The annual awards season is under way. For those who maybe live under a rock, the season starts this time every year with the annual Golden Globes® awards gala. As expected, Oppenheimer and Barbie were among the night’s big winners Sunday night. While so much attention was flourished on those two blockbusters, there was one movie among the year’s nominees (and winners) that sadly did not get the attention that it deserved. That movie is Universal and Focus Features’ story of family and friendship, The Holdovers. Released theatrically Nov. 10 and to DVD and Blu-ray/DVD combo pack last Tuesday, Jan. 2, its addition to this year’s Golden Globes® was a surprise because of how late in the year it was released.
The Holdovers was nominated in three categories this year at the Golden Globes®: “Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy,” “Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Musical or Comedy,” and “Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture,” with star Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Lost City, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, Dolemite Is My Name) taking the trophy for the acting categories but losing out to Poor Things in the former category. That the movie was considered as one of the year’s best cinematic offerings in any category is a well-deserved honor. That is because it really is such an unlikely enjoyable offering. That it won in its latter nominations is just as positive, considering the work of Giamatti and Randolp. The cast’s work is just part of what makes The Holdovers worth watching. Its story definitely plays into its appeal and will be examined shortly. The bonus content that accompanies the movie in its new home release rounds out the most important of its elements and will also be discussed later. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of The Holdovers. All things considered they make The Holdovers a breath of fresh air among all of the nonstop prequels, sequels, reboots, and movies based on books and actual events.
The Holdovers, the latest cinematic offering from Universal and Focus Features is unquestionably one of the sleeper hits of 2023. Having made its theatrical debut Nov. 10 and having been released to DVD and Blu-ray/DVD combo pack last week, this movie succeeds in part because of its story. The story centers on teacher Paul Hunham (Giamatti), a curmudgeonly instructor at the private Christian boys school, Barton Academy. Hunham is made to watch after a group of the boys who are left at the school over the holiday break essentially as a punishment for not letting a senator’s son pass his class. Hunham even points that out subtly at one point late in the story, and he is not wrong, either. Now while the movie’s marketing focuses on his watching all four boys, three of the four ultimately manage to leave while one – Angus Tully (Sessa) is left behind. Hunham is left to watch after Angus alongside the school’s head cafeteria worker, Mary (Randolph). Things start out rough among the trio, but as the days pass, audiences see Angus manage to get Paul to come out of his shell and loosen up. A friendship develops between the men and Mary, with Paul and Mary essentially becoming surrogate parents to Angus. The gradual development of that emotional connection shared between the group is so subtle, which makes the story all the more engaging. It would have been so easy for script writer David Hemingson to have really gone overboard with that emotional development, but instead he handled it with such grace and depth. It makes viewers really root for all three, especially when the story reaches its bittersweet ending. That final will not be given away here for the sake of those who have not seen this movie, but it really will leave audiences’ heart strings pulled in the best way possible.
As a reminder, the story takes place over the course of the school’s holiday break. On the surface one might think that this makes the movie a Christmas movie, especially with the focus on the Christmas trees, songs, etc. But in reality, the story is one that could be used in so many situations. To that end, this is not a Christmas story. It is a story of family and friendship that uses Christmas as a backdrop.
As noted, a big part of what makes The Holdovers’ story so surprisingly enjoyable is the way in which the relationship develops between Paul, Angus, and Mary. The execution thereof through the writing is impressive to say the least. Giamatti, Randolph and Sessa add to the engagement and entertainment in the development because of their work. Giamatti expertly interprets Paul’s growth and change throughout the movie, making his cold, snarky persona just as loveable as his softer side. Audiences will love to hate Paul early on because everyone has had a teacher or instructor like him. As he changes and opens up more to Angus while also battling his own demon (alcoholism) audiences will find themselves loving him more than loving to hate him. That is because viewers begin to see what made Paul become so hardened over the years as he begins to open up. It makes him a more sympathetic character. On a side note, Giamatti’s ability to so expertly display Paul’s change continues to show why he is really this generation’s Cary Grant. Yes, that is a lofty comparison, but it is deserving. If one compares his impressive work here to that of his work in, say, The Illusionist and both performances to that in Sideways, Fred Claus and so many other movies, he continues to show here, his ability to really fully become each different character and character type.
