Written by: Noah Baumbach & Emily Mortimer
Starring: George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Grace Edwards
Rating: [4.5/5]
As cliche as it may be to say, it’s true that we only live once. We only get one life to accomplish everything we have planned for ourselves. A finite amount of time where achieving one goal means sacrificing something else along the way. Each individual, therefore, must choose what receives the priority, and unfortunately, as we see in Jay Kelly, that runs the risk of reaching a place where said individual sees the end before them and regrets those past decisions. This motivates the reflection of a singular man but seeks to activate it for anyone who experiences this production.
After the completion of his latest film, famous actor Jay Kelly (George Clooney) hopes to spend time with his daughter this summer prior to her departure for college. When she states she cannot because of a European trip she plans to take with her friends. Jay decides, without her knowledge, to follow her, which upends everything as his manager, Ron (Adam Sandler) seeks to smooth out all of the inevitable wrinkles.
At this particular stage in life, I have discovered a particular genre has begun to create quite the emotional response in me. It appears I’m a big fan of films centered on older men reflecting on the errors of their past and those they have let down. I can’t say I relate to it on a personal level, as I am neither an old man nor do I have any meaningful regrets to look back on. Perhaps I see these films functioning as a warning and a reminder to cherish life in the moment and remove my head from the clouds and looking at what lies ahead. It first struck me with Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths and now continues with Noah Baumbach’s latest as it elicited a response from me I never quite expected.
Jay Kelly operates on multiple levels with the various characters putting together the production of the titular character. As much as this man is a singular vessel, he represents so much more, as his fame has created a persona many adore for his work on the silver screen. It comes with the gig of becoming a celebrity, but with choosing this life, Jay sacrifices in other areas, which includes the relationships he holds with his daughters. He attempts to rectify this with the limited time he has with his youngest before she goes off to college and moves off on her own. However, as he learns, years of perceived neglect cannot be undone with some grand gesture and a last-ditch attempt because of a recent revelation. This trip teaches Jay many lessons not only from how he has failed his daughters but also from how it stretches to the individuals who care for him.
Ron, Jay’s manager, does everything for the man and puts out the fires the Hollywood star inevitably causes. The journey Ron goes through himself in the realization of what it means to work for Jay reaches an emotional pit made evident in the discussions he has with his colleague and Jay’s publicist, Liz (Laura Dern). A frank conversation they share on a train opens up his whole world, where he realizes how he sucked himself into the same dynamic a fan would have in thinking everything he does for Jay at the very least makes him a friend. Instead, this journey demonstrates that he represents yet another brick, along with everyone else, in the production of Jay Kelly. A tough realization considering everything happening in this film and how Jay walks around with reckless abandonment of the consequences of his actions while his staff need to fix everything with a big smile. Ron and Jay stand as the emotional pillars of this film, which only makes the final act of this film all the more impactful.
As an actor, George Clooney often receives criticism for defaulting into playing himself repeatedly in the roles he takes. A valid criticism, but never did this fit so appropriately into a specific character like in his portrayal of Jay Kelly. It’s almost like Noah Baumbach wrote this role specifically for Clooney in the way he so seamlessly captures the very aura and gravitas to portray this character. Jay needs to effortlessly charm anyone who speaks to him while also carrying a sadness that sits right under the surface as he continues to age and reach a stage in his life where he has fewer days in front of him than he has behind him. No one other than him could play this role so convincingly, and he gives one of the best performances of his career. Not often, at least recently, does Clooney play a character with this level of vulnerability, and he excels in embodying everything needed to materialize this larger-than-life figure.
While this film very much fits Clooney, the place in which this sits in the filmography of Noah Bambach continues this gradual softening of a filmmaker who began his career with films with a cynical bite to them. He has progressively, with age, begun to craft films with a softness to them that allows for a reflection. Having him craft a film such as this one in a way gives more insight into how he has developed not only as a storyteller, but also as a man. I can only hope he continues this progression with these deeply human stories where he stands out amongst his peers.
Never did I expect Jay Kelly to hit me so deeply emotionally, but just as we see with the characters within this film and those crafting it, time comes for us all. There comes a time in life where reflection takes up more headspace than aspiration for what lies ahead. We can only hope that this reflection comes with more moments of pride than regret. Jay knows he has a limited time to ensure he creates the right balance with the events transpiring in this film representing his valiant attempt.
Films with Josh 
