“Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.”
-Marcus Aurelius
The filmography of director Alexander Payne can best be described (so far) as mostly well-told stories with unusual commentary. I say “mostly” well told because his endings, more often than not, leave a bit more to be desired. A running theme of his work appears to be shining a light on the more minor and often overlooked aspects of the human experience that can significantly impact the world and ourselves. When his endings land well, you get masterpieces like Sideways and About Schmidt, but when they don’t, you get ambitious disappointments like Downsizing.
His latest offering, The Holdovers, stands out as one of his better films, with an ending that successfully hits the mark without a hitch. It is a classic coming-of-age story that somehow feels fresh in its classical presentation with a firm and tangible commentary on what “making a difference” can sometimes mean. Plus, it has a good chance of becoming a new Holiday classic.
Set in the 1970s at an all-boys boarding school, the story follows a disgruntled ancient history teacher named Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), who finds himself unexpectedly tasked with staying on campus to care for the boys who cannot return home for Winter break. Among his handful of prepubescents is a teenager named Agnus Tully (Dominic Sessa), a massive pain in the butt for most of the school. Over the next two weeks, arguments will be had, secrets will be revealed, and everyone’s true nature will be exposed. How they may choose to react will be entirely up to them.
The most important thing to remember when watching this movie, and I recommend you do so, is that it will take a little while before it becomes genuinely engaging. The film's first half observes the characters at their most unlikable and unstable moments, which may cause unintentional boredom (for want of a better word). However, at some time, just before the mid-way point, the characters will peel back their armor, as it were, and reveal their true colors and why they are worth your time. Typically, this character introduction is less favorable as it diminishes an audience's ability to connect and invest. Still, I assure you, it will all be worth it.
The Holdovers is probably Alexander Payne’s best film to date. It has a solid story with enough comic relief to make the drama all the more digestible, and its committed performances from the cast will deliver a solid experience. This might be worthwhile if you’re looking for a new Holiday classic with some real humanity behind it.
Check it out.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment