I had deliberately avoided this movie after seeing the trailer, which made it seem like a "Hallmark Christmas Movie." But I've heard good word-of-mouth and it looks like it's about to be yanked from the theatres any day, so I decided to risk it. I really liked this movie a lot. Oddly, what it reminded me of most was Fellini's NIGHTS OF CABIRIA. It's not really an easy movie. There are a lot of things, especially the language, to offend a lot of people. This is not a movie for kids or the Sunday School set. But what it's got going for it is its intelligence, its humor, and its soul. The story is about a nerdy old bachelor teacher, Mr. Paul Hunham, who has one eye that looks in the wrong direction. He also smells bad because of a medical condition. He's also probably a virgin. He's a dedicated teacher who is passionate about his work, but his students, for the most part, loathe him. Why? Because he insists on excellence and won't just pass them because their fathers give the school money (which makes him very unpopular with the school's administrative board). I should add that the school is an expensive New England prep school whose students are rich and spoiled. The story takes place over the winter of 1970-1971 when the Vietnam War was raging. The ones who could afford it enrolled in college to evade the draft; those who couldn't afford it were sent to be cannon fodder in Vietnam. One such piece of cannon fodder was "Curtis," the son of the school's black kitchen supervisor. Curtis's ghost hovers over the picture as a constant reminder that Life is not Fair. This year, it's Mr. Hunham's lot to basically babysit for the students who have no place to go for Christmas holidays. Among the "holdovers" are the Korean student whose home is too far away for a holiday visit, the Mormon whose parents are away doing missionary work, and Angus Tully, whose mother has recently remarried and would rather go on a tropical honeymoon with her new husband than see her son. None of the students is "nice." They all think they're entitled. And yet, out of this cast of unlikeable characters, director Alexander Payne has created a deeply affecting film that brought a lump to my throat several times. The cast, led by the always excellent Paul Giamatti, all give vivid, detailed performances that you won't easily forget: Dominic Sessa as Angus, DaVine Joy Randolph as Curtis's grieving mother, and Carrie Preston as a nice lady who works as a school secretary (moonlighting during the Christmas holidays at a restaurant). This is not a film that spouts pleasant little homilies to warm your heart at Christmas. It's a cold look at those who are unappreciated. This is far and away the best film of 2023 that I have seen (and I see all the serious contenders for the prizes). I rate it a solid 9.
Review of The Holdovers
