The Holdovers

Watched it and it's just ok. Nothing you haven't seen before to be honest and a bit trite and predictable.

I probably would have switched off only we were watching as a family.

AP and PG just treading water and bulking out the wallets so to speak.

As somebody asked Robert Mitchum - 'Why did you make so many bad films?',

RM: 'They pay me to act in them, not to watch them'. 😁

Quite enjoyed it too, particularly once it gets going after the initial setup switches round about 30 minutes in. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it's a nice intimate little story with some strong performances (though the kid did bug me at times).

I saw this over Christmas, which was probably the best time to watch it, in that little holiday bubble. Well, I loved it and scored it 10/10, and I very rarely score films above 7/10, let alone 10/10. It's a slow burner, and that's a nice thing.

I loved this, and I personally think Paul Giamatti deserves every award he has won for his performance. One of my favourites from 2023.

Good movie about a man who deserves sympathy not seeking sympathy. The sub-plot for the leading Actress was well woven in to the script.

Will probably watch Sideways again based on the positive experience with this

Saw it last night. Nice little movie about (3) people searching for meaning and direction in their lives. If you mixed The Shining, Dead Poets Society, Scent Of A Woman and Good Will Hunting into a bowl, something like this would probably come out. I like Giamatti but this film doesn't really stretch his chops, the writing does the work for him. Newcomer Dominic Sessa was equally good I thought.

Nice film. Nothing outstanding.

Tried to watch over Xmas and found it extremely dull and boring. Nothing new or interesting I hadn't seen before. So we switched off about half way through.

Maybe it gets better?

Decided to watch this after the 5 star reviews and awards buzz. I didn’t really think much of it, fairly boring and sickening sweet. Nothing amazing about the lead actor performance, i was more impressed with the young supporting lad. I don’t know what was the point of the female actor role in it. It should not win any awards.

Oscar nominations are up: Giamatti has a tough competition against Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer, but Randolph is looking very strong for Supporting Actress. Alexander Payne was not nominated for Director, but David Hemingson was for Original Screenplay. It's also up for Best Picture.

PG in this film reminded me of John Candy in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. A much superior film to the holdovers yet no awards for it or the 2 genius comedy stars acting in it.

I'm seeing it on Friday

Saw this last night and really enjoyed it.

Don't get complaints about "seen it before" or "formulaic". It's a very nice human story with nice characters and great performances by the cast, particularly Giamatti, who for me was perfectly cast for the role.

Can see why he's the main challenger to Cillian Murphy for Oscar nod, and he could get it.

Nothing wrong with a film being well made and having enjoyable story and I could'n't find anything to dislike about it.

It captured the time very well and I also liked that it was not overly sentimental.

Yes, that's why Giamatti is getting so much praise , not just from the Academy but from lots of different award bodies for his "phoned in" performance.

Seems there's many people who are just miserable on this forum and just don't want to enjoy things. Has to be dark, or a twist or maybe epic.

This is a very simple story, very well told and acted and unlike you I didn't find it saccharine at all.

No, I found it passable as a movie, but don't see it as award material. Why do I think he phoned it in? There was no challenge in the role. He could play that character with his eyes closed tbh.

The Holdovers – 10/10

That feel when your most anticipated film delivers on every level. Paul Giamatti is one of my favourite actors and I adored he and Alexander Payne’s previous collaboration Sideways, so I pretty much knew this was a banker. The grainy 70’s aesthetic combined with the music choices made for a lovely couple of hours in the cinema. 

If it were up to me, I would give this all the awards. The only Oscar that I think it will win is best supporting actress for Da'Vine Joy Randolph, but perhaps I’m only saying that because her performance cut right into my very soul. Giamtti’s eye deserves an award alone. Factor in everything else and I think he edges Cillian Murphy. I don’t know where they dug Dominic Sessa up from, but what a debut. He brings a vulnerability to the role that works like a charm. 

I don’t know why they decided to release this in late January (it’s way too early) but it didn’t ruin my enjoyment at all. I’m just annoyed, as if they did bother to show this over the festive break, my Christmas would have been at least 33% better. That’s huge.

A very welcome new contender for GOAT Christmas film.

Green Book is one of the worst Oscar winners of all time imo

Each to their own

I don't see the big deal about this film. It's good but not great. Maybe a 7 out of 10.

Has PG stretched himself here? I don't think so. He has done this character, or a variant of it before. He does it well no doubt.

The story itself is enjoyable but I don't see it as a Christmas classic. I suspect the people who love it loved sideways and wanted more. This movie gives it to them.