"The Holdovers" on Peacock

[nuxvomica]

Paul Giamatti (Billions) plays a stern, uptight boarding school teacher at an elite New England prep school who's charged with wrangling the "holdovers", students with no place to go for the holidays, when the school breaks for the last two weeks of 1970. It's his punishment for failing the idiot son of one of the school's benefactors. Among his companions is a troubled youth (Dominic Sessa) with family problems and the school's head cook (Da'Vine Joy Randolph of Only Murders in the Building) who is mourning the loss of her only son in the Vietnam War. Over the holiday, the three of them awkwardly connect with each other in sometimes comical ways, revealing truths about themselves and healing their wounds.

The movie is funny and poignant, but mostly well written and acted, with Sessa a standout in his professional debut. It's set at the ass end of 1970, when I was in high school, so it was also very nostalgic for me. Highly recommended!

[captain queeg]

1. Saw it at the theater at thanksgiving. I really liked it.

[Auggie]

2. Good film ...

mature and smart -- a movie made for grown-ups.

[bif]

3. Destined to become a holiday classic!

Saw it a while back and really enjoyed it.

[NewHendoLib]

4. Loved it! This is the kind of movie my wife and I love....

such a relief after the disappointment of May December, Oppenheimer and Maestro.

Great acting, character development, pacing - and you could actually hear the dialog!

[chia]

5. What an absolute gem of a movie. Alternately wryly comical and sweetly endearing - heart-tugging and heart-breaking.

Authentic 70s vibe throughout, memorable quotes, loved the soundtrack. The acting was so genuine... unforgettable... how could you not root for Hunham, Tully and Mary as they grew together, with their pasts and their futures...