16/05/2024
If you want to know more about the film, here's Jon's review 😊 You saw it here first, folks ..
‘The Holdovers’ (15), no pushover on sentimentality
‘The Holdovers’ is a film that crept out over the Christmas period, to a limited cinema release, whilst we were all looking the other way at our turkey and mistletoe. Little public attention does not mean a bad film.
Our May film won 134 awards globally.
In keeping with our aim to bring you films that you may regret having missed, we bring you ‘The Holdovers’.
The first thing to know about ‘The Holdovers’ is that it’s not a Christmas film: it’s a film that’s set at Christmas – subtle distinction.
The film did not go unnoticed by the Oscar Board, who rightly gave the Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role to Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who plays the school cook, Mary Lamb. I say rightly, because her performance is remarkable in all aspects of the character’s arc; playing comedy, tragedy, and everything in between, with conviction and lightness of touch.
The plot of the film may look simple from the outside but there is complexity. There is also comedy and a resolve that swings out of a dive towards sentimentality, in favour of universal truth.
So, what’s it about? A crusty, erudite, private school teacher Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) incurs the Head of School’s wrath, and pays for it, by having to babysit students who have nowhere to go over the Christmas period. None of this makes for playing happy families as they each settle into an uneasy routine of working over the holidays.
Incidentally, Paul Giamatti equally deserved an Oscar for his performance and, although nominated, was pipped at the post by the mighty Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer. Some years the odds are stacked against you!
Our crusty teacher, who is as quick with a student put-down as he is with a classical reference, is thrown into a situation where he is forced to better understand one of his students and his history. Add to that, the school cook has a backstory that is heartbreaking and poignant.
As the holiday wears on, revelations emerge, understanding of each other develops, and relations improve.
If you liked ‘Goodbye Mr Chips’ or ‘The Dead Poets Society’, this is for you.
This is a rare chance to see an outstanding piece of cinema that may otherwise have got away.
This is no run-of-the-mill, predictable sentimental-fest. This is an intelligent, beautifully-written piece, with its heart in the right place.
The second thing to know about ‘The Holdovers’ is that it’s not a Christmas film: it’s a film that’s set at Christmas: okay, there are some Carols.
Jon
