliance, his co-stars Da’Vine Joy Randolph and newcomer Dominic Sessa stole the film with their lasting performances.

The Holdovers has a pretty simple plot. A cranky, seasoned instructor must stay at a prep school to look over students that have nowhere to go for Christmas break. Paul Giamatti plays Paul Hunham, the grouchy instructor and much like these students, he has no one to go home to. Of the five kids staying at the school, Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa) is the one that gives Paul the most issues. Angus is left there after his mother decides to go on a honeymoon with his step-father. Unlike the other four, he is not prepared to spend the break with the teacher that he does not like. As fate would have it, the four other boys find the opportunity to spend the break away from the school. This just leaves Paul, Angus and cafeteria manager Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) to be the only ones left.

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In typical fashion, drama occurs as the three of them are currently going through sad patches in their lives. Mary recently lost her son and is still processing the death, Angus has a secret about his family and Paul is just stuck in life with no purpose. Throughout the film, the three of them attack their struggles together. A simple yet very effective story that showcases the strength of the actors.

Before jumping into the performance (this whole review could just be about the three performances), I want to talk about the film style and aesthetic. The Holdovers takes place during Christmas break of 1970 into 1971, and it feels that way. In a stroke of genius, Alexander Payne and the whole crew made this film feel like it came out fifty years ago. The grainy camera, the shots of Boston, and even camera placement were all products of seventies filmmaking and this really benefits the film. This was something that I enjoyed and felt like it enhanced the experience with the film, but do understand if it hinders the experience of others. The Holdovers did take about 20 minutes to fully capture my attention, but once it did, it was never letting go.

As a mainly comic focused blog, I have loved Paul Giamatti for years after his performance as Harvey Pekar in American Splendor and is usually fantastic in every role he plays. The less said about his role in Amazing Spider–Man 2, but still think an actor of his capability could have made it worked. In The Holdovers, Giamatti is at his curmudgeon best with some of the funniest line deliveries I have ever heard him say. In my opinion, the way Giamatti shifts his performance throughout the film and just getting lost in the character, is the best he has ever been.

When the Oscars happen on March 10th 2024, I would not be shocked if Da’Vine Joy Randolph walks away with the award for Best Supporting Actress. Randolph was great in 2019’s Dolemite Is My Name but in The Holdovers she delivers one of the best performances of 2023 and should become a household name. Acting opposite Giamatti giving career best work, Randolph gives a performances that is real, heartbreaking and hilarious. One scene in particular that stands out, Randolph’s character of Mary suffers a breakdown, her emotional performance will make even the coldhearted shed a tear.

If it’s any indication of how good of a year 2023 was for film, newcomer Dominic Sessa would have received some Oscar love along with Giamatti and Randolph. It does help that this is Sessa’s first performance with how committed he is to the role of Angus, but it is also extremely impressive. From the first time Angus is on screen, there is this sense of false confidence and something eating away at him. I really hope that Sessa sees more roles come to him, as he was able to command a complicated character.

Overall, The Holdovers is one of the best movies from 2023. I was laughing out loud with the witty and smart-ass dialogue throughout and found myself getting teary eyed at moments. For a film with such a simple premise, it is executed well and shows off the skill that the filmmakers and actors have.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.