The Holdovers (2023)

[StatisticalOutlier]

21 hours ago, paramitch said:

I just really loved this, and the best part was that I really didn't know how to feel about Hunham for easily the first third of the film -- he was petty, cruel, visibly checked-out from caring about his students, but his kindness and real concern for Mary made me curious, and by the midway point, I loved all the characters left in the weird sweet little holiday group.

Well said.  I'm always too shallow to actually grok to things like that, so I really appreciate it when people put it out there for the recognizing, and the taking.

[HyeChaps]

I was a freshman during this time. 
The film totally got the feel of the era. 

[Jordan Baker]

On 3/18/2024 at 12:50 PM, paramitch said:

The thing that moved me the most was watching this very accurate portrait of Hunham -- someone most movies would never look twice at. A slightly chubby, late-middle-aged loner with a walleye, fishy body odor, damp hands, and a bitter, time-hardened heart. Every time someone was kind to him, you could see him struggle with his hidden loneliness, and struggle not to show himself softening up. When his school associate Lydia was kind to him, and then Angus kidded him that she liked him, Giamatti was so masterful at showing that he was allowing himself to feel a tiny bit of hope that she might actually feel romantically for him -- hopes that we can see leave his eyes when her boyfriend arrives at the party.

We finally watched The Holdovers, and this is the moment that really hit me. Giamatti is a wonderful actor (if you're able to forget that awful cell-phone commercial), and I so felt his pain and disappointment. And resignation.

This was a very good film. The performances were top-notch, and I agree with you and other posters who were bowled over by Dominic Sessa. Da'Vine Joy Randolph's Best Supporting award was well-deserved, and, in any other year, I think PG would have won the Oscar.

The one thing I wasn't prepared for was how emotional I was watching the movie. I had seen the previews of Mary talking about her husband and son, but I didn't know (going in) that all three main characters were living with grief and despair. I think I shed more tears during this film than any in recent memory (including All of Us Strangers, a real tear-jerker).

Payne and co. did a great job of evoking 1970/71 (my first year of college). "Time Has Come Today" just about knocked me out.

[aghst]

Which role does Giamatti need to be forgiven for more, the cell phone commercial or Chuck Rhoades?

[Anela]

On 7/6/2024 at 12:06 PM, aghst said:

Which role does Giamatti need to be forgiven for more, the cell phone commercial or Chuck Rhoades?

I still haven’t finished Billions, because I can’t stand the main characters.  I haven’t seen the commercial, so I’m choosing Chuck.  

[EtheltoTillie]

3 hours ago, Anela said:

I still haven’t finished Billions, because I can’t stand the main characters.  I haven’t seen the commercial, so I’m choosing Chuck.  

Billions went off the rails midway through its run, and I stopped watching.  I also could never get behind the bondage story line--just unrealistic.  But as with many long-running shows like this, FOMO makes me tune in for the final season--without watching the missed seasons--to find out what happens.  I did not regret doing that with Billions, as it was a satisfying ending.  Give the last season a try.