I felt great anticipation for this movie because its preview demonstrated the look of the 1970s, back when so many great films were being made; because it is from Alexander Payne, a very gifted writer-director; and because I really enjoy its leading man, Paul Giamatti.  Perhaps I anticipated too much, because while the film is solid and strong, I think it could have been even better than it actually is.

Alexander Payne’s film is set at an East Coast prep school during the Christmas season of 1970.  Grumpy professor Paul Dunham (Paul Giammatti) is tasked with remaining on campus with a handful of students who have nowhere else to go over the holiday.  They, and cook Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) are virtually the only people there, and when all of the students save one are granted permission to go on a skiing trip, that just leaves the professor, the cook and Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa) to fend for themselves.  Their personal stories lead them to Boston, the opportunity to confront their pasts, and some fateful decision-making.

What’s onscreen is very good.  The story is unusual yet satisfying, and very well enacted, particularly by Da’Vine Joy Randolph, for whom I expect to see an Oscar nomination early next year.  The story weaves the country’s then-current divisiveness (due to the Vietnam War) into the mix quite adeptly, making some parallels with our own current divisiveness, arguing for tolerance and understanding to work our way through our problems.  It reduces the biggest issues to a manageable personal size, demonstrating how characters can face — and overcome — them one small step at a time.  It’s a refreshing take.

Yet it is also a movie that makes me second guess at least one of its decisions.  I really dislike having most of the rebellious students leave on the ski trip; I think the story would have been stronger having all of them present.  Some of the cruder language seems anachronistic, as well.  But for the most part this is a strongly-written, nicely-enacted comedic drama, a serious film with some important issues to present.  With its Christmas setting it may evolve into a holiday favorite in the years to come.  ☆ ☆ ☆.  25 November 2023.