Whether it’s the scripts he pens alongside wife Greta Gerwig (Barbie) or his vast amount of solo directorial projects, Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story) always brings excitement and anticipation to film fans. His newest directorial and written effort is Jay Kelly, starring George Clooney (Ocean’s Eleven) and Adam Sandler (Uncut Gems). In a very meta manner, Clooney plays famous movie star Jay Kelly, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery confronting both his past and present, accompanied by devoted manager Ron (Sandler). Expertly crafted and acted, Jay Kelly is a stunning character exploration of an actor who feels like he’s missed out on real life. Exploring moments past and present with tender writing and a phenomenal ensemble, Jay Kelly is a triumph.
It may sound quite simple for a talent such as Clooney to play a movie star, but through his characters own acting journey, the script reminds us in a poignant manner that it’s really hard to be yourself. George Clooney is utterly fantastic from start to finish, treading the fine line between selfish and guilty as the run-time progresses. Despite losing out on time with his daughters and losing friendships through chances taken, he appreciates his career and knows he wouldn’t be where he is today without said sacrifices. Clooney says so much whilst saying so little, delivering a really complex performance that’s more layered that it first seems. Adam Sandler has already proven himself within dramatic roles, yet this is another fantastic addition and even more proof of his talent. Playing manager Ron who has plenty of his own life issues to deal with whilst being at the beck and call of Jay, he’s a hard worker who idolizes his boss and loves his job, but wishes for a more sincere friendship and to truly be seen by him. Jay rarely listens when Ron attempts to talk about his own struggles, which hurts him due to the sacrifices he has made to better Jay’s career. The pair are phenomenal. Laura Dern (Jurassic Park) is an absolute force, Billy Crudup (Almost Famous) absolutely steals the spotlight through his minimal run-time with some career-best work, and both Riley Keough (Logan Lucky) and Grace Edwards (Asteroid City) play the hurt yet lovable Kelly daughters perfectly. And there’s plenty more where they came from – the entire cast is built of notable names.
Jay Kelly takes us on quite the thematic journey alongside it’s physical one from America to Europe. Following Jay closely, we reminisce with him about pivotal moments in his life, from his daughters ‘Kelly and Kelly’ show they’d put on as kids to his first ever audition alongside his old best friend – one that changed the trajectory of both his personal and professional life. We see the good and the bad, the decisions he’s made, and the script allows us to think on these for ourselves. It’s not just about life and regrets, but the effects of fame and media perception. We see how quickly Jay’s management can hide the ugly truth behind the scenes, and how he is considered a real life hero through simplistic kind acts. Despite being used to the fame, you still get a sense that he feels he’s cheating at life, with how quickly his faults can be brushed under the carpet and ignored. During the movie, he makes a real effort to meet people – as he puts it himself, how can he play people if he doesn’t know and spend time with people? It’s simple moments like seeing a woman put on her lipstick in the window reflection, and an elderly woman eating her cucumber sandwiches on the train, that make him realize what he’s missing out on and how beautiful simplicity can be. It’s a very intimate movie, and explores its themes so naturally.
Of course, it doesn’t just take a talented actor to convey these themes and ideas so beautifully, but the writing behind him. Penned beautifully by Noah Baumbach, who is a master at creating intriguing conversations that make even simple, dialogue-driven movies exciting, this is one of his strongest efforts. This time around, he is joined by co-writer Emily Mortimer (Shutter Island), an actress we’ve come to love over the years. Despite the heaviness in themes, there’s some fantastic laugh-out-loud humor injected into the script that keeps things light when they need to be, and the writing prevents us from disliking Jay by really humanizing him and showing his charming and nuanced sides. The pair create absolute magic, which is even more impressive given this is Mortimer’s first script. The score from Nicholas Britell is equally beautiful, and paired with subtly lovely cinematography that lingers, letting us sit with each moment for the perfect amount of time. Every element marries beautifully to create a movie that feels perfectly paced, equal in heart and humor and poignant both visually and audibly.
What Baumbach and Mortimer have created is a movie about Hollywood and fame, that feels undeniably human and real – a tremendous achievement. It’s a character study at heart, that entertains at all times whether it’s watching Jay chase down a thief or attempting to repair his bond with his father and children. The performances from the entire ensemble are wonderful, the technical aspects flourish, and the writing cements Baumbach as a true master of his craft.
