I think perhaps my response to their (Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen’s) recent podcast (available on Spotify) is better written than either of my reviews.
So, here’s a copy:
I absolutely love your podcast!
I had comments on both The Holdovers and Priscilla:
The Holdovers I pray is Giamatti’s chance to win an Oscar. By far in a way, I think he was due as the evil psychiatrist in Love & Mercy, but now he can be rewarded by playing a curmudeonly good guy. His character’s bluster and humility were magic to watch on screen.
Priscilla: I felt the same apathy as Adam did regarding the redundancy of scenes re. Elvis’s juvenile cruelty. What would have made this more compelling would have been to show her wavering on continuing, why she stayed and then have the pivotal breaking point when she decided enough was enough. A higher arc and more emotional movie.
Having said all that, I appreciated Josh’s enthusiasm for the film was also totally enthralled with the look of the film; Elvis’s dark devil bedroom where ironically not much ‘sin’ occurred and the bright snow white, yet despairngly sterile Graceland.
Thanks so much!