About
A curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school 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 — and with the school’s head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam.
Trailer
Cast
Paul Giamatti
Paul Hunham
Dominic Sessa
Angus Tully
Da'Vine Joy Randolph
Mary Lamb
Carrie Preston
Miss Lydia Crane
Brady Hepner
Teddy Kountze
Ian Dolley
Alex Ollerman
Jim Kaplan
Ye-Joon Park
Michael Provost
Jason Smith
Andrew Garman
Dr. Hardy Woodrup
Naheem Garcia
Danny
Stephen Thorne
Thomas Tully
Gillian Vigman
Judy Clotfelter
Paul Giamatti
Paul Hunham
Dominic Sessa
Angus Tully
Da'Vine Joy Randolph
Mary Lamb
Carrie Preston
Miss Lydia Crane
Brady Hepner
Teddy Kountze
Ian Dolley
Alex Ollerman
Jim Kaplan
Ye-Joon Park
Michael Provost
Jason Smith
Andrew Garman
Dr. Hardy Woodrup
Naheem Garcia
Danny
Stephen Thorne
Thomas Tully
Gillian Vigman
Judy Clotfelter
Reviews
Manuel São Bento
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/the-holdovers-bfi-london-film-festival-review/ "The Holdovers left me in complete disbelief at how complete, thought-provoking, hilarious, and emotionally powerful it becomes with each extraordinarily captivating minute that passes by. A shockingly faultless screenplay from David Hemingson exponentially attacks the viewers' hearts through a truly profound yet bittersweet study of the vital need for human connection. Protagonists are brilliantly written as real people, and superbly portrayed by an award-worthy cast. Add an immaculate tonal balance and outstanding execution by Alexander Payne, and a new Christmas classic is born." Rating: A
Read full reviewBrent Marchant
Heartwarming films for the holidays are something we’re all supposed to love, right? Well, if you’re talking about the works of directors like Frank Capra, George Seaton, Michael Curtiz and Chris Columbus, you’d be correct. But, since it’s been so long since we’ve had releases of that quality, in recent years, viewers hungry for such movies have been glomming on to anything that even remotely approaches such titles, whether or not the accolades are deserved. And that, in my view, sums up my feelings on the much-celebrated new feature from director Alexander Payne. This tale of a curmudgeonly, condescending, middle-aged, fuss-budget prep school teacher (Paul Giamatti) assigned to babysit a group of rambunctious students who are unable to be with their families for the year-end holidays has a premise with considerable potential that, unfortunately, is squandered by a narrative that feels loosely stitched together and ultimately comes across as patently undercooked. Indeed, what could have been a fun-filled romp a la a Christmastime take on movies like “Dead Poets Society” (1989), regrettably, comes up decidedly short. Admittedly, the film has its share of modestly funny and warm, fuzzy moments, but many of the scenes don’t flow smoothly from one to the next, creating a storyline that feels forced without delivering the goods to make a release like this work. While it’s true that the film succeeds (surprisingly) at depicting the mostly one-dimensional characters’ requisite personal evolution over the course of the picture, that almost-accidental accomplishment is seriously overshadowed by a series of plot elements that largely feel thrown together, incorporated without a terribly great amount of thought and an undeniable lack of cohesiveness. And, to be honest, the picture’s most interesting character is the academy’s chief cook (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), whose richly layered persona (and deftly nuanced performance) runs circles around those of its other two principals (Giamatti and Dominic Sessa as one of the stranded students). It’s disappointing that a director as talented as Alexander Payne has churned out a project as half-baked as this one is (particularly one that comes across as self-satisfied with itself as this offering often does) when compared to previous titles like “Nebraska” (2013) and “The Descendants” (2011). And would-be viewers should be wary of many of the inflated claims and awards season buzz being showered on this offering. But, in an age in which moviegoers are looking for pictures that provide the kind of holiday cinema comfort they so desperately crave, it’s understandable that such viewers might be drawn to a film like this. It’s just such a shame that they won’t find what they’re looking for in this one.
Read full reviewBrent Marchant
Heartwarming films for the holidays are something we’re all supposed to love, right? Well, if you’re talking about the works of directors like Frank Capra, George Seaton, Michael Curtiz and Chris Columbus, you’d be correct. But, since it’s been so long since we’ve had releases of that quality, in recent years, viewers hungry for such movies have been glomming on to anything that even remotely approaches such titles, whether or not the accolades are deserved. And that, in my view, sums up my feelings on the much-celebrated new feature from director Alexander Payne. This tale of a curmudgeonly, condescending, middle-aged, fuss-budget prep school teacher (Paul Giamatti) assigned to babysit a group of rambunctious students who are unable to be with their families for the year-end holidays has a premise with considerable potential that, unfortunately, is squandered by a narrative that feels loosely stitched together and ultimately comes across as patently undercooked. Indeed, what could have been a fun-filled romp a la a Christmastime take on movies like “Dead Poets Society” (1989), regrettably, comes up decidedly short. Admittedly, the film has its share of modestly funny and warm, fuzzy moments, but many of the scenes don’t flow smoothly from one to the next, creating a storyline that feels forced without delivering the goods to make a release like this work. While it’s true that the film succeeds (surprisingly) at depicting the mostly one-dimensional characters’ requisite personal evolution over the course of the picture, that almost-accidental accomplishment is seriously overshadowed by a series of plot elements that largely feel thrown together, incorporated without a terribly great amount of thought and an undeniable lack of cohesiveness. And, to be honest, the picture’s most interesting character is the academy’s chief cook (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), whose richly layered persona (and deftly nuanced performance) runs circles around those of its other two principals (Giamatti and Dominic Sessa as one of the stranded students). It’s disappointing that a director as talented as Alexander Payne has churned out a project as half-baked as this one is (particularly one that comes across as self-satisfied with itself as this offering often does) when compared to previous titles like “Nebraska” (2013) and “The Descendants” (2011). And would-be viewers should be wary of many of the inflated claims and awards season buzz being showered on this offering. But, in an age in which moviegoers are looking for pictures that provide the kind of holiday cinema comfort they so desperately crave, it’s understandable that such viewers might be drawn to a film like this. It’s just such a shame that they won’t find what they’re looking for in this one.
