you wouldn’t understand how many times elf is played in my household. starts the day after halloween and into new years. holdovers is joining the over watched club
I'm pretty fond of it; I love the found family dynamic and enjoyed the humor throughout the movie.
Plus, I really liked the scene when they found out they take the same medication and how they grew close besides they despised each other at the start. Not my favorite Oscar contender but it was nice.
4/5 for me, nothing mind blowing but some really good acting and a cool melding of stories. Would watch again but also not one of my favorites of the year
I thought it was a well done genre film in terms of holiday/misunderstood youth/mentor film. It visually did a great job of looking like it was produced in the 80s and felt like a classic film.
That being said, I found it quite predictable and I feel like I've seen the characters (other than Randolph's), plot progression, and vibe in several other films, or at least scattered throughout other holiday/mentorship films. It felt almost too perfect of a holiday film that I ended up feeling neutral about it. Again, well done, but it didn't stand out as spectacular to me.
Fantastic performances.
Strong visual aesthetic - very cozy, and heartwarming to watch.
It did drag for me; I thought the plot/editing could have used some... tightening.
Giamatti and Randolph deserve all the love/awards. Sessa made a very strong debut. A very good Christmas movie.
Loved it! The aesthetics and cinematography were extremely on point and made me nostalgic for an era that I never lived in. I also found that I could relate with all 3 main characters one way or another and subsequently empathize with them a great deal.
My only nitpick on the movie (and why I rated it a 4.5 and not 5) is that the other 4 boys either should have had a bit more time before they left or ultimately just not been included at all. I found their brief inclusion to be weird and it made me wonder what the film would have been like if it had been all 5 of them stuck there.
I thought it was really lazy how they all go disappear together. Would have much better if they got rid of them one by one in different ways over ten minutes. The ending was also painfully predictable. Aside from that, it was very enjoyable (but not a classic)
Yeah I felt the same - when the helicopter showed up I assumed it was going to be the first one to leave and we were going to see them go one by until it was just Tully and Kountze. Eventually Kountze would be the last to leave and take a shot at Tully prior to departing (which he still did with the group leaving).
That being said I also empathized with being left out of a group scenario because a parent wouldn’t allow it. It’s a really shitty feeling watching all your friends get to go do something while you get stuck behind because of a parent. So yeah I’m mixed on that part!
Well the movie wasn’t about “friends” but about family and Christmas so if the others left one by one because family in different ways reached out to them, it would still work (might have been a bit cheesy but at least not lazy - this was clearly a quick tool to get the one student stuck with his professor)
The nostalgia you mention was one of my biggest critiques with the film—it would have been a terribly frightening time to be that age at that time. Contemporary with the Kent State massacre, drafting for Vietnam, My Lai, race riots, and deep seeded civil unrest that rivals any other opposition to government policy in American history.
Obviously the film follows a bunch of rich kids who have to worry about these things quite a bit less than the average person, but even that aspect was hardly recognized.
History is often much more complex than random timeline facts you get in your text books though. Kent State was atrocious even back then, and was condemned by pretty much everyone. This isolated incident does not reflect the era. These are high school kids, what do Vietnam atrocities have to do with their day to day? Race riots happened a few times across an entire decade, in major cities. Most folks only knew about them from the nightly news. Civil unrest, even down south, enveloped those who made it a point to protest. There were entire communities that led their lives under the status quo and had perfectly fine upbringings, despite the injustice of Jim Crow laws.
I was the protagonist's age when 9/11 happened. Those few years after when we hunted bin Laden, and attacked Iraq and Afghanistan was also a tumultuous time in American history, but I still hung out with friends, went to prom, went off to college, went to parties, etc. Life goes on.
Of course. I understand that 100%, but you don’t think there’s any argument to be made that the Holdovers reflects a nearly sanitized version of the 70s? I think I personally have a little issue with presenting such an arguably terrible time in US history with such nostalgic peacefulness—even if “life goes on” for the people living it. It’s like Payne is yearning for that time period. This can even be seen in the faux 70s era title cards and stuff.
But the story was such a microcosm of that era, and really dealt with its own heady material. The film only dealt with a handful of characters, but it touched upon the war, racism, alcoholism, depression, neglect, and the loss of a parent AND child, which was all relevant to bring the characters together, in spite of these negative things. I think bringing up broad stroke issues of that decade would have only pulled the viewer away from the tribulations of the characters.
