The Holdovers

Two aspects pulled me in to see this, eventually. Alexander Payne, the director, and Paul Giamatti, the actor. Otherwise, the elite high school setting and whatever was going to come with that, just didn't appeal to me. It's a lot of SCHOOL, and 70s, and BROWN, and SNOW, and NEW ENGLAND. Much if not all, I am basically sick of, in both film, and for some, in reality. Thus, the appeal for me was always going to be the director and the lead actor. Without question, they both deliver here, in Payne's 8th as director. Earlier stand-outs for me include Election, About Schmidt, and a high point in my view, The Descendants.

As I type this, I can't think of many of Giamatti's other performances (besides as Pig Vomit in Betty Thomas' Howard Stern biopic, Private Parts), but I know each and every time he nails it. In my view, this may be his best, in all the relatable humanity that he lays bare, emotional and physical. It's about time this man receives his Oscar. Not just a nomination; the award. All of what makes him one of the best actors in generations is on display here, and the recognition is now past due.

The film itself is lovely, and while off to a slow start, it picks up steam (for still, a slowburn of a film) about 45 minutes in, and that's when it started to enter the bloodstream. Three different people with loose connections at a private high school in 1970 Massachusetts essentially confront and deal with deep sadnesses in their lives that are amplified due to the Christmas timing of the story. For me, a lot rang home: an aging gentleman, single, only child, parents passed away far too young, kind of a hermit, and dealing with some of the prejudices that come from others when looking at that type of reality from the outside in. They all had issues that likely could use some therapy, and they handle it in non-destructive ways. That makes their characters endearing and relatable. Even the young kid in the equation, who seems to be a bit of a disrupter, there's - of course - more going on there, and that reveal is quietly powerful.

It's a cozy, Christmas film, helped by the location shooting throughout Massachusetts, including Shelburne Falls in the western part of the state, a fall destination of mine in years past. Even the entrance to my first "real job" in downtown Boston is shown - good memories, luckily.

Will I watch this again? Unlikely, but if the urge comes to revisit some great, humane, relatable and honorable performances again, this would definitely be one on the list of considerations.