Read full reviewClips(13)
Angus Receives Bad News
Paul and Angus' Unlikely Bond
Cherries Jubilee
Angus Breaks His Arm
"This Eye" Official Clip
"A Bitter and Complicated Place" Official Clip
Christmas Is Cancelled Extended Preview
"Cherries Jubilee" Official Clip
"Barton Men Don’t Lie" Official Clip
"This Is Why I Hate Parties" Official Clip
"Stuck Babysitting" Official Clip
"The Classroom" Official Clip
"No Wonder You’re Afraid of Women" Official Clip
Angus Receives Bad News
Paul and Angus' Unlikely Bond
Cherries Jubilee
Angus Breaks His Arm
"This Eye" Official Clip
"A Bitter and Complicated Place" Official Clip
Christmas Is Cancelled Extended Preview
"Cherries Jubilee" Official Clip
"Barton Men Don’t Lie" Official Clip
"This Is Why I Hate Parties" Official Clip
"Stuck Babysitting" Official Clip
"The Classroom" Official Clip
"No Wonder You’re Afraid of Women" Official Clip
Featurettes(23)
Da'Vine Joy Randolph | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Oscars 2024 Press Room Speech
David Hemingson's "Words to Live By" | ''The Holdovers' Oscars
Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa and Da'Vine Joy Randolph on The Holdovers | EE BAFTA Film Awards 2024
DOMINIC SESSA wins BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards
EIGIL BRYLD wins BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards
DA’VINE JOY RANDOLPH wins BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards
Sandra Oh Discusses THE HOLDOVERS with Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Paul Giamatti
Ethan Hawke and Paul Giamatti Discuss THE HOLDOVERS
Composer Mark Orton and the Music Behind THE HOLDOVERS
THE HOLDOVERS at TIFF 2023
The Holdovers wins Casting | EE BAFTA Film Awards 2024
Da'Vine Joy Randolph's emotional speech as she wins Supporting Actress | EE BAFTA Film Awards 2024
Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Alexander Payne on The Holdovers | BFI Q&A
TIFF 2023 Q&A with Alexander Payne
We Are Parable meet 'The Holdovers' actor DaVine Joy Randolph
Dir. Alexander Payne & Paul Giamatti on Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s Layered Performance | In Focus | Ep 7
Alexander Payne Discusses his Film THE HOLDOVERS
'The Holdovers' with filmmakers | Academy Conversations
How the Perfectly Real Cast of THE HOLDOVERS Came to Be
ALEXANDER PAYNE on the making of THE HOLDOVERS | Film Independent Presents
Alexander Payne On Transporting The Audience Back into 1970s | 60 Second Film School
The Holdovers Cast & Dir. Alexander Payne on Paul Giamatti’s Flawless Acting Chops
Alexander Payne brings The Holdovers to the red carpet at the BFI London Film Festival 2023
Da'Vine Joy Randolph | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Oscars 2024 Press Room Speech
David Hemingson's "Words to Live By" | ''The Holdovers' Oscars
Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa and Da'Vine Joy Randolph on The Holdovers | EE BAFTA Film Awards 2024
DOMINIC SESSA wins BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards
EIGIL BRYLD wins BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards
DA’VINE JOY RANDOLPH wins BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards
Sandra Oh Discusses THE HOLDOVERS with Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Paul Giamatti
Ethan Hawke and Paul Giamatti Discuss THE HOLDOVERS
Composer Mark Orton and the Music Behind THE HOLDOVERS
THE HOLDOVERS at TIFF 2023
The Holdovers wins Casting | EE BAFTA Film Awards 2024
Da'Vine Joy Randolph's emotional speech as she wins Supporting Actress | EE BAFTA Film Awards 2024
Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Alexander Payne on The Holdovers | BFI Q&A
TIFF 2023 Q&A with Alexander Payne
We Are Parable meet 'The Holdovers' actor DaVine Joy Randolph
Dir. Alexander Payne & Paul Giamatti on Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s Layered Performance | In Focus | Ep 7
Alexander Payne Discusses his Film THE HOLDOVERS
'The Holdovers' with filmmakers | Academy Conversations
How the Perfectly Real Cast of THE HOLDOVERS Came to Be
ALEXANDER PAYNE on the making of THE HOLDOVERS | Film Independent Presents
Alexander Payne On Transporting The Audience Back into 1970s | 60 Second Film School
The Holdovers Cast & Dir. Alexander Payne on Paul Giamatti’s Flawless Acting Chops
Alexander Payne brings The Holdovers to the red carpet at the BFI London Film Festival 2023