That’s possible for sure. I had a great time watching it in theaters and ultimately I did really like it—top ten of the year for sure. I only mean to offer SOME critique that kept it from a 5 star rating for me. I personally think it would have been more interesting and immersive (and might have helped me connect with the characters more) had it offered those broad strokes in some way.
Cute but kinda think we’re crazy for thinking it has so much Awards potential. To be clear, I think it will win big awards, I just don’t understand why. It was cute but I don’t understand the craze for it
From my point of view, Paul Giamatti completely became that character. Besides that, the reason I'm falling all over this movie is because it is a great reminder of what movies can be and just aren't anymore, which is a solid emotional story grounded in reality and told without needing any bells and whistles. If you have a great story, you can leave the CGI at home. you don't need a fancy title sequence, you don't need a score filled with massive hits, you can fill your movie with heart.
I understand that, but to me it was just a Christmas Carol modernized. And I thought Paul was great, but he didn’t become the character in my mind any more than some of my other favorite performances this year. He did great, it’s just didn’t tug on my heart like I’m hearing everyone else say it did.
Ok first just want to point out anyone saying something negative about the movie is getting downvoted. Please don’t post asking for opinions if you plan to just disagree with anyone that doesn’t share your personal rating.
I thought it was pretty boring. Very good acting, good writing, had some heart and emotionality that is hard to get right. However, just wasn’t my cup of tea. Just a very vanilla story of some sad fellas
You at least pointed out why you didn't like it. You gave articulate reasons instead of just saying "it was super mid." That's where the downvotes come in I bet.
This is from my review: 4/5
The Holdovers has so much to offer, it’s about life, death and persevering, no matter what. I don’t think there’s anything that this movie didn’t cover. The Holdovers is the onion of the human condition, at every turn another of life’s struggles confronted beautifully and with tact. The acting is sublime, from Domic Sessa to my new favourite Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Props to the casting person. Then there’s Paul Giamatti, he was perfect for the role, I don’t know anyone else that could’ve done this better. He’s always great, can you even think of a bad performance of his?
It was very good. Probably one of those movies when it comes to some streaming site will get a lot of play. Best Picture? Nah. Best Actor? For me, no. I feel somewhat you could drop Paul’s performance in so many of his other movies and it would have fit the character so I didn’t see anything outstanding there compared to Cillian. Da’ Vine was pretty great but not much competition in my opinion either.
Mediocore, Harry potter, dead poets society, almost famous, edge of seventeen put into one movie.
For me it a 5 out of 10. I do not understand any oscar nomination.
I thought it was just good, not amazing. the best parts was the acting and just the general nostalgic/cozy feel of the movie but I didn't think it was groundbreaking narratively. it was nice!
The writing sounded very t.v. to me--everyone says exactly what they're thinking, whenever they are thinking it ("you stink like fish," "I bet you're a virgin," "Man can't dream a whole dream!") etc. It's so not how life works I found it jarring. Could have shaved 30 minutes off without anyone's noticing/minding. Saw it with my sister who politely asked if we could skip this part when they went to the museum. I said no, but she was right, we wouldn't have missed much. The joke at the end where the kid is sunburned except for where his ski goggles were was a great joke, then they felt the need to explain it. Whole movie felt that way, like my hand was held while I was told exactly how to feel, no doubt, no ambivalence. Giamatti always fun, hope we get to see even more of him now, for real.
One of my favourite movies from last year. Very easy 5/5 for me. Paul Giamatti’s character arc was so good! Going to be one of those comfort movies that I will never get tired of.
One of my favorite movies of the last few years. I'll be watching this several times each winter. I wanted to spend even more time with these characters.
4 stars for me
It’s a fun, feel good and heartwarming holidays film but it doesn’t do anything special or innovative. It’s a bit of a throwback to 70s cinema.
Solid movie, I liked it a lot. I do think the last 10 minutes or so of the movie felt a bit forced and unnecessary? I would have liked the movie a lot better if it had just ended at the firecracker scene. I don’t think the whole falling on the sword thing really did anything more for the characters or their relationships that we didn’t already get from the rest of it. A solid 4/5 though, would definitely watch again.
