JAY KELLY -- Back on Top

Review by Adam Donato

Noah Baumbach has taken some big swings post pandemic and to different degrees of success. While Barbie was one of the biggest hits of all time, White Noise went largely unnoticed. Netflix clearly is still sticking with their guy here, hoping that Jay Kelly will have success more akin to Marriage Story. Two heavy hitters frontline this Oscar contender in George Clooney and Adam Sandler. Clooney is a mega movie star at the end of his time in the sun as he reckons with the priorities in his life. Sandler is Clooney’s manager and friend, who leads the entourage in an attempt to wrangle Clooney back into starring in his last movie. Netflix has some good options when it comes to choosing which movies to push this awards season and Jay Kelly is sure to be a front runner. 

This is very familiar territory for Baumbach. Broken families and struggling with success in the arts are his wheelhouse. It’s easy to write this movie off as an insincere sob story. That poor movie star with riches untold and fans that adore him. Jay Kelly’s problems are ones that can be related to by the common man. How do you balance your career with your family? How do you be what everybody needs you to be, but also stay true to yourself? How do you connect with those who you previously left hanging? Jay Kelly is certainly a sympathetic character, who may have it better than us, but is missing core parts of what make up a fulfilling life. Baumbach has no issue putting himself into his own work and this is one of the most obvious examples. It’s something that works best if you are into movies and enjoy movies about movies. The context behind the careers of the filmmakers and stars make this one even more juicy. It’s honestly one of Baumbach’s best works.

Clooney hasn’t been this good in years. He hasn’t been nominated since The Descendants back in 2011. This is truly a return to form as the entire movie hinges on the pure movie star likability of George Clooney. He masterfully handles both the more heavy emotional beats with the comedic side of the character. This is a feel good movie, despite some of its more tragic elements. As much as the movie feels like it’s personally about Baumbach, the same goes for Clooney. This performance could squeak out a best actor win in a year that seems wide open to this point, but expect this one to collect nominations and nothing more. 

Sandler is actually trying to act in a movie. This is so refreshing as his usual Netflix output is unfunny dogwater that’s just a disguise for him to go on vacation with his friends and family. Not only did we know he had this kind of performance in him because of home runs like Uncut Gems and Punch Drunk Love, but Sandler and Baumbach previously teamed on The Meyerowitz Stories. His character here is like a pathetic version of Kate Winslet in Steve Jobs. The thankless number two who ensures the world keeps spinning for the man in charge. The only gripe would be that Sandler doesn’t get enough screen time with Clooney himself. The movie seems to be selling this as a movie about their relationship, but they’re seldom together. Sandler does have a subplot with Laura Dern’s character that fleshes out the parallel lives that they live next to a star like Jay Kelly himself. The emotional climax of the movie is about Sandler and Clooney so more time developing them together would’ve been nice. 

Jay Kelly is a wonderful reflection on our relationships with ourselves, our priorities, and those that support us. Clooney and Sandler are back in good graces and Baumbach is operating where he’s most comfortable. A dramedy that is charming enough to hang out with for over two hours. Certainly a movie that will be in the mix this awards season. Be sure to check it out on Netflix. 

Jay Kelly will be in select theaters on November 14 and on Netflix December 5. 

Rating: 4/5