The Holdovers, starring Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Dominic Sessa is, dare I say, a beacon of hope for an era of cinema that’s drowning in ponderously long sagas that require two double lattes and one trick pony action movies that serve no one except the popcorn vendor.

Imagine Alexander Payne, the director who gave us Sideways and The Descendants making his pitch to a Hollywood studio chief – “It’s Sideways meets Scent of A Woman.’ Wildly excited over the prospect of tangos through wine country, the studio chief gives Payne the green light. Lucky for us, there’s none of that in The Holdovers. Instead what we are treated to is a beautifully rich and complex tale of three people, each on a different journey who find hope and common purpose amid the lonely confines of a stuffy New England prep school during Christmas break in 1970.

Mr. Payne’s Sideways, the pinot noir filled journey through Northern California wine country that was at times both madcap and soul searching has become, in its own right, a bit of a classic. In many ways, you could say that The Holdovers represents an encore piece for Mr. Payne, as he advances that winning formula. From character motivation to narrative to setting and era, this is a different film. But, with that said, you can’t mistake its soul which has pure “Sideways DNA” running straight through it.

And, that’s a good thing because Payne is a master of understated storytelling. He possesses a knack for illustrating the nuanced sad soul, inserting subtle comedy and well placed life affirming themes along the way. Paul Giamatti, who once again plays an irascible teacher with a curious past demonstrates that he can channel that vision and direction into an award winning performance. But he’s not alone because this is an ensemble piece which requires a grieving mother, portrayed beautifully by veteran Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Dominic Sessa, a newcomer, who does a yeoman’s job of playing the over privileged trouble maker on his way to being kicked out of school.

Like Sideways and The Descendants, The Holdovers is a redemptive journey of personal sacrifice which unfolds and evolves as the backstory of each character is revealed. It’s a bit of a juggling act for Payne who has his work cut out for him. He needs to balance the revelation of each past challenge and struggle that’s shaped the lives of Paul, Angus and Mary respectively into a cohesive narrative that makes sense and goes down easy. But Mr. Payne pulls it off in a convincing and satisfying fashion. And he manages to accomplish it all in a rather efficient manner which is a rarity in today’s cinema where filmmakers seem to think -“if I make it longer it will be better.”

The Holdovers is a satisfying movie you’ll want to watch again and again. Its setting makes it an appropriate choice to pair with an egg nog during Christmas but I’d imagine it will go down just as well with a beer in July.

Reserve 2 hours now for The Holdovers, you won’t regret it.