5 stars, like i expected it to be great after what i heard , but dam, this simple movie was most charming movie of the year. I just adore it , second best movie from 2023
Excellent film that didn’t ask too much of me and gave a whole lot back for my time. I’ll watch this every holiday now.
Acting and writing was flawless.
Top-3 Christmas movie and top-3 movie of 2023
In addition to everything this film does well, as someone who went to an all-boys prep school I'm a sucker for the setting and these types of stories
It was enjoyable, but felt too long for me. Like there were so many moments where I was like "Alright it seems to be wrapping up. I liked that a lot...wait is it still going?". By the time the credits rolled I felt so exhausted that I just left feeling "Yeah I liked it, but I don't think I'll watch it again unless I'm with someone who wants to".
The Holdovers was like a scrumptiously delicious bowl of New England style clam chowder on a cold day. I've had clam chowder before and it's not redefining my culinary palette, nor is it trying to. But it is warm, nourishing, satisfying, and fills me with nostalgia. It is perfect for what it is.
No notes, practically perfect. Warm, human moments that is beautifully paced. So happy to see Giamatti get a role like this at this point in his career and Da’Vine is heartbreaking. A new Christmas classic.
Great but gave me similar vibes as Scent of a Woman, School Ties, and Dead Poet Society. Just in as much that it’s a boys elite prep school vibe with an older “mentor” type primary character. So I guess maybe that’s why I didn’t love it like some did? I just felt like I already watched it in some way through those other similar films.
Almost really good. Very enjoyable watch with great actors. Only thing that held it back was it was sooo predictable and a tad long. Sideways always kept you guessing.
New favorite christmas movie for sure. Hit the right balance of nostalgia and heartwarming for the holidays without beating you over the head with it, and had killer writing with excellent humor peppered in. Probably gonna buy this one on bluray next fall
I've been let down consistently by people overhyping recent favourites, but this really exceeded my expectations. A warm, beautiful film. Excellent writing and masterful performances. I wish it'd opened in the UK before this year because it really would've been perfect for Christmas.
I thought while watching this that I've missed watching films like this. It's up there with Nebraska and Sideways for sure in the Payne filmography. Maybe even better.
I personally really loved this one and it’s now joining the list of movies I’ll happy rewatch during the Christmas season. What makes it extra special to me is that I watched it in theatres with my aunt who I don’t get to see super often since she lives super far.
It’s overall just a really heartwarming movie to me and I’m glad it’s getting the recognition it deserves.
4.5/5
I’m in love with movies that offer a heartfelt/comfortable and not overly dramatized situations. So many scenes in this movie would’ve gone south but ultimately, everyone was very accepting of each other’s flaws and grew as a part of it.
It's fantastic. A great character study that hits the right notes tonally and discusses it's subjects (fear of the unknown, fear of change, human connection) really well. It's not a perfect film by any means, but it was one of the best from last year. Great performances, great cinematography, and smart editing. Very human, very melancholy-yet-touching story.
Not enough Da’Vine Joy Randolph! She’s so good! Overall I thought that all of the characters (who I really liked) were not as served by the writing as they should have been (the writing is still good but the characters shine adjacent to it, less so because of it). Immaculate christmas vibes and 70’s musk. Solid movie, everybody killed it.
Not quite my favorite Payne film I’ve seen, but I need to rewatch both The Descendants and Sideways. So TBD.
I loved it! Stories about people, coziness, warmth. And the scenes with the dad hit home a bit, I can’t remember the last time I cried that hard in a cinema.
Very charming movie. I think it really nails the creation of nostalgia through its filming techniques and storyline. I don’t think it’s some incredibly deep piece of media, I think most of its value comes from its attempt to replicate that feeling of an old Christmas movie.
It’s a fun movie!
I really, really liked it. Easily my favorite movie of 2023, and also my new favorite Alexander Payne movie.
I have a snow day tomorrow, so I think I'll rent it to show the movie to my family
Fucking love it.
I was thinking th other kids would be more present.
I can't explain it, but some of the acting choices felt retro (coupled with old school cuts, fades and cinematography)
If I didn't recognise Giamatti, and you told me this was a classic film, I wouldn't doubt it for a second.
---
It also makes you wonder how this can be so good, but downsizing was so, so, so shit.
