Generously sprinkled with familiar carols (opening with a beautifully harmonized TTBB ensemble of Oh Little Town of Bethlehem), "The Holdovers" is funny, sometimes poignant, and ultimately warm, a fitting Christmas offer. Watching the first half-hour, I thought this is an updated "Breakfast Club". But then the movie heads in a different direction. Let me back up a little.
The "stage" for this endearing little drama for play out is introduced through the beautiful photography of a winter wonderland, a boys' boarding school called Barton, somewhere in New England in 1970. The movie title denotes five "poor little Christmas orphans" who for one reason or another have nowhere to go when the boarding school closes for Christmas. As they watch their fellow students depart for merry holiday season, the decorated Christmas tree in the school is also removed, a win-win situation, I suppose. School saving on the budget and vendor making a little extra. Not exactly a joyous spirits.
Adding to the unhappiness is the teacher who has been charged with the noble responsibility of babysitting these kids, a last minute fill-in for a colleague who gets sick. Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) is an icon of an old-school educator. "Latitude is the last thing these boys need" is one of his mottos. The principle, his boss as well as a long-time colleague, used to be like him but see things differently after being promoted to the lofty position, which right away put funding at top priority. That translates into different treatment for different students - those whose parents have made generous donation get preferential treatment. Seeing that Hunham absolutely refuses to compromise on his firm standards even during the holdover period, his boss can only ask him to at least "pretend to be a human being".
I'll be very brief with the 5 holdover students because, as mentioned, "The Holdovers" is not "Breakfast Club" although at one point it would appear so. Only one I'll name, Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), scores B+ in Hunham's Ancient History. Unfortunately, that seems to be the only good thing one can say about him. In slow-boil fashion, Tully's story unfold gradually as the movie progresses. Of the other four, one is a "privileged" student born with a silver spoon in his mouth. One is not just underdeveloped, but outright un-developed. The only thing we know about him is that the parents do not want him back for Christmas unless he cuts his hair short. One is from Korea, obviously terribly homesick. The last one who is comparable with the Korean in their minute stature is from a Mormon family. At one point, the 5 boys seem to start a reasonable amount of rapport, getting to know one another, a bonding that will forge a solidarity, foundation of a life-long friendship. But, just one quarter into the movie, the four other boys' fortune stars shine, and they go home. Switch gear, into a different movie.
It would, at this point, be quite obvious to movie veterans that the trajectory will be one of father-and-son story, in spirit if not actual. There is a third character, Mary, played by Da'Vine Joy Randolph who has already swept an impressive collection of Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role even before the Oscar nomination list is announced. Mary, the invaluable in-house cook, is not surrogate of a mother figure. She has her own heartbreaking story.
All told, while not everything is outright predictable, there is little surprise as the story of Tully unfolds, as we see the relationship between him and Hunham goes from acute animosity to heart-warming affection. The friendship between Hunham and Mary transcends gender and skin color, just two lonely human souls with deep compassion connecting. As aforementioned, Randolph is a strong contender for Oscar. Sessa has already been recognized by awards as a breakout talent. Giamatti is, as always, his solid reliable self. The comforting Christmas carols background aside, the performance of these three superb actors bring true Christmas spirit to "The holdovers".
The "stage" for this endearing little drama for play out is introduced through the beautiful photography of a winter wonderland, a boys' boarding school called Barton, somewhere in New England in 1970. The movie title denotes five "poor little Christmas orphans" who for one reason or another have nowhere to go when the boarding school closes for Christmas. As they watch their fellow students depart for merry holiday season, the decorated Christmas tree in the school is also removed, a win-win situation, I suppose. School saving on the budget and vendor making a little extra. Not exactly a joyous spirits.
Adding to the unhappiness is the teacher who has been charged with the noble responsibility of babysitting these kids, a last minute fill-in for a colleague who gets sick. Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) is an icon of an old-school educator. "Latitude is the last thing these boys need" is one of his mottos. The principle, his boss as well as a long-time colleague, used to be like him but see things differently after being promoted to the lofty position, which right away put funding at top priority. That translates into different treatment for different students - those whose parents have made generous donation get preferential treatment. Seeing that Hunham absolutely refuses to compromise on his firm standards even during the holdover period, his boss can only ask him to at least "pretend to be a human being".
I'll be very brief with the 5 holdover students because, as mentioned, "The Holdovers" is not "Breakfast Club" although at one point it would appear so. Only one I'll name, Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), scores B+ in Hunham's Ancient History. Unfortunately, that seems to be the only good thing one can say about him. In slow-boil fashion, Tully's story unfold gradually as the movie progresses. Of the other four, one is a "privileged" student born with a silver spoon in his mouth. One is not just underdeveloped, but outright un-developed. The only thing we know about him is that the parents do not want him back for Christmas unless he cuts his hair short. One is from Korea, obviously terribly homesick. The last one who is comparable with the Korean in their minute stature is from a Mormon family. At one point, the 5 boys seem to start a reasonable amount of rapport, getting to know one another, a bonding that will forge a solidarity, foundation of a life-long friendship. But, just one quarter into the movie, the four other boys' fortune stars shine, and they go home. Switch gear, into a different movie.
It would, at this point, be quite obvious to movie veterans that the trajectory will be one of father-and-son story, in spirit if not actual. There is a third character, Mary, played by Da'Vine Joy Randolph who has already swept an impressive collection of Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role even before the Oscar nomination list is announced. Mary, the invaluable in-house cook, is not surrogate of a mother figure. She has her own heartbreaking story.
All told, while not everything is outright predictable, there is little surprise as the story of Tully unfolds, as we see the relationship between him and Hunham goes from acute animosity to heart-warming affection. The friendship between Hunham and Mary transcends gender and skin color, just two lonely human souls with deep compassion connecting. As aforementioned, Randolph is a strong contender for Oscar. Sessa has already been recognized by awards as a breakout talent. Giamatti is, as always, his solid reliable self. The comforting Christmas carols background aside, the performance of these three superb actors bring true Christmas spirit to "The holdovers".