4 Star

Discipline in the Festive Period.

From the pen of popular writer/producer David Hemingson (Whiskey Cavalier (TV Series), Kitchen Confidential (TV Series)) and skilfully directed by Alexander Payne (Nebraska, Sideways), who brings out the best of his experienced and his younger actors, to bring us a gripping tale of the old school grit versus the young’s lust for life outside the classroom walls.

It’s the end of winter term at Barton Academy in New England, as the students think of the holidays in St Kitts, or heading off to sunnier climes, America’s bravest are fighting in the Vietnam War. While children get excited, the teachers have been conspiring against the Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti, Cinderella Man, American Splendor), the classics professor, who rubs everybody up the wrong way, with his constant references to the said classics. The other academics have managed to get out of looking after the said, Holdovers, all the children that cannot make it home for the two-week Christmas break.

The Poor Wall-eyed Bastard.

Hunham is disgruntled with this outcome, and he takes it up with his former student, the headmaster Dr. Harry Woodrup (Andrew Garman, Dead Ringers (TV Series)) who explains that his strict marking policy has cost them the support of a Senator, after he failed his son. But Hunham believes that these entitled kids shouldn’t have it easy all their lives.

Latitude is the last thing these boys need.

Resigned to his fate, he finds that he has five students left on campus during the holiday break, including Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), whose mother cancelled a family trip to Saint Kitts in order to honeymoon with her new husband. Also staying behind is cafeteria manager Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Dolemite Is My Name), whose late son, Curtis, attended Barton and was killed in the Vietnam War after being drafted. The five is quickly down to just Tully after Jason’s (Michael Provost, Fear Street: Part Two – 1978, Insatiable (TV Series)) dad turns up in a helicopter, and offers to take all the boys on holiday, as long as their parents agree, but Tully’s mother cannot be reached.

What ensues, is a cringeworthy battle of wits between Hunham and Tully, as Mary falls deeper into her grieving. It will be a journey of discovery for all concerned, well except for the headmaster, who will always remain.

P*nis cancer in human form.

This is Giamatti at his best, playing a complex character, with all his issues and traits, against the new boy Dominic Sessa, who literally throws himself into his part, as Da’Vine Joy Randolph shows her incredible acting skills as the grieving mother as she looks after her misfit pair of wards. The Holdovers, is definitely one for your top shelf, very enjoyable.

Dazzler Media presents The Holdovers on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD from 22nd April