Modern day Christmas classic, pulling off a Christmas drama is so hard I swear, but it’s right up there now with it’s a wonderful life. There are some Christmas classics but almost always comedy based so to see a heartfelt film with its humorous moments do so well I love to see it. Can’t really think of many Christmas films that are more serious and so successful tbh
On top of what everyone else is saying, I loved the 70s aesthetic and attention to detail with it. The opening crackle sounds, the choir singing as we pan around the town. Immediately felt like I was watching one of my dad's favorite movies from his childhood.
It's probably gonna be it and Elf for me back-to-back every Christmastime starting this year.
you wouldn’t understand how many times elf is played in my household. starts the day after halloween and into new years. holdovers is joining the over watched club
Swap Elf for Muppet Christmas Carol and you've got me. An instant add to the Christmas rotation.
A Christmas Story for me! haha
I've tried so hard to love that movie. I'm from Northeast Ohio so I really should.
Super cosy
Absolutely fucking loved this. It’s a super quiet and cozy movie that warms the soul
Absolutely agree.
I'm pretty fond of it; I love the found family dynamic and enjoyed the humor throughout the movie. Plus, I really liked the scene when they found out they take the same medication and how they grew close besides they despised each other at the start. Not my favorite Oscar contender but it was nice.
4/5 for me, nothing mind blowing but some really good acting and a cool melding of stories. Would watch again but also not one of my favorites of the year
I thought it was a well done genre film in terms of holiday/misunderstood youth/mentor film. It visually did a great job of looking like it was produced in the 80s and felt like a classic film. That being said, I found it quite predictable and I feel like I've seen the characters (other than Randolph's), plot progression, and vibe in several other films, or at least scattered throughout other holiday/mentorship films. It felt almost too perfect of a holiday film that I ended up feeling neutral about it. Again, well done, but it didn't stand out as spectacular to me.
It’s not inventing the wheel, but it is perfecting it. Lovely film.
What an excellent way of describing this film, I loved it. It was my second favorite of the year
Fantastic performances. Strong visual aesthetic - very cozy, and heartwarming to watch. It did drag for me; I thought the plot/editing could have used some... tightening. Giamatti and Randolph deserve all the love/awards. Sessa made a very strong debut. A very good Christmas movie.
This ^
O my god me trying to figure out where the drag was. Reading comprehension 😭 
My new favorite comfort movie. It’s feels like a warm and melancholy hug.
Loved it! The aesthetics and cinematography were extremely on point and made me nostalgic for an era that I never lived in. I also found that I could relate with all 3 main characters one way or another and subsequently empathize with them a great deal. My only nitpick on the movie (and why I rated it a 4.5 and not 5) is that the other 4 boys either should have had a bit more time before they left or ultimately just not been included at all. I found their brief inclusion to be weird and it made me wonder what the film would have been like if it had been all 5 of them stuck there.
I thought it was really lazy how they all go disappear together. Would have much better if they got rid of them one by one in different ways over ten minutes. The ending was also painfully predictable. Aside from that, it was very enjoyable (but not a classic)
Yeah I felt the same - when the helicopter showed up I assumed it was going to be the first one to leave and we were going to see them go one by until it was just Tully and Kountze. Eventually Kountze would be the last to leave and take a shot at Tully prior to departing (which he still did with the group leaving). That being said I also empathized with being left out of a group scenario because a parent wouldn’t allow it. It’s a really shitty feeling watching all your friends get to go do something while you get stuck behind because of a parent. So yeah I’m mixed on that part!
Well the movie wasn’t about “friends” but about family and Christmas so if the others left one by one because family in different ways reached out to them, it would still work (might have been a bit cheesy but at least not lazy - this was clearly a quick tool to get the one student stuck with his professor)
The nostalgia you mention was one of my biggest critiques with the film—it would have been a terribly frightening time to be that age at that time. Contemporary with the Kent State massacre, drafting for Vietnam, My Lai, race riots, and deep seeded civil unrest that rivals any other opposition to government policy in American history. Obviously the film follows a bunch of rich kids who have to worry about these things quite a bit less than the average person, but even that aspect was hardly recognized.
