I usually find director Payne's films a bit overrated but I thoroughly enjoyed The Holdovers. I can relate to stories about awkward weirdos and Payne captures this aesthetic perfectly in this anti-Dead Poets Society take. His characters are complex and nuanced even if his story goes pretty much exactly as you'd think it would go. Plus its Christmas setting and charming feel will make a nice addition to the holiday season viewing list.
Giamatti is classic Giamatti here and Da'Vine Joy Randolph is delightful. But it is newcomer Sessa who truly shines. He's got a unique and off-kilter presence which is just incredible to watch. Paired with the other two they make for a lovely and off-beat group who push and pull each other through the somewhat familiar story in interesting ways.
Payne has been quoted as saying he imagined that he was making this movie "in the 70s" and it shows. The film overtly apes a 70s film making aesthetic and evokes films like Paper Moon and even Midnight Cowboy (which I know was released in 1969). The Holdovers does feel like you are watching a film from another time yet still feels very relatable. Truly the strength here lies in how the characters are allowed to be elaborately drawn without fitting any particular box very well.
So while I did find the story a but on the predictable side, it was the richness of the characters that made their familiar arcs just feel satisfying to watch play out.
The Holdovers
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Carrie Preston
Director: Alexander Payne
Writer: David Hemmingson
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