One Of The Most Heartfelt Films Of The Last Decade Is A Streaming Hit On Max
We’ve hardly crossed into Fall, and Max subscribers around the world are already getting into the Christmas spirit. While audiences in the United States can now stream it on Prime Video, citizens of countries like Argentina, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Venezuela have helped boost director Alexander Payne’s latest coming-of-age feature, The Holdovers, onto the streamer’s Top 10.
Featuring leading performances from two-time Academy Award-winner Paul Giamatti and up-and-comer Dominic Sessa, it’s easy to understand why the movie is taking off around the globe even if it isn’t quite the holiday season.
The Type Of Low-Key Film Hollywood Seemingly Stopped Making
Everything one would expect from the filmmaker who previously brought audiences classics like Election and Sideways, The Holdovers is a fun piece of vibey cinema that fully makes audiences feel like they’ve stepped into the ‘70s. Set at a boarding school in New England, the movie follows the unlikely friendship struck up by an unruly student, a curmudgeonly teacher, and a cafeteria worker grieving the loss of her son.
The trio may not have anything in common on paper, but when they’re forced to spend Christmas break together from inside the brick walls of the school, their differences fade away, and their similarities form an unbreakable bond.
Paul Giamatti At His Best
Paul Giamatti stars as Paul Hunham, the school’s teacher of classic literature who has been bamboozled into chaperoning the holdover students who, for one reason or another, are staying in the dorms over the holiday. Although most of the kids can break away thanks to a ski trip, Dominic Sessa’s Angus Tully is forced to hang back. The teacher and troublemaking student stay at one another’s throats for most of the movie, teaching each other valuable life lessons along the way.
The Surprise Breakout Star
Serving as the heartbeat that stays constant through The Holdovers is Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s Mary Lamb. Uninterested in the arguments between the grown man and teenager, Mary is always the sound mind and adult in the room, with the other two characters having a deep respect and reverence for her. Going through the worst holiday season of her life, Mary recently lost her son in the Vietnam War.
Did Well In Theaters
The Holdovers arrived in cinemas last year in late October, and although it was up against other titles like Five Nights at Freddy’s, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, the movie held its own at the global box office. By the time it checked out of theaters, The Holdovers had earned more than $45 million against its $13 million production budget. Beyond the financial gain, the movie also captured the attention and praise of a multitude of critics events, nabbing two wins at both the Golden Globe Awards and BAFTAs.
Streaming On Max
Helmer Alexander Payne marked his return to filmmaking with The Holdovers, as the director’s last feature-length production was 2017’s Downsizing. In tone, the holiday comedy-drama held onto the voice that Payne has become known for over the years, leaning into satire while providing a well-curated vibey experience. You’ll see what we mean if you watch The Holdovers, as it could easily be mistaken as a movie made in 1970 and not just one set during the year.
If you’re in the U.S. and are looking for a little Christmas spirit a few months early, you can check out The Holdovers on Prime Video. And if you’re outside the States, head over to Max and join the multitudes of others who have launched the title to the streamer’s Top 10.