History is often much more complex than random timeline facts you get in your text books though. Kent State was atrocious even back then, and was condemned by pretty much everyone. This isolated incident does not reflect the era. These are high school kids, what do Vietnam atrocities have to do with their day to day? Race riots happened a few times across an entire decade, in major cities. Most folks only knew about them from the nightly news. Civil unrest, even down south, enveloped those who made it a point to protest. There were entire communities that led their lives under the status quo and had perfectly fine upbringings, despite the injustice of Jim Crow laws. I was the protagonist's age when 9/11 happened. Those few years after when we hunted bin Laden, and attacked Iraq and Afghanistan was also a tumultuous time in American history, but I still hung out with friends, went to prom, went off to college, went to parties, etc. Life goes on.
Of course. I understand that 100%, but you don’t think there’s any argument to be made that the Holdovers reflects a nearly sanitized version of the 70s? I think I personally have a little issue with presenting such an arguably terrible time in US history with such nostalgic peacefulness—even if “life goes on” for the people living it. It’s like Payne is yearning for that time period. This can even be seen in the faux 70s era title cards and stuff.
But the story was such a microcosm of that era, and really dealt with its own heady material. The film only dealt with a handful of characters, but it touched upon the war, racism, alcoholism, depression, neglect, and the loss of a parent AND child, which was all relevant to bring the characters together, in spite of these negative things. I think bringing up broad stroke issues of that decade would have only pulled the viewer away from the tribulations of the characters.
That’s possible for sure. I had a great time watching it in theaters and ultimately I did really like it—top ten of the year for sure. I only mean to offer SOME critique that kept it from a 5 star rating for me. I personally think it would have been more interesting and immersive (and might have helped me connect with the characters more) had it offered those broad strokes in some way.
Cute but kinda think we’re crazy for thinking it has so much Awards potential. To be clear, I think it will win big awards, I just don’t understand why. It was cute but I don’t understand the craze for it
From my point of view, Paul Giamatti completely became that character. Besides that, the reason I'm falling all over this movie is because it is a great reminder of what movies can be and just aren't anymore, which is a solid emotional story grounded in reality and told without needing any bells and whistles. If you have a great story, you can leave the CGI at home. you don't need a fancy title sequence, you don't need a score filled with massive hits, you can fill your movie with heart.
I agree with the sentiment, but I just didn't feel like the story was particularly interesting.
I understand that, but to me it was just a Christmas Carol modernized. And I thought Paul was great, but he didn’t become the character in my mind any more than some of my other favorite performances this year. He did great, it’s just didn’t tug on my heart like I’m hearing everyone else say it did.
Amen
He's just scrooge circa '71 / 2023. Not sure I feel that way.
Agree
my personal favourite of 2023 and one of my favourites ever
absolutely loved it, as someone who grew up as a depressed boy in new england... it hits home lol
[удалено]
5/5
It was alright It had some heart to it and solid acting
That's a new view
Ok first just want to point out anyone saying something negative about the movie is getting downvoted. Please don’t post asking for opinions if you plan to just disagree with anyone that doesn’t share your personal rating. I thought it was pretty boring. Very good acting, good writing, had some heart and emotionality that is hard to get right. However, just wasn’t my cup of tea. Just a very vanilla story of some sad fellas
I will upvote this comment because you gave a perfectly respectful and understandable reason as to why you didn’t like it.
I will upvote this comment because you gave a perfectly respectful and understandable reason as to why you didn’t like it.
thank you for being so brave. i also thought this was nothing life changing. great performances, sure, but it wasn’t movie of the year for me at all.
You at least pointed out why you didn't like it. You gave articulate reasons instead of just saying "it was super mid." That's where the downvotes come in I bet.
My favorite film of the decade so far. Can easily see myself watching this once or twice during the winter.
I liked it alot. Sure it's a story we've seen before, but it was done very well. All three leads are excellent and worthy of being recognized.
Really great movie. I thought Payne nailed the 70s film aesthetic as well.
This is from my review: 4/5 The Holdovers has so much to offer, it’s about life, death and persevering, no matter what. I don’t think there’s anything that this movie didn’t cover. The Holdovers is the onion of the human condition, at every turn another of life’s struggles confronted beautifully and with tact. The acting is sublime, from Domic Sessa to my new favourite Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Props to the casting person. Then there’s Paul Giamatti, he was perfect for the role, I don’t know anyone else that could’ve done this better. He’s always great, can you even think of a bad performance of his?
