The Holdovers

[Anonymous]

Don't watch when you have PMS. I cried for two straight hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually walked out of this movie, which I never do. The morose sad-smart man figure had zero interest and the Mary character seemed like a real stereotype. Maybe I just have no empathy for repressed masculinity.

It got way more interesting as the story unfolded and you could see why characters were behaving the way they were …

I can believe that. Me walking out probably had a lot more to do with me and whatever the movie was triggering than the acting! I love Paul Giamatti and could watch Sideways every month.

If you love PG, you might give this movie another try sometime. I agree with some of the other posters who thought it was predictable and a bit sentimental, but I really liked PG's performance and was just remarking to my DH that the role allowed him to play a broader range than he often gets to -- his character makes a real shift by the end of the movie and PG really pulls it off.

I also felt that Da'Vine Joy Randolph was great in that role even if it was written very stereotypically. On paper her role/story arc feels very "we wanted a black character in this movie so we are eligible for awards but we had to make sure she was perfect and perfectly sympathetic so we don't get accused of racism." But the performance felt bigger than that, so good for her for doing a lot with the opportunity even if I think black actresses in Hollywood must see a lot of roles like this.

That kitchen party scene was beyond amazing.

[Anonymous]

I really loved the movie. It was a standard premise, yes, but the ending isn't predictable -- it's actually very different in this respect from Dead Poets Society, which is kind of cringe. The character development is really interesting and is accomplished through good old-fashioned story-telling and great acting. In addition to the scene in the kitchen that another poster mentioned, there were several other scenes that stand out -- Mary and Paul in the teacher's lounge where she speaks to him in a completely honest way about who he is and what his life is like; Dom picking up on what's happening when they run into Paul's old classmate and then coming to the rescue. Finally, the movie so beautifully inhabits a very specific time and place. It is transporting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really loved the movie. It was a standard premise, yes, but the ending isn't predictable -- it's actually very different in this respect from Dead Poets Society, which is kind of cringe. The character development is really interesting and is accomplished through good old-fashioned story-telling and great acting. In addition to the scene in the kitchen that another poster mentioned, there were several other scenes that stand out -- Mary and Paul in the teacher's lounge where she speaks to him in a completely honest way about who he is and what his life is like; Dom picking up on what's happening when they run into Paul's old classmate and then coming to the rescue. Finally, the movie so beautifully inhabits a very specific time and place. It is transporting.

I agree. The plot would turn and do something unexpected. I think the look of the cold NE winter with so much snow was so perfect. It was an inspirational teacher story, but still felt original. The characters were well fleshed out and transcended cliche. It was quite funny too.

[Anonymous]

I was very much looking forward to it based on the trailer but then when I saw it I was kind of disappointed that the writing was kind of sub par. There are so few good movies available right now though that it actually stands out among the current crop.