A biting, compassionate and heartbreaking tale is what The Holdovers promises. The film directed by Alexander Payne, and starring Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa and Da'Vine Joy Randolph, is resonating strongly in the film awards season, with accolades at the Critics' Choice Awards and the Golden Globes. Its recent successes project it as one of the top contenders for the 2024 Oscars, a ceremony that will take place on March 10, 2024.
The plot introduces Paul Hunham (Giamatti), a teacher at a distinguished boarding school in Boston, who always have a bad temper, unbearable for both his students and his colleagues. He had to stay at the institution during the Christmas vacations, supervising the students who have no place to go. Among this group is a rebellious and troubled young Angus (Sessa), and Mary (Randolph), the cafeteria manager who is in mourning for her son, who died in the Vietnam War.
Backed by two Oscars, Payne's work has received a more satisfactory reception from critics, in contrast to Christopher Nolan, who is a filmmaker who, in general, stands out for his box office numbers. While Oppenheimer stands as one of the highest grossing titles of 2023 ($952 million), it has also garnered controversy around it, being described as "weak" or "uncomfortable" according to Rotten Tomatoes reviews, where it nevertheless stands with a 91% approval rating.
On the other hand, The Holdovers had a good start, and the perfect example is the Critics' Choice Awards 2024, where it won awards for Best Actor for Paul Giamatti, Best New Actor/Actress for Dominic Sessa and Best Supporting Actress for Da'Vine Joy Randolph. The show has also garnered two Golden Globes, among other accolades.
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