Jay Kelly

 

“All of my memories are movies.”

Cathartic, introspective and empathetic, Jay Kelly is a fascinating fictional character study of a celebrity actor in crisis, with a career-best George Clooney, and wonderfully warm Adam Sandler, who endear themselves to the audience in their exploration of what a truly happy, meaningful and successful life is, in a profound, bittersweet, funny and resonant ode to the human behind every artist. 

Discussion Points:

Noah Baumbach’s reflective meta narrative about the cost of fame and empathy for the celebrity is absolutely fascinating. I was deeply moved by this catharsis for the artist as Baumbach explores the pretentious self-importance of celebrity whilst maintaining the reality of humanity. Famous actors are professional liars but they are also people: sons, fathers, husbands, friends. George Clooney delivers a career-best performance as Jay Kelly - a great actor, bad friend and absent father. His career has come first, and he enjoys the rewards of his fame. But he also carries the consequences of his actions - broken relationships, failed friendships and a lonely life despite the ever-present entourage. Baumbach’s direction and writing with Emily Mortimer combine with Clooney’s performance to elicit deep empathy for a man who could otherwise be reduced to a distant, vapid, self-indulgent and entitled caricature, but beneath the veneer, is a heart that is aching. Kelly is running away from this inexpressible pain, and his journey through Europe is deeply cathartic. Baumbach gets to creatively explore through flashbacks and surreal set pieces the inner emotional turmoil of Kelly. But it’s not all sadness and gloomy disillusionment. Jay Kelly is also a light and breezy film that revels in the joy of cinema and art, and the communities it forms. It’s wonderfully scored by Nicholas Britell, gorgeously shot, has beautiful contemporary costuming and is brilliantly witty and fun. For every profound pondering, there’s a clever visual gag, self-deprecating joke or self-aware satire which brings a laugh and smile. Much of that is thanks to Adam Sandler as Kelly’s long-suffering but ever loyal manager Ron, the heart of the film. Sandler balances comedic relief with some of the films biggest emotional moments as he struggles amidst his own feelings of one-sided friendship, familial sacrifice and career expectations. He deeply loves Kelly as a friend, but wonders is it all worth it? And that’s the films central theme - what sacrifices are worth making for the sake of success? And how do we measure that success? This is where the scene-stealing Billy Crudup enters as Tim, Kelly’s old acting school classmate, who’s initiate friendliness gives way to long harboured resentment and embitteredness at the success Kelly has had after he “stole his life,” and his one scene casts an impactful shadow over the rest of the film. Swirling around Kelly are other key players Laura Dern, Patrick Wilson, Jim Broadbent, Stacey Keach, Riley Keogh and more who deliver memorable supporting performances as they similarly question what they owe Jay and how much they are willing to sacrifice for his career and emotional wellbeing. Is it their role to make him happy? Can Jay ever be truly happy? Does he deserve a happy ending? Well the films close is bittersweet. Jay doesn’t get everything he wants. He’s not surrounded by people he loves, just strangers who love him. He’s led a happy career, but does that equal a happy life? In a jokingly ironic close, Jay turns and asks if could get another take and do it again but this time with a different emotional note. If only life were so simple… but that’s why we escape to the movies, even the ones that are deeply sad amidst the humour.