The Holdovers, one of the best films of 2023, comes to Blu-ray with a beautiful transfer and excellent special features.
The Film
So many critics say that films like Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers don’t exist anymore. Though I hold in my hands a physical media copy of the very thing they say aren’t made anymore. A film that’s at once a comedy, drama, coming-of-age, coming-of-middle and so much more. Overfilled with ideas, emotions, and characters like any good novel. The Holdovers is Payne at his best – sincerity with a huge dollop of his patented cynical wit.
Professor Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) is hated by students, faculty, and administrators alike at Barton Academy for Boys. The feeling is mutual and for the world writ large for Hunham. He is looking forward to nothing more than shutting out the world during the Winter Break. It is only fitting that he must overlook the holdovers – students that must stay over the long break. Hunham along with Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) must preside over the five young men over the holiday much to everyone’s chagrin.
No one would think that it has been two decades since actor Paul Giamatti and director Alexander Payne collaborated. The Holdovers feels like an extension of their work on Sideways with an even deeper look into loneliness and the kind of austere personalities that rare are given screentime in film, let alone the lead of a picture. Hunham is a man that’s been battered and bruised by life’s inequities. Giamatti plays the professor as a proud, self-satisfying, bully a living piece of scar tissue unsure of the changing youth and the work he does is of little consequence.
He is aided greatly by two equally astounding performances by Da’Vine Joy Randolph and newcomer Dominic Sessa. Randolph is electrifying as the cook who recently loss her son in Vietnam. Her work here is alternately hilarious and devastating. Sessa as the main holdover is as much a revelation a Randolph. The mere fact he is able to stand his ground with Giamatti and Randolph’s mature accomplished work is amazing. That this young performer rises beyond both of them to deliver a star-making performance reaffirms just how special a film this is.
One of other many pleasures of The Holdovers is its ability to shift narrative focus without losing consistency of tone. The script by producer David Hemingson excels at the unexpected. Not just within the narrative but with its characters and dialog. A spiritual cousin to the work of Hal Ashby and the writing of Bo Goldman, the film feels effortlessly inventive, constantly finding the richest moments for characters to thrive in. The delight of the film is diving into the unexpected surprises that await that feels more akin to a great novel, one that becomes an annual tradition to revisit.
The film would not be what it is without the steady hand and sharp eye of director Alexander Payne. Like the greats – Wilder, Brooks, Ashby to name a few – he understands what it takes to elevate a good story into a great one … and a great story into a Classic. With a little bit more time and distance The Holdovers will be labeled just that, a Classic.
The Transfer
From the opening moments, one would think Payne and cinematographer Eigil Bryld shot the film in 16mm. That is where you are wrong. The Holdovers was shot ARRI Alexa Mini using Zeiss Super Speed lenses. This all bears mentioning because of how organically warm and beautiful the Blu-ray transfer is – mimicking the theatrical experience, fooling one into thinking the film was shot in 16mm (or Super16) and blown up to 35mm. There is a wonderful active grain structure that carries throughout the film. For extra measure, Payne has added the crackle and pop to the opening credit sequence (if we were on a point scale – I’d give the transfer an extra point for this bit of cinematic tomfoolery/in-joke), which adds to the verisimilitude of copying the look and feel of 35mm. Bravo to Universal for ensuring each and every aspect of the transfer was tuned to perfection including ensuring that every measured and purposeful choice that Payne and Bryld made was transitioned to home video intact.
The Extras
They include the following;
- Deleted Scenes
- Alternate Ending
- The Cast of The Holdovers
- Working with Alexander
Deleted Scenes (5:55) – Four scenes with a brief written introduction by Payne. Each deleted scene is accompanied by a small introduction by Payne about why it was deleted. The deleted scenes can be played together or on their own.
- New Room (1:15) – an extended bit from when the holdovers move into the infirmary for the break.
- Making a Scene (1:13) – an extra bit set at the bowling alley.
- The Road Back to Barton (1:49) – a moment in a hotel room on their way back from Boston.
- Ancient History (1:30) – an additional scene after the final decision has been made post-vacation.
Alternate Ending (2:25) – The alternate ending with a written introduction by Payne on why the “moment” was lifted.
The Cast of The Holdovers (10:41) – this featurette looks at the great Paul Giamatti, the casting/discovery of the lead younger actor Dominic Sessa, the casting of Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and the casting of Dominic Sessa. Featuring comments by director Payne; actors Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Brady Hepner, Dominic Sessa, Carrie Preston, Michael Provost, Jim Kaplan, Ian Dolley; Producer/Screenwriter David Hemingson; and producer Mark Johnson.
Working with Alexander (8:36) – this featurette looks at the various cast and crew discussing working with director Alexander Payne; Payne’s working relationship with Giamatti; how Payne’s style has changed over the years; the collaboration with the actors – including a few great anecdotes; how Payne works with the below-the-line crew – Production Designer Ryan Warren Smith, costume Wendy Chuck, cinematographer Eigil Bryld, and others; and more. Featuring comments by Production Designer Ryan Warren Smith; actors Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa, and Carrie Preston; Producer/Screenwriter David Hemingson; and producer Mark Johnson.
The Final Thought
The Holdovers comes to Blu-ray in an excellent Collector’s Edition. Highest Recommendations!!