White Wall Cinema: THE HOLDOVERS

Back at WWC again director Alexander Payne (responsible for the likes of Sideways, The Descendants, About Schmidt, Nebraska and more) brings us his latest film in the form of this delightfully witty and touching Christmas tale. Infused with Payne’s trademark bittersweet tone this was one the year’s best reviewed film.

A best picture nominee at this years Oscars the film’s leads came away with a clutch of awards including Best Actor for Paul Giamatti at the Golden Globes, and Da Vine Joy Randolph who took home Best Supporting Actress gongs from the Critics Choice Awards, The Baftas, The Golden Globes, New York Film Critics Circle and even earned herself an Oscar. 

​The film takes place over the (perhaps not so) festive season at a snowy New England prep school in 1970, where curmudgeonly classics teacher Paul Hunham (Giamatti) is handed the task of looking after ‘The Holdovers’ i.e. the boys at the boarding school who aren’t going home for Christmas. An unlikely connection is formed between the most intelligent but emotionally troubled of the boys Angus (Dominic Sessna), as well as the recently bereaved school cook Mary, played with breath-taking skill and warmth by Da’Vine Joy Randolph.

This story of three shipwrecked people struggling to find meaning and indeed and any form of Christmas spirit is a masterclass in heartfelt, intelligent and tender comedy. Easily one of the best films the year, the studio bizarrely bungled it’s release putting it into cinemas AFTER Christmas. Easily the best Christmas movie of the last 20+ years it truly deserves to be watched on the big screen in the lead up to the big day as part of a new Christmas tradition given it’s pedigree as an instant classic. 

• DOORS: 7pm*
• START TIME: 7.30pm*
• RUN TIME: 133 mins
• CERT: 15 (Under 16s must accompanied by an adult)