Jay Kelly

I happen to catch this at the NYFF. This is the type of film we need now. It focuses on our humanity, our relationships, our joys and regrets. The movie captures accurately the working relationships of a movie star and his supporting entourage. And demonstrates the sacrifices that are sometimes necessary to achieve such success. The performances were wonderful. Adam Sandler has really come along way. He just gets better and better as a dramatic actor. His performance was heartbreaking and hopefully he'll receive many deserving accolades for it. Clooney, well, he never disappoints but this is the most vulnerable role I've ever seen him tackle and he did it superbly. I was very moved and hope everyone sees this film.

I've loved Noah Baumbach from the jump, however here we are in 2025 with a retrospective character study that grabs, dips, and meanders from a semi-relatable introspection to how-did-we-get-here slog. I liked it? Yes, mostly. I was never bored, and I did laugh out loud at quite a few parts, it's just - - - editing, I guess? Some things definitely could have taken up residence on the cutting room floor. Sandler does a fine job, as does the entirety of the cast. I cue Sandler though because Sandler. He isn't exactly known for his subtlety. The music is a nice stand out. Mortimer being co-writer, her character could've gotten more play. And Laura Dern? Love her. But if the film lost her character entirely, that might give the pace a little more? As it stands, it's the cacophonous surroundings of Jay Kelly's world that elevate the film as much as it bogs itself down. Less is more.

Some movies are not for everyone. This film isn't really about an actor or his team of people. It's about choices. The choices we all make each day and each year that add up to our life.

It feels like every middle to late middle aged person should relate to the characters in this film, even if they've made good choices (or ones they can live with).

If only we could do it over again, I wonder how we'd all do?

There was a time when a pairing like George Clooney and Adam Sandler would have felt like an automatic win. Jay Kelly arrives carrying that expectation, along with the promise of a reflective, midlife character study built on wit, melancholy, and lived-in performances. Unfortunately, the film never quite finds its footing, resulting in a viewing experience that is more puzzling than provocative.

The biggest issue is apparent early on. The first half of Jay Kelly feels strangely undercooked, not in terms of effort but in execution. Scenes drift without momentum, tonal choices feel uncertain, and the film appears unsure of what kind of story it wants to tell. Is this a gentle comedy, a character-driven drama, or an offbeat meditation on aging and regret? Rather than allowing those elements to organically coexist, the film toggles between them in a way that feels hesitant and uneven. The result is a movie that feels "off," a hard sensation to pin down but impossible to ignore.

Clooney and Sandler are both serviceable, but that word is hardly a compliment given what they are capable of. Clooney leans on his familiar, weathered charm, while Sandler delivers a muted, introspective turn that recalls some of his better dramatic work - yet neither performance feels fully shaped. There's a sense that both actors are waiting for the material to deepen, to demand more from them, and that moment rarely comes. The supporting cast does little to elevate the film, existing more as functional pieces than fully realized characters. To its credit, the film improves as it goes. The latter half contains several genuinely effective moments, hints of emotional clarity and thematic purpose that suggest the film finally understands what it wants to be. These scenes are quietly affecting and make the disappointment sharper, as they reveal the stronger movie buried beneath the surface.

It's easy to see why Jay Kelly has found its defenders. The intentions are thoughtful, the atmosphere is mild and reflective, and the story gestures toward meaningful ideas about connection and identity. But intention alone isn't enough. What's missing is conviction - in pacing, in tone, and in storytelling. Jay Kelly isn't a failure so much as a missed opportunity, a film that had the tools to resonate deeply but never fully figured out how to use them.

So well done. Powerful message. He needed to give 200% to get the thing... and then 300% to keep it. So many can relate to this in today's high-demand, productivity-driven economy. And there is never enough time. And now he's reached a point where he's parched for what's now really hard to get.

We can extract many themes from this movie. It was bit meta too, as one of the greatest himself, we know he carried over a lot to the role, like the interesting bit about the intentionally "just adding some natural black" into his gray hair so it looks natural or the acting lessons of "Do you know how hard it is to be yourself? And then you have to act again outside of that" Whew!

Then people he lost along the way to greatness. Spiraling and then holding it together is a common theme among creatives who are pushed to the edge to survive in this industry.

The friendship with Adam's character was a great touch. And the theme of wondering who really is your friend when all your friends are on your payroll, a big one for people once they reach the top.

My only little thing with the movie was the ending; that last line felt a little abrupt. Was he saying he'd do it all again the same way? Or that he'd like another take at life so he can do it "right" this time?

We don't get movies like this anymore. It the 2000s and 2010s gems... Lost in Translation's Bill Murray's character meets Eternal Sunshine's memory jumps with a little bit of My Summer of Love filming style - all in a modern frame.

There was also that dreamy, nostalgic cinematography of movies beautifully filmed, with rich, deep dialogue and a slow pace, that left a mark on you with a life message.

Thanks, George, for giving us one more! Also, Adam, at the very least, an Oscar nomination.