Paul Giamatti Goes for Oscar Gold in The Holdovers

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Here's your inside look at the comedy-drama movie The Holdovers, directed by Alexander Payne.  The Holdovers Cast:  Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Carrie Preston  Stream The Holdovers now on Peacock!

Transcript

00:00 It sounds hyperbolic, and I'm sure it is, but I just think Paul Giamatti is the greatest actor.

00:06 From the moment I first met him, when he auditioned for Sideways for me going on 20 years ago,

00:20 I thought, "This guy can make even bad dialogue work."

00:24 I had him in Omaha for a public interview, and I said, "You know, Paul Giamatti,

00:28 I'll bet you could even read the phone book and make it compelling."

00:31 And he laughed, and I leaned over, and I pulled out the Omaha phone book, and I handed it to him.

00:35 I said, "Would you please just open up to a page?"

00:38 He started reading it and brought the house down.

00:40 "Angus!"

00:43 Working with Paul is a masterclass, you know.

00:47 "Believe it or not, Mr. Tully, there was a time when the fire in my loins burned white hot."

00:51 "You're full of s***."

00:52 "No, the details would curl your toes."

00:54 It's wonderful working with Paul Giamatti.

00:57 He has such character as a human being, but also with what he brings to the table.

01:05 He was a great kid. I had him one semester. Very insightful.

01:08 Mm-hmm. He hated you.

01:10 Well, like I said, sharp kid. Insightful.

01:15 The questions I ask him are less of, "How do you act this?" and more so, "How do you deal with it?"

01:23 Him sort of describing how he's changed and developed from those moments.

01:27 How it's actually a useful tool to kind of look back at things and grow as an actor from looking back at things

01:32 and not being satisfied with what you did in the past.

01:35 You see, history is not simply the study of the past. It is an explanation of the present.

01:40 See, when you say it that way, and throw in some pornography, it's a lot easier to understand.

01:47 And what is so amazing, and I think speaks even more to his talent, is that he's able to

01:53 snap in and out of the characters very seamless.

01:57 I love right before they say, "Action," I'll peek a look, and you'll see him just like morph

02:02 and fall into place, into his character.

02:06 That's a detention.

02:07 You just earned yourself a detention, sir. Now get back here!

02:10 Being here with you is already one big detention!

02:13 Son of a--

02:14 And he's just a lovely guy. Brilliant guy.

02:18 The most well-read human I know.

02:20 And a delight to work with.

02:24 [music]

02:28 [music fades]

02:31 (gentle music)

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