Los Angeles, California – The film “The Holdovers,” directed by Alexander Payne, has recently come under scrutiny for alleged plagiarism in the script just before the Oscars. The controversy centers around the nomination of the script by David Hemingson for best original screenplay. Starring Paul Giamatti as a teacher who must take care of a teenage boy over Christmas break, the film has drawn comparisons to an unproduced screenplay by writer Simon Stephenson called “Frisco.”
Stephenson claims that there are striking similarities between scenes from his “Frisco” screenplay and “The Holdovers,” pointing out identical story elements, structure, dialogue, and character arcs. He has submitted documents to support his claim, with one document alleging that significant portions of “The Holdovers” were directly copied from “Frisco.”
One particular scene highlighted by Stephenson involves the protagonist being reprimanded by a superior for causing harm to a influential figure. This resemblance in plot points has raised concerns about potential plagiarism in “The Holdovers.”
Representatives for the Writers Guild of America, Alexander Payne, David Hemingson, and Simon Stephenson have been contacted for comments on the allegations. The outcome of the investigation could have implications for the film’s chances at the Oscars, where it is nominated for best original screenplay.
Both Payne and Hemingson had previously discussed the origins of “The Holdovers,” revealing that the idea for the film came from Hemingson’s unproduced TV pilot set in a school. Payne’s interest in boarding school settings and Hemingson’s experience in writing school-based stories led to their collaboration on the project.
As the film industry awaits further developments in the plagiarism controversy surrounding “The Holdovers,” the integrity of the script and the potential impact on its awards season success remain in question. The outcome of this investigation could have lasting implications for the parties involved and the reputation of the film in the industry.