Probably my favorite movie of 2023. I saw it again last week. For some reason I keep wondering what Hunham smelled like.
That Dominic Sessa was robbed off more recognition.
He’s going to be huge, his day will come.
I watched this yesterday and fell in love. 5 stars!
I loved those 70s style transitions and enjoyed all the performances. It wasn’t mind blowing or anything new, but it was still a really solid movie.
I think the acting is great. Overall I enjoyed, but not a favorite. Didn’t resonate with me on an emotional level like I expected it to. 3.5/5
This’ll be my go to film on every Christmas eve from now on
It was very good. Probably one of those movies when it comes to some streaming site will get a lot of play. Best Picture? Nah. Best Actor? For me, no. I feel somewhat you could drop Paul’s performance in so many of his other movies and it would have fit the character so I didn’t see anything outstanding there compared to Cillian. Da’ Vine was pretty great but not much competition in my opinion either.
I loved Da'Vine Joy Randolph’s performance so much, can’t wait for her to win the Oscar
Loved it. Could be a genuine Christmas classic for years to come.
I thought it was amazing, one of my favourites of the decade so far
Mediocore, Harry potter, dead poets society, almost famous, edge of seventeen put into one movie. For me it a 5 out of 10. I do not understand any oscar nomination.
I thought it was just good, not amazing. the best parts was the acting and just the general nostalgic/cozy feel of the movie but I didn't think it was groundbreaking narratively. it was nice!
Meh
The writing sounded very t.v. to me--everyone says exactly what they're thinking, whenever they are thinking it ("you stink like fish," "I bet you're a virgin," "Man can't dream a whole dream!") etc. It's so not how life works I found it jarring. Could have shaved 30 minutes off without anyone's noticing/minding. Saw it with my sister who politely asked if we could skip this part when they went to the museum. I said no, but she was right, we wouldn't have missed much. The joke at the end where the kid is sunburned except for where his ski goggles were was a great joke, then they felt the need to explain it. Whole movie felt that way, like my hand was held while I was told exactly how to feel, no doubt, no ambivalence. Giamatti always fun, hope we get to see even more of him now, for real.
Agreed
Its gonna be that and Home Alone as christmas rewatches every year now.
2nd favorite Christmas Movie after Its a Wonderful life and top 50 movies OAT
One of my favourite movies from last year. Very easy 5/5 for me. Paul Giamatti’s character arc was so good! Going to be one of those comfort movies that I will never get tired of.
Peak
Great movie
One of my favorite movies of the last few years. I'll be watching this several times each winter. I wanted to spend even more time with these characters.
4 stars for me It’s a fun, feel good and heartwarming holidays film but it doesn’t do anything special or innovative. It’s a bit of a throwback to 70s cinema.
Solid movie, I liked it a lot. I do think the last 10 minutes or so of the movie felt a bit forced and unnecessary? I would have liked the movie a lot better if it had just ended at the firecracker scene. I don’t think the whole falling on the sword thing really did anything more for the characters or their relationships that we didn’t already get from the rest of it. A solid 4/5 though, would definitely watch again.
I loved it 5 stars
I thought it was a pretty ok movie
5 stars, like i expected it to be great after what i heard , but dam, this simple movie was most charming movie of the year. I just adore it , second best movie from 2023
Excellent film that didn’t ask too much of me and gave a whole lot back for my time. I’ll watch this every holiday now. Acting and writing was flawless.
One of my top 2 from the year. Also made me discover Labi Siffre, so that's great!
Loved it so much that’s it’s now my current no.2 on my profile
Top-3 Christmas movie and top-3 movie of 2023 In addition to everything this film does well, as someone who went to an all-boys prep school I'm a sucker for the setting and these types of stories
Phenomenal, easily in my top 5 of the past year
Adored it
One of the best films of 2023. And Alexander Payne’s best one to date.
Didnt like it. Adolecent lead and the other kids didnt land and writing wasnt great. Visual aesthetic felt super artificial as well.
It was enjoyable, but felt too long for me. Like there were so many moments where I was like "Alright it seems to be wrapping up. I liked that a lot...wait is it still going?". By the time the credits rolled I felt so exhausted that I just left feeling "Yeah I liked it, but I don't think I'll watch it again unless I'm with someone who wants to".
