The Holdovers

 



The Holdovers is a new Christmas film by Alexander Payne, who has directed films such as Sideways, Nebraska, and The Descendants, if you like these past films you will like this one.  

It takes place in New England in December of 1970. It stars Paul Giamatti as Mr. Hunham, a professor at a Boarding School who has the task of taking care of the Holder children who can't go home for Christmas.  Five students can't travel home for various reasons from Barton Boarding School.   So they will have to stay on campus with Mr. Hunham the Ancient History teacher.  He has decided to take care of these students throughout their vacation period.  Various adventures are had throughout the film.  

The most interesting relationship is between Mr. Punham and Angus one of the students whose parents have abandoned their son so they can go on a honeymoon during Christmas.  Angus forms an unlikely bond with Mr. Punham and they grow through the film together even though they seem to hate each other at the beginning of the film.  

This film reminds me of the Book "Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.  It shows the disdain for authority and for the fear that Angus has for his future.  It shows his struggle to figure out who he is and also how that relates to his family and his school.  Angus doesn't believe in himself but is encouraged by his teacher Mr. Punham.  This is an unlikely bond that I didn't really see coming.  The father figure of a teacher who actually learns to care about one of his students and his future.  We should all want that out of our teachers and students.  Maybe there is still hope for mankind if that can be accomplished in our schools.  We should be that example to the youth of the future.  Let's hope that the youth of today can wake up and know what future they have before them.  

There is more swearing than most films but it is not shocking with it being boys in high school.  I think all of us males remember a time in our lives when we just wanted to be blunt and let people know what we were thinking.  This should not hinder you from watching a great film that maybe up for Best Picture of the year.  Go see this film.

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