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MESSAGE IN THE MOVIES

I’m quite sure that there are hundreds of persons who attended boarding school who found it to be a positive experience (personally, I have known students and staff who could vouch for this). But, for the sake of movies, let’s assume the worst.

That’s how we are introduced to Barton Academy, a New England prep school for young men destined for Ivy League colleges and careers in law or politics. Wealth and privilege are assumed (unless you are one of the few on a diversity scholarship). All the boys seem to be unhappy and cruel to one another. It’s 1970 and the Vietnam War is taking its toll, including the death of a recent Barton graduate serving overseas, the son of Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), the head cook.

Perhaps the least popular educator is Mr. Paul Hunham (Giamatti), teacher of ancient history, who delights in tossing out archaic insults and failing most of his students. He is assigned the responsibility of supervising the students who will not be going home on Christmas break. The handful of pupils are moved out of the dorms to sleep in the infirmary and subjected to daily classes supervised by Mr. Hunham. One of the boys is 15-year-old Angus (Sessa), smart enough to get a good grade in antiquities and wise enough to keep that to himself.

Through a series of incredible circumstances there is a further winnowing of the group, leaving Mr. Hunham, Angus and Mary alone on campus. Naturally, this time together will lead each of them to new insights and genuine compassion for one another as they deal with grief and loss. That’s what happens in movies.

The Holdovers (according to its director Alexander Payne) is meant to evoke the movies of the 1970s (it’s shot on 35mm film and includes graphics from that era). But for what purpose? The films that essentially connect with the heart have a way of transcending time and place. This was not my experience with The Holdovers; I was always aware of how hard this script was working to achieve its moments of melancholy and transcendence.

Nevertheless, this is an entertaining film with good intentions, some good laughs, and outstanding performances from all.

If you have ever brought home a B- grade on a report card and tried to convince your parent that it was close to a solid B, you are likely to champion The Holdovers as well.

Yes, I was that student. And this is a good movie.

Halo and Pitchfork Rating:

Four halos: Excellent acting triumphs to make this contrived story of redemption quite enjoyable.
Three pitchforks: Mean spirited students, teachers, and staff; pervasive swearing; crude sexual innuendoes; alcohol and cigarettes; brief scenes of violence; racist slurs.

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