Paul Giamatti becomes a Scrooge who eventually finds some heart in Alexander Payne’s 1970’s holiday story. He plays Paul Hunham, a mean son of a gun as a teacher at a New England boys boarding school ready to flunk every student using his heavy-handed teaching style. He is also ready to hand out detentions for the slightest infraction.
Director Alexander Payne and Writer David Hemingson make good use of Giamatti’s range of outraged expressions as he goes up against a particular student who isn’t afraid to pull his chain. But he needed a good foil in a particular student and found it in Dominic Sessa, a tall, gawky stage actor who had never worked in a film. Payne found him auditioning kids at a Massachusetts boarding school where Dominic’s supportive drama teacher knew he had the chops and comedic timing to take on the role.
It’s been 20 years since Payne and Giamatti worked together on their Napa Valley classic, Sideways. For this film, Payne drew from a 1935 French Comedy “Merlusse,” with a similar premise when a smart less well-off, disturbed student gets held over.
Payne also wanted to imbue the same feel he liked growing up seeing his favorite films of the 70’s. They include The Graduate, Harold and Maude, The last Detail, and Little Big Man and made sure to show these and more to Dominic who tuned right in. Shot by cinematographer Eigil Bryld (In Bruges, The Last King of Scotland), this film looks more like a film from that era, with a more faded New England stodgy color palette, along with lots of fades and pans.
Instructor Hunham is restrictive and mean, while Angus is out of control. When Hunham gives an order, Angus basically says “not on your life.” These two are already going head to head. And when Angus’ mother abandons him to go on a holiday honeymoon with her new husband, Angus has nowhere to go. Academy Director, Dr. Hardy Woodrup (Andrew Garman) pressures the antisocial instructor to spend his holiday watching after this rebel. Angus knows just how far to go so he won’t get thrown out and sent to a military school, the Army and maybe to serve in Viet Nam. The school cook, Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) was also staying alone for the holiday, grieving the loss of her son in Viet Nam. But Angus and Hunham keep Mary very busy as a referee. She tries to negotiate with both to make them more human.
The battle of nasty exchanges results in a scene where Giamatti chases Dominic around the school. Watching Giamatti run is fun as Dominic goes full speed into a perfect roundoff on the way to his hilarious prat fall that literally stops everyone in their tracks. That’s when the heart of the story comes through as they are forced to learn more about each other during a physical as well as mental healing process. Their holiday trip into Boston is where Giamatti gets to use his expressive face for some charming self-deprecating comedy. With help from wise cook Mary, they all learn more about kindness, understanding and empathy, creating their own little family.
The finale provides the emotional gut-punch that upends the future for both student and teacher. Payne and Hemingson have created a well-paced, witty, film with just enough physical comedy for Giamatti and Sessa. We could see The Holdovers become a new holiday classic to be held over year after year.
Focus Features 2 Hours 13 Minutes R
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