'Jay Kelly' Review- An Oddly Introspective Dramadey
It debuted at the Venice Film Festival.
Jay Kelly is a comedic drama directed by Noah Baumbach, who co-wrote it with Emily Mortimer. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival, which led to a short run in cinemas and then Netflix streaming.
After wrapping up filming, popular actor Jay Kelly (George Clooney) is told by his manager, Ron (Adam Sandler), that Jay’s mentor, director Peter Schneider (Jim Broadbent), has passed away. Feeling guilty at rejecting a role in Peter’s upcoming film, Jay has drinks with a friend from acting school, Timothy (Billy Crudup). Still, they get into a tussle over Timothy’s jealousy. Jay sees this as a wake-up call to reconnect with his daughters, Jessica (Riley Keough) and Daisy (Grace Edwards). He travels to Italy, dragging Ron and the entire staff with him to accept an award he had previously rejected. As they travel, he reflects on his life, remembering his high and low points.
Whenever an actor plays an actor, it can go different ways. You do not know what to expect, and I certainly did not expect to like this film. Clooney plays himself a lot, and this movie satirizes him doing that. It builds a narrative on watching your life pass by and wondering what the next step is, or if you missed a step.
The cast did a good job. No one was particularly unique in it, but everyone did a good job. Sandler was great as the overworked manager. Laura Dern nailed it as Liz, the stressed publicist. I also liked Stacy Keach's cameo as Jay’s working-class father. He added a flare to the story, showing Jay’s lingering issues.
When it comes to the score, Nicholas Britell nails it. He has done several movies before, but I felt his style worked very well for this plot. It pulls you into the story and several key moments.
I also appreciated how introspective the plot is. A lot of Hollywood’s take on Hollywood come off as very insincere. I did not get that here. It felt like a man who wanted to do things differently, not so focused on his career. I found him reflecting on his life through flashbacks and even flash sideways that show how his career developed. I also thought the arcs about how Jay’s decisions impact his staff were interesting, as they revealed the consequences outside of his personal life.
The film warns the audience that a career in the entertainment industry seems glamorous, but you cannot leave your family behind. I thought that was a special message and not one that is always delivered so thoughtfully.
Bottom line, Jay Kelly is a special surprise. I was expecting it to be pretentious, but it turned out to be a thoughtful story.
PARENTAL CONCERNS: Strong foul language, Substance abuse, Some violence
FAVORITE QUOTE: Pickles never expire.
Check out the trailer below:
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, anime, or novel you would like me to review.