Jay Kelly Review - Sincere, funny, phenomenal

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"A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams." -John Barrymore

I’m so sick of the term “Oscar bait” being thrown around in a negative connotation. I choose to interpret it as the difference between a film and a movie. I imagine movies as blockbusters. I see films as an acting tour de force. It’s the stories that explore humanity, often on a small, intimate scale. If the world is ending, it will be from the perspective of a single man or woman, confined within the walls of a single home. Their history will come out in moments of reflection from its characters. They will hash out old arguments and find catharsis as the end nears. They will have tears streaming down their faces as they laugh at such petty nonsense they were once so hung up on. No asteroids hitting New York. No alien craft floating ominously above New York. No wormholes for the Avengers to close above New York. Why is it always NY? Anyway…

Noah Baumbach likes naturalistic progression. His dialogue is witty, often neurotic meant to highlight the complexities of modern life. There are often themes of family turmoil, reconciliation, and self-reflection. He is a modern day Woody Allen, without the controversy; a sort of spiritual successor. He likes New York as a setting for his stories. His stories are often dialogue-heavy, intellectual comedies with dramatic heft for added measure. He writes authentic characters, flawed and nuanced. He can make you laugh as he makes you cry. He finds the funnier side of grief, the unexpected details of loneliness, and in the case of Jay Kelly, he explores the inevitability of regret. 

He is known for balancing a tonality of structure and improvisation. He is an explorer of the average human adult. He finds the fear and humor of not knowing who you are even when you’re starting to gray. As a child you believe your life will map itself out in your twenties. What happens then when you’re in your fifties or even sixties and you still don’t know who you are yet? Maybe you never will fully understand the depths of your own self and that can be a scary concept. 

George Clooney is Jay Kelly, a famous actor finding himself at a crossroads. He looks back on past decisions that led him to where he is. By the measure of most, he’s made all the right decisions. But for Jay, while grateful for his long, storied career he also sees regret among the glory. He sees an estranged family, a plethora of superficial kindness, and a tendency to miss what is often right in front of him. He wonders if the success was worth it if he has no one to share it with, no one to celebrate it with. Even his closest friend takes 15% of his earnings as his manager. What is authentic in his life? Is he even real?

Clooney is a leading man through and through. He has the looks of course but I think his greatest strength as an actor is his charm. He can be the everyman even when he’s playing someone famous. He’s effortlessly likeable with a confidence that is alluring more than it is intimidating. He feels like you can have a conversation with him without judgement. He brings these traits to his characters and as Jay Kelly, he is profound. He can almost all at once make you smile, giggle, and shed a tear. His performance as Jay Kelly is a return to form.

Adam Sandler is Ron, Jay Kelly’s friend and longtime manager. If “Jay Kelly” is a brand, they both created him. So in many ways, Kelly’s successes are Ron’s as well. Sandler is minimal here, but always seen, never blending in and getting lost in the mix. He’s a perfect sounding board for Clooney’s neurotic character who means well but can sometimes get lost in his own aura. Ron is the compass, the security, and the voice of reason. In a world where people practically worship Jay Kelly, Ron is the much needed anchor. Sandler is the perfect actor wrangler and they play off of one another with subtlety and reverence. They are the heart of this film. 

In 2009, Clooney starred in a Jason Reitman film, Up in the Air. It’s an excellent comedy, drama. It’s also incredibly lonely and sad. For a character who travels as much as he does and talks to as many people as he does, he’s so incredibly alone. By sticking with his character as much as you do in that story, you start to feel the isolation. It’s upsetting in a way. Jay Kelly made me feel the same way. He plays an actor whose long career is both successful and solitary. For every moment of achievement, there seems to be a glaring regret. His one daughter barely tolerates him and the other can barely stand to be on the phone with him longer than thirty seconds. I don’t know if she hates him but she certainly resents many of his life choices; most of which were in neglect of her. She needed her dad and he was so often on a movie set somewhere pretending to be anything but himself, which is all she ever wanted. 

There are moments in this film when he is surrounded by people and yet it’s as if no one is around for miles. The fans see his movies. His assistants see their paychecks. For so long, his manager Ron was by his side without question. But after decades of his neuroses, Ron is beginning to see Jay as a source of frustration; as someone who is always pulling him away from his own family. Even Jay’s father shows up when Jay is celebrating an upcoming award for his body of work over the years. But eventually his dad grows tired of being around the chaos of Jay’s presence. He wants to leave even before the event happens. Everyone keeps leaving Jay. For someone who is never alone, he is always forlorn.

Jay Kelly made me sad but introspective. I found it authentic and accessible. The performances are tremendous and genuine. It’s often funny even when it feels so lonely. It’s about a man who discovers that maybe his achievements aren’t as precious to everyone else as they are to him and I think that can be a hard lesson to learn. There is a balance to life and when it’s off, everything can feel the same. One of my favorite films of the year. 

Rated R For: language

Runtime: 132 minutes

After Credits Scene: No

Genre: Drama, Comedy

Starring: George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup

Directed By: Noah Baumbach

Out of 10

Story: 9/ Acting: 10/ Directing: 9/ Visuals: 8

OVERALL: 9.5/10

Buy to Own: Yes. Streaming on Netflix, December 5th. 

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Check out the trailer below: