Noah Baumbach’s film “Jay Kelly” featuresGeorge Clooney in a role that mirrors his own persona as a popular and prestigious Hollywood actor. Jay Kelly, a star for over three decades, is depicted with the brash charm, effortless wit, and finely honed sincerity characteristic of Clooney himself. The film subtly explores the authenticity of this public persona, prompting questions about how much of Kelly’s engaging nature is genuine and how much is an act.

The narrative follows Jay Kelly on a journey of personal reckoning as he grapples with aging and the consequences of his life choices. This reflection unfolds during a trip through Europe, particularly Italy, with his entourage, culminating in a career tribute in Tuscany. Key relationships in his life are explored: his long-time manager Ron (Adam Sandler), his hard-bitten publicist Liz (Laura Dern), and his two daughters, Daisy (Grace Edwards) and Jessica (Riley Keough).

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Several pivotal encounters highlight Kelly’s complex character. The death of his old actor chum, Peter Schneider (Jim Broadbent), triggers flashbacks revealing Kelly’s career-driven priorities, as he previously declined to support a project for his fading friend. A more dramatic confrontation occurs with Timothy (Billy Crudup), an old acting classmate who accuses Kelly of a “toxic betrayal” from an audition for their first film, “Cranberry Street,” 35 years prior. While Timothy views this as a life-altering injustice, a flashback presented in the film portrays Timothy flubbing the audition, and Kelly, who wasn’t scheduled to audition, simply seizing an opportunity to perform, suggesting the betrayal is subjective.

Kelly’s relationships with his daughters also reveal his vulnerabilities. Daisy is about to leave for college, causing him to feel alone, while Jessica openly resents him, accusing him of being an absentee father after his divorce from her mother. Despite these strained dynamics and Kelly’s entitled treatment of his handlers, Clooney’s portrayal maintains a warm and engaging quality, making it challenging for the audience to fully accept the film’s attempts to depict a “colder side” or his flaws as genuinely severe. This creates a perceived “soft center” in what aims to be a “hard” look at stardom.

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The film, co-written by Baumbach and Emily Mortimer, marks a return for Baumbach to his signature dialogue-driven dramas, following his more conceptual “White Noise.” Critics have lauded Clooney's expert performance in deconstructing celebrity, with the actor himself describing the role as his most “vulnerable.” He acknowledged the reality of aging in Hollywood, stating, “If you can’t make peace with aging, then you’ve got to get out of the business and just disappear.”

“Jay Kelly” premiered at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, where it received an 8.5-minute standing ovation despite a rainstorm and Clooney recovering from a sinus infection. Clooney walked the red carpet with co-star Adam Sandler, who delivered a subtle, mournful performance as Ron, Kelly’s manager. The film's starry ensemble also includes Patrick Wilson, Eve Hewson, and Isla Fisher. The tagline, “Everybody knows Jay Kelly, but Jay Kelly doesn’t know himself,” encapsulates the movie's exploration of a public figure’s private introspection.