417 - The Holdovers

Eavesdropping at the Movies

Alexander Payne evokes the Seventies in form and aesthetic in The Holdovers, a comedy-drama about the students and staff forced to stay at a New England boarding school over Christmas. It exudes charm and, over time, warmth, as the frosty relationship between student and teacher thaws, Payne handles the meandering tone beautifully, and it's full of good jokes. For José, it doesn't quite reach the level of the best in its genre; for Mike, it's a good genre film elevated by some mysterious cinematic alchemy he doesn't understand. Recorded on 26th January 2024.