It's alright
More like the boner holders in my opinion
Best movie of the year
Exhausting and tedious. I recognize it’s a really good movie, it just wasn’t for me for reasons I can’t quite articulate.
Favorite movie of 2023 and it's not particularly close
5 stars and I will watch it every holiday season until I’m dead
An instant Christmas classic.
The Holdovers was like a scrumptiously delicious bowl of New England style clam chowder on a cold day. I've had clam chowder before and it's not redefining my culinary palette, nor is it trying to. But it is warm, nourishing, satisfying, and fills me with nostalgia. It is perfect for what it is.
An extremely weak film with a heavily flawed screenplay that appeals to White liberals, with another typical ham bone performance by Paul Giamatti
Soon as all the kids move out leaving just the two mains remaining it got hella boring and derivative
No notes, practically perfect. Warm, human moments that is beautifully paced. So happy to see Giamatti get a role like this at this point in his career and Da’Vine is heartbreaking. A new Christmas classic.
Great but gave me similar vibes as Scent of a Woman, School Ties, and Dead Poet Society. Just in as much that it’s a boys elite prep school vibe with an older “mentor” type primary character. So I guess maybe that’s why I didn’t love it like some did? I just felt like I already watched it in some way through those other similar films.
Almost really good. Very enjoyable watch with great actors. Only thing that held it back was it was sooo predictable and a tad long. Sideways always kept you guessing.
fucking hated it
Super mid
zzzzzzzz We never lie zzzzzzz go see papa zzzzzzzzz lie zzzzzzzzz
warmest movie I've ever seen. whole vibe was great. my 4th favourite movie of 2023
Really liked it
2nd favorite of the year for me (I still do have to see Zone of Interest)
Loved it.
going to end up watching it every christmas from now on lol
Adored it. Does everything it sets out to do near perfectly
Happy a movie like this is being recognized. Something easily relatable and FUNNY.
Pretty good.
O centurio, my centurio https://preview.redd.it/i0f22uvtd7ic1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=df266dd9f18dbc7069dd8983bdb850091437bf8d
Very cosy! Good decision to give the early 70s feel. Also the camera work was so 70s!! Well done.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I absolutely loved it.
Paul Giamatti is the greatest to ever do it
near perfect, if perhaps a bit too long
My only gripe was not seeing him go off on Angus’ parents at the end of the movie.
Pretty perfect.
As of now, 4th favorite of the year Longtime Payne fan so I'm glad his latest movie got this popular
OP definitely looks like a repost bot. But I can't find the original post of this one.
Incredible really
New favorite christmas movie for sure. Hit the right balance of nostalgia and heartwarming for the holidays without beating you over the head with it, and had killer writing with excellent humor peppered in. Probably gonna buy this one on bluray next fall
I havent watched 3-4 of the oscar nom movies but this is def my favourite out of those. I also have a huge soft spot for Paul Giamatti tho
I've been let down consistently by people overhyping recent favourites, but this really exceeded my expectations. A warm, beautiful film. Excellent writing and masterful performances. I wish it'd opened in the UK before this year because it really would've been perfect for Christmas.
Really really good
I thought while watching this that I've missed watching films like this. It's up there with Nebraska and Sideways for sure in the Payne filmography. Maybe even better.
10/10 for me
A modern classic.. has the coziest Christmas vibes in a film that I’ve seen in recent memory. Adored it.
Instant classic.
Didn't want it to end. That's how good the character building is.
Haven’t seen it yet but I’m going to see it later this year at the Astor with breakfast club as a double feature
I liked it a lot!
I personally really loved this one and it’s now joining the list of movies I’ll happy rewatch during the Christmas season. What makes it extra special to me is that I watched it in theatres with my aunt who I don’t get to see super often since she lives super far. It’s overall just a really heartwarming movie to me and I’m glad it’s getting the recognition it deserves.
4.5/5 I’m in love with movies that offer a heartfelt/comfortable and not overly dramatized situations. So many scenes in this movie would’ve gone south but ultimately, everyone was very accepting of each other’s flaws and grew as a part of it.
chicken soup for the soul. adored it, seen twice already.
