The Holdovers is Alexander Payne's first big project in years, following Paul, a bad-tempered teacher forced to stay at the remote campus of a prep school to look after the handful of students with nowhere to go during the Christmas holiday break. Among a set of unconventional characters, he forms an unexpected bond with Angus, a helpless troublemaker.
The Holdovers is also a period movie set in the 1970s, and, what's more, Payne's artistic choices lean on creating a film that seems to have actually come out of the '70s. From the way it was shot to the detailed scenery, the film works as an intricate tribute, but also excels at its original and moving narrative. Most importantly, the movie evokes some of the movies Payne himself grew up with, counting on a talented cast to bring the '70s to life.
Here's your cast and character guide to The Holdovers.
Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham
Gran Via Productions
Paul Hunham, a history teacher heavily disliked at Barton Academy assigned to supervise the students who can't return for Christmas, is played by Paul Giamatti. In an unconventional performance by the veteran actor, Giamatti embodies the typical cranky protagonist whom the audience will end up falling in love with.
The Holdovers marks Giamatti and Payne's second collaboration following the 2004 film Sideways, which introduces Giamatti as a much more vibrant, charismatic character on a spiritual journey across California. The actor kicked off his career in the early-90s with a series of TV gigs until his breakout role in the 1997 movie Private Parts. He went on to play Harvey Pekar in American Splendor, Joe Gould in Cinderella Man, Simeon in The Truman Show, and, more recently, Nilo in Jungle Cruise.
Dominic Sessa as Angus Tully
Angus Tully, a sharp-witted yet highly troubled student with no place to go on Christmas holiday, is played by Dominic Sessa. Angus is a complex character who has a hard time dealing with his inner emotions, externalizing them in a series of impulsive acts and questionable behavior. It's through Paul's mentorship that he begins to finally understand who he truly is. Surprisingly, Angus is not only Sessa's first big role, but also his first-ever, making him one of those up-and-coming names worth keeping an eye out for.
Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Mary Lamb
Mary Lamb, a grieving supervisor at Barton Academy, is played by Da'Vine Joy Randolph. Mary is the school's head cook and is still trying to come to terms with the loss of her son, a sensational Barton graduate, killed in Vietnam. Kicking off her career on Broadway as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost: The Musical, Joy Randolph is both a flawless actress and a spectacular singer. Some of her best performances include Lady Reed in Dolemite is My Name, Beth Hatten in The Lost City, the voice of Mama Luna in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and more recently, Mahalia Jackson in the 2023 movie Rustin.
Carrie Preston as Miss Lydia Crane
Carrie Preston plays a supporting role in The Holdovers as Miss Lydia Crane. The actress has a renowned and distinctly versatile career in both TV and film. On the big screen, she's best known for playing Mandy Newhouse in My Best Friend's Wedding, from back when Julia Roberts was standing out in some of the best rom-coms of the 90s, Sally in Woody Allen's scandalous Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Cora Whistler in the horror comedy They/Them. On TV, Preston is best known for playing Lillia in Claws, Elsbeth Tascioni in The Good Wife, and Arlene Fowler in True Blood.
Michael Provost as Jason Smith
Jason Smith, one of the students left behind, is played by Michael Provost. One of the stars of the football team, Jason doesn't seem to get to an agreement with his father about his long hair, so he is left behind to spend Christmas on campus. The actor first rose to prominence by playing Brick Armstrong in the comedy thriller show Insatiable. Provost went on to play Hunter in Plan B and Kurt in Netflix's Fear Street: 1978.
Brady Hepner as Teddy Kountze
Teddy Kountze, a typical over-privileged school jerk, is played by Brady Hepner. The young actor is relatively new to the film industry, making his acting debut in 2021 as a minor character in Chicago Fire. In the same year, he played Vance in the hit horror film The Black Phone, which brought him deserved recognition.
The Holdovers releases in theaters on November 10
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