Best of 2024: The Holdovers 15

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From the archive

This film was last shown on 24 December 2024

As the students of New England prep school Barton Academy excitedly depart for the winter holidays, a ragtag bunch with nowhere to go are forced to stay behind.

Making things worse, their appointed ‘babysitter’ is the cantankerous Professor Hunham (Paul Giamatti). But as the days pass, the grumpy professor forms an unexpected bond with smart-but-troubled student Angus (Dominic Sessa), and Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), the school’s cook, who is grieving the loss of her son.

Alexander Payne reunites with his Sideways star Paul Giamatti in a film that strikes the perfect balance between pathos and playfulness. The Holdovers is just the kind of warm-hearted and thoughtful work we have come to expect from one of contemporary cinema’s great humanist filmmakers.

The Holdovers received five nominations at the 96th Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Giamatti; Randolph won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Content warning: contains flashing images 

Director
Alexander Payne
Year
2023
Duration
2 hours 13 minutes
Language
English
Cast
Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa, Paul Giamatti

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