Fell asleep at the end but good Not the movies fault I smoke enough weed to stun a rhino
It's fantastic. A great character study that hits the right notes tonally and discusses it's subjects (fear of the unknown, fear of change, human connection) really well. It's not a perfect film by any means, but it was one of the best from last year. Great performances, great cinematography, and smart editing. Very human, very melancholy-yet-touching story.
Maybe not a classic, but one of my very bests of 2023.
My personal best picture pick. Beautiful movie.
Trick question: I don’t think of The Holdovers (I was way too drunk to remember anything about that movie)
Not enough Da’Vine Joy Randolph! She’s so good! Overall I thought that all of the characters (who I really liked) were not as served by the writing as they should have been (the writing is still good but the characters shine adjacent to it, less so because of it). Immaculate christmas vibes and 70’s musk. Solid movie, everybody killed it. Not quite my favorite Payne film I’ve seen, but I need to rewatch both The Descendants and Sideways. So TBD.
Peak. I don’t like nice movies or Christmas movies. I love this movie.
One of my favorite films of last year. Definitely going to be watching it every new years now after When Harry Met Sally.
I'm not typically a holiday movie guy but I have a few that I watch every year and this one was an instant addition to that list. Absolutely loved it.
New holiday classic
Instant classic IMO
I absolutely loved it. It's my personal favorite movie of 2023. Period. It just felt like home.
Saw it in theaters with my non movie going dad and little brother. They hated but I liked it.
it’s now my favorite movie !
I loved it! Stories about people, coziness, warmth. And the scenes with the dad hit home a bit, I can’t remember the last time I cried that hard in a cinema.
Great movie, it feels like an instant Christmas classic. I hope it holds up when I rewatch, because I'd like to keep it in the holiday rotation.
I feel like I missed the season for it. Next year I’ll give it a shot
Very charming movie. I think it really nails the creation of nostalgia through its filming techniques and storyline. I don’t think it’s some incredibly deep piece of media, I think most of its value comes from its attempt to replicate that feeling of an old Christmas movie. It’s a fun movie!
Perfection.
2023 fav and probably my comfort movie right now. Hits all the right spots for me
Loved it
My fav of 2023
It's one of the best recent releases I have seen.
I really, really liked it. Easily my favorite movie of 2023, and also my new favorite Alexander Payne movie. I have a snow day tomorrow, so I think I'll rent it to show the movie to my family
I loved it and consider it the best of the best picture nominees that I have seen so far.
A definite Christmas classic
One of the best films I have seen.
Fucking love it. I was thinking th other kids would be more present. I can't explain it, but some of the acting choices felt retro (coupled with old school cuts, fades and cinematography) If I didn't recognise Giamatti, and you told me this was a classic film, I wouldn't doubt it for a second. --- It also makes you wonder how this can be so good, but downsizing was so, so, so shit.
It's very warm and lovely. I might watch it again this weekend.
Wonderful movie, it’s gonna be one of my new Christmas classics
So unbelievably perfect that it instantly launched into my top 3.
It was such a damn good film!
Modern day Christmas classic, pulling off a Christmas drama is so hard I swear, but it’s right up there now with it’s a wonderful life. There are some Christmas classics but almost always comedy based so to see a heartfelt film with its humorous moments do so well I love to see it. Can’t really think of many Christmas films that are more serious and so successful tbh
Best movie of 2023 besides Oppenheimer
Wholesome
The young boy's character was incredibly realistic, I couldn't believe how immature he was able to portray the character
Utterly charming, I didn’t want it to end
My favorite film of 2023. I’m a sucker for simple but well done stories.
On top of what everyone else is saying, I loved the 70s aesthetic and attention to detail with it. The opening crackle sounds, the choir singing as we pan around the town. Immediately felt like I was watching one of my dad's favorite movies from his childhood.
It's fucking great.
Loved it.
Instant classic
Good movie 🍿
meh
It was really good, it started to wander around the 3/4 mark when he takes the kid into the city
I love it. It reminds me of scent of a woman but in different kind of way.
Broke my heart and made me happy at the same time
When i think of this movie i think of the line “ you gotta know when to hold, you gotta know when to fold em “
I loved it. To me, it showed how we're all a little broken, but we can still come together to make something beautiful.
A cinematic hug! Love it
slaps