Getting back on the topic at hand, Randolph also fully deserved her Golden Globes® award that she won Sunday night for her performance as Mary. That is because her performance is engaging and entertaining in its own right. The subtle edge that she brings to Mary through her work as she handles Paul is the perfect counterpoint of sorts to Giamatti’s work as Paul. Thanks to that edge, Mary manages to help Paul break out of his shell over time without even trying. This even as she is battling her own thoughts and difficult feelings from the deaths of her son, who was serving in the military, and her husband. That ability to balance Mary’s strength and vulnerability throughout the story makes Randolph’s performance so wonderful thanks to the subtle way in which she presents that balance. It makes her win Sunday all the less surprising.
Sessa being a newcomer, he shows that he has a bright future in the worlds of theater and cinema. This as he brings out Angus’ torn emotions and thoughts over being left at the school. Right from the moment that his mother talks to him on the phone about going on a honeymoon with her new husband, his reaction makes him such an endearing figure. It lets viewers know that there is something more at play, and over time audiences learn exactly what is going on. The revelation and his growing relationship with Paul (that surrogate father-son relationship) is handled just as well through his performance. It would have been so easy for Sessa to ham it up and chew the scenery so to speak, but he handled his performance throughout with his own level of expertise. Considering this, it will be no doubt when viewers start to see his name on even more movies in the not too distant future. When his performance is considered alongside those of Giamatti and Randolph, the trio’s collective work makes for just as much reason to watch this movie as the movie’s story.
The revelation that Sessa is a newcomer is one of a number of interesting revelations that comes through the bonus content that accompanies the movie in its new home release. Viewers learn through the bonus content that Sessa was in fact a high school senior who already had experience in theater when he auditioned for the role of Angus. It is especially interesting to learn that he was tapped for the role after the casting director had received only 800 auditions for that role. That makes him elite in a certain manner of speaking, and justifiably so at that. It is just one of the interesting revelations made through the bonus content. Audiences will also learn that the movie’s “indie” look was intentional. As is pointed out in this discussion, the period costumes, cars, and shooting locales were largely scouted, and the distinct style of cinematography was also intentional. It is that cinematography that gives the entire movie its grainy look and equally unique lighting and other factors. That throwback style is perfect, unlike that of so many period pieces that have tried to look like they came from their respective eras. That insight offered through that discussion makes for even more appreciation for the movie. As if that is not enough, viewers also learn of director Alexander Payne’s (Sideways, Nebraska, The Descendants) somewhat hands off approach as a director. That hands off approach is addressed by the cast, who note that they appreciate his notable leadership style. They reveal that it is because of that hands off approach that they feel able to bring out the best in their respective performances. And obviously because they were able to bring out their best, Randolph ended up bringing home a major award for her work. To that end, this and the other items addressed here work with the rest of the revelations made in the bonus content for a whole that fully shows the importance of the movie’s bonus content. When the bonus content is considered along with the movie’s story and the cast’s work, the whole therein makes The Holdovers a movie one of the biggest cinematic surprises of 2023 and one of the best new home releases of 2024.
The Holdovers is one of the most unlikely enjoyable movies from the 2023 movie season. That is due in large part to its story. While the story takes place during the holiday season, it is not a Christmas or holiday movie. It is a touching story of family and friendship that just so happens to have the season as a backdrop. It follows three unlikely friends who become a surrogate family and grow together over that time. The story and its execution are reason enough for audiences to watch this movie. The work of the movie’s main cast is even more reason to watch this movie. That is because of the expert way in which each actor handles his/her performance. The subtlety in each actor’s performance brings out so much depth in its own right to the overall presentation and gives audiences all the more reason to watch. The bonus content that accompanies the movie in its recent home release puts the finishing touch to the presentation as it gives viewers some very interesting insight into the movie’s creation and back story. Each item examined here is important in its own way to the whole of the movie’s presentation. All things considered they make The Holdovers one of the most welcome cinematic surprises of 2023 and one of the best home releases of 2024.
The Holdovers is available now on DVD and Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. More information on this and other titles from Universal Pictures is available at:
Website: https://universalpictures.com
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More information on this and other titles from Focus Features is available at:
Website: https://focusfeatures.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusfeatures
Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusfeatures
