REVIEW: THE HOLDOVERS

4/5

Alone For The Holidays.

133 Mins. Starring: Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph & Dominic Sessa. Screenplay: David Hemingson. Director: Alexander Payne. Under: Your Christmas Tree.

Welcome to Japan. Where big blockbusters and most (Marvel) movies make it to theatres around the same time as their general worldwide release. Except, that is, for some Oscar fare, like 'Oppenheimer', for obvious reason example. Now, a Christmas classic, not to mention one of last year's fall favourites, finally makes it to the Far East at a time when the summer sun is so scorching, you have to squeegee the slick sweat from off your back. Disgusting, I know, but hold on! Just you wait until you get under the desk of some pretty deep dive descriptions of the boarding house schooldays from 'Sideways' director Alexander Payne's Oscar nominated 'The Holdovers'.

Held over until now, alone for a different holiday, the latest, greatest from 'The Descendants', 'About Schmidt' and 'Nebraska' director is still welcome like short people in the town of 'Downsizing'. The bridge between fellow luminaries like Paul Thomas and Wes Anderson gives us a modern day, seventies throwback classic, all the way down to the intro and ID's as the credits roll. What begins as the next, great 'Dead Poets Society', segues into a more subtle 'Scent Of A Woman'. All whilst carrying the dank, dusty musk of its own cinematic aroma. Scripted slickly (where's that squeegee?) by David Hemingson (in his Oscar nominated cinematic debut after countless big show TV credits), 'The Holdovers' reminds you that an Academy Award is not just for Christmas. And the divine performance of power from Da'Vine Joy Randolph, truly is a joy to behold, even shrouded in sorrow.

Unanimous across the big-three. Golden Globe, BAFTA and Oscar, Randolph is the undisputed Best Supporting Actress of the season, let alone year. Don't confuse her surname with no damn reindeer. But, it's still the great Paul Giamatti who leads this new New England classic (with a beautiful Boston field-trip) through a picturesque, but heavy winter's night, with one of his best yet. And this 'Fred Claus' who knows Rudolph also gave us his 'Private Parts' (the movie....THE MOVIE), 'The Ides Of March', 'Cinderella Man', 'Straight Outta Compton' (still amazing), and of course 'Sideways'. Now reuniting with Payne and dulling his and the Christmas cold front with his old friend Jim Bean, Giamatti's disgruntled teacher is one you'll never forget, no matter which eye you look in. Breaking your baubles with caning barbs and stomach acid wit. But there's a humble and still hungry heart behind all the hate he gives or takes and the quotes from the many books he references as daily as the dust that settles on those old lives he once led.

Molding young lives between the mould of library books and gym socks that might just slip on that new buffed floor, Paul is perfect as a professor of profoundness and profanity, to all those entitled elite brats full of piss(ed off-ness) and vinegar. One being Dominic Sessa, who immediately makes his mark like the Chris and Ethan before him to become a bona fide star you're sure you've seen before, like lookalike 'A Quiet Place: Day One' star Joseph Quinn. Yet the strange thing is, this is his first movie, and one that could have come with its own Oscar nod. You'll see him again in 'Tow', 'Oh.What.Fun' and 'Now You See Me 3' (he kind of looks like a magician, but this young, terrific talent is serious. Seriously good. Nailing every nuance and bringing newly understood depth of character and experience to the existential dread of the antsy and angst ridden youth in revolt. 'The Holdovers' is just a nice film and the reason we watch them. Why movies are made. It's strictly sublime. It may be July and hotter than a Stevie Wonder album, but you know Christmas is just around the corner. As the French say, "Joyeux Noel!" And a happy holdover. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Sideways', 'Scent Of A Woman', 'Dead Poets Society'.