From the sprawling array of films to come out in 2023, none were as surprisingly memorable or endearing as director Alexander Payne’s comedy-drama The Holdovers.

Set against the somber backdrop of a New England boarding school during the Christmas break of 1970, the film draws inspiration from such coming-of-age classics as The Dead Poet’s Society and The Breakfast Club, navigating the intricate landscapes of loneliness, redemption, and unexpected camaraderie.

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Paul Giamatti, who previously worked with Payne on Sideways (2008), reunites with the director to play a strikingly similar role. Instead of a divorced wine snob with a penchant for pinot, Giamatti plays Paul Hunham, a mopey and irritable history teacher at the prep school. Despite his erudite grasp of ancient civilizations, he lacks any of the passion or charisma to captivate his classroom. Perched at his desk like a corduroy-clad tyrant, he snidely remarks, “Don’t sell yourself short, Mr. Kountze. I truly believe that you can [fail this class].” A far cry from the sort of charm that inspired, “O........

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