One of the most underrated Christmas films ever is streaming on Now

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

The Holdovers is a 2023 movie about cranky professor Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti) who is forced to stay on campus over the Christmas holidays with a group of students, including troublesome Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa) and the school’s cook Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), who is grieving the death of her son in the Vietnam War.The curmudgeonly teacher forms an unlikely bond with the duo, sharing comical misadventures during their two weeks together in the New England boarding school.In time, they help each other to come to terms with their past and form a newfound hope for the future.Set in 1970 and directed by the acclaimed Alexander Payne – also known for Sideways (2004) and The Descendants (2011) – the film was an overwhelming success.For her performance as the grieving cook, Da’Vine Joy Randolph won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. She was also awarded a BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award in the same category.Paul Giamatti won the Golden Globe for Best Actor and Dominic Sessa landed the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer.The Holdovers is described on Rotten Tomatoes as a “thought provoking dramedy for viewers seeking a dialogue-driven movie with a throwback feel”. It was rated 97 percent “fresh” by critics and a 92 percent audience score. It also achieved a score of 7.9 out of 10 on IMDB.Despite only being released in January this year, it has quickly become a Christmas favourite.One fan wrote on Twitter: “Finally got around to watching The Holdovers… instant classic. So cozy. So honest. Loved it.”Another echoed: “The phrase ‘instant classic’ gets thrown around so often but god damn The Holdovers really did it.”A third said: “I’m a year late to the party but The Holdovers is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while.”And a fourth commented: “Alexander Payne is a massively underrated filmmaker. The Holdovers is phenomenal.”The Holdovers is streaming on Now. It can also be purchased on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Sky Store.You can sign up to Now for just £6.99 a month here.

‘Miracle’ animated film that’s ‘guaranteed to make you cry’ is now streaming for free

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

An incredible animated movie that’s guaranteed to bring the tears over the holidays is now available at no extra cost to Netflix subscribers.Described by some fans as a “miracle” and a “glorious” achievement, this unassuming yet poignant film has already won the hearts of thousands of moviegoers.It now has the chance to reach an even bigger audience as the world’s largest streaming platform just added the film over the weekend.While it’s not exactly Christmas-themed, it could be the perfect alternative to throw on once you’ve exhausted the festive classics on Disney+ and binged all the Christmas specials available on BBC iPlayer – just make sure you have some tissues at the ready.The movie in question is called Marcel the Shell With Shoes On, a touching tale of a tiny, resourceful shell who takes care of his Nana Connie (played by Isabella Rossellini).Using a blend of live-action and stop-motion animation, this quirky mockumentary quickly becomes much more than it seems to be on paper when Marcel (Jenny Slate) is confronted with some hard-hitting truths about life.After receiving critical acclaim upon its release in 2021, the film has developed a cult following who all agree on one thing – it’s impossible not to be in floods of tears by the final scene.MovieWeb said the film is “sure to make you cry” in their write-up, going on to describe it as “painfully honest” and “tragic”, with one scene that is “sure to make even the most hardened moviegoer burst into tears”.A user on the social media platform Letterboxd described it as “a miracle movie”.“It’s an unbearably poignant work,” they continued. “As devastating as it is deeply funny and engaging. At a certain point, I was crying so much that the screen started to blur. It left me vulnerable and battered and healed.”Someone else wrote: “I laughed, I cried, I loved every god damn second of this glorious film. It is happiness incarnate.“The simple life of this stupid little shell and his journey to find his family brings an overwhelming amount of comfort and catharsis.”Another reviewer said: “Maybe it’s 10 days straight watching Festival films, maybe it’s the months of being disconnected from people I love or maybe it’s just that I needed something that gave me the necessary catharsis to have a good cry.“Whatever it is, Marcel the Shell has made his way into my heart and left me a happily sobbing mess. Also Isabella Rossellini.”Over on Reddit, a final fan admitted they “Cried so hard watching Marcel the Shell with Shoes On”“As someone who’s struggling to cry for years (the last time I’ve cried my heart out when my dad passed away 7 years ago), I didn’t expect that I’d cry so much with this film.“That specific scene really made me sob like a child. You should definitely watch it. It’s one of the most beautiful films this year.”Will you be letting Marcel the Shell into your heart this Christmas?Marcel the Shell With Shoes On is available to stream on Netflix.

Maldives named among World’s Most Romantic Destinations by Condé Nast Traveller

Travel

The Maldives has long been synonymous with romance, and now it takes centre stage in Condé Nast Traveller’s curated list of the ‘Most Romantic Places in the World’. The magazine highlights the archipelago’s unparalleled ability to create dreamlike escapes for couples, setting a gold standard for intimate getaways.
From the moment you set foot in the Maldives, the enchantment begins. Confetti-like tropical fish flit through crystal-clear lagoons, while overwater villas offer vistas of mantas gliding gracefully beneath. Add in the luxury of floating breakfasts served in your private pool and intimate dinners on pristine beaches, and you have the perfect recipe for romance.
Condé Nast Traveller notes that while the Maldives caters to families too, its essence of romance is unrivalled. The country’s private island resorts, nestled amid lush jungles and encircled by house reefs, redefine luxury. With world-class spas, fine dining, and starlit experiences, the Maldives effortlessly marries natural beauty with bespoke hospitality.
The Maldives is home to some of the world’s most celebrated resorts, and Condé Nast highlights a few that stand out:

Science Challenge Show back for second season in January

Science and Health

The anticipated second season of Take Off, the science competition show, kicks off on Sunday, 5 January.

Out of over 150 pre-casting applicants, 24 candidates have been selected to participate in the first episode, which unfolds in Vianden castle. There, they’ll face an intense science course to prove their mettle in a thrilling start to the season.Take Off is a collaborative effort by the André Losch Foundation and the Luxembourg National Research Fund. Each episode challenges contestants with complex scientific tasks, and one participant is eliminated weekly. After 13 episodes, the winner will claim the grand prize of €10,000. Tune in every Sunday at 7pm on TV and RTL Play. For the premiere on 5 January, the first episode will also air on TV at 8 pm, with streaming available from 7 pm.Watch the report in Luxembourgish: