JAY KELLY
Starring: George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Grace Edwards, and Stacy Keach
Director: Noah Baumbach
QUENTIN
As a person who loves movies about movies (and, by proxy, movie stars), Jay Kelly was right up my alley. George Clooney is perfectly cast, essentially playing himself (a running joke in the movie), as a superstar actor grappling with the shallow relationships and disheartening loneliness of mega fame. It deftly walks a tight rope between self-indulgent navel-gazing and brilliant meta subtext. And as good as Clooney is, it’s Adam Sandler who steals the movie as he once again proves that he is a legitimate actor. If this were to be Clooney’s final movie (it won’t be), it’d be something pored over for years to come.
AMARÚ
There has yet to be a Noah Baumbach-directed film I’ve enjoyed. I often find that his characters have empty, first-world problems, or in the words of those in my inner circles, white people shit. But Jay Kelly’s introspective look into the psyche of good people who make bad decisions makes this story a little more relatable. The titular character (George Clooney) and his manager, Ron (Adam Sandler), still make choices that seem counter to their narrative momentum; however, placing their seemingly superfluous conflicts in the chaotic day-to-day of movie stars allows for much more emotional resonance surrounding their work-life balance issues.
ADRIANO
I was on and off Jay Kelly's wavelength consistently. I loved Noah Baumbach's Fellini-esque direction and the ambitious approach to the titular character's (George Clooney) reflection, but while Clooney and Adam Sandler are excellent at the centre, Billy Crudup stole the movie. With that said, the attempt to erode the barrier between an out-of-touch actor and the audience didn't always land. The journey was lacking in emotional familiarity and was mostly just sad. The ending, however, sticks the landing and made me wish the rest of the meandering movie matched what the finale delivered.
BODE
Some have critiqued Noah Baumbach’s latest picture, Jay Kelly, for its sentimentality. To that, I would say: don’t be so easily fooled. It’s there, yes, but it’s constantly balanced out with the sourness that Baumbach initially made his name on. It causes some tonal whiplash, but in a way, that just makes this bittersweet character study more compelling - especially as George Clooney does some of his best work in years exploring the contradictions of this pathetically successful Hollywood figure. Adam Sandler, Riley Keough and (especially) Billy Crudup also shine amidst a star-studded ensemble. Solid - if not spectacular - stuff.
NICK
I know “aura” is a big buzz word these days, but that is the best way to describe what George Clooney has. Be it his charm, screen presence, or overall likeability, Clooney is the quintessential movie star, which makes him perfect for this character. He's wonderful in a role that looks at the cost and ramifications of fame. Kelly is a flawed character, but Clooney ensures we never turn on him; a great supporting turn from Adam Sandler helps, as well. I don’t think Jay Kelly is going to bring Clooney another Oscar, but it shows those aspirations are far from over.
KATIE
Jay Kelly is undoubtedly self-indulgent and sentimental, but sincere and with enough humour that I didn’t really mind. The dialogue doesn’t always work, and some characters are too underdeveloped for me to care about them, but it's driven by great performances. George Clooney, playing the titular Jay Kelly, is, as always, a perfect movie star: compelling and charming, with an endlessly watchable screen presence. Adam Sandler is also fantastic, again proving his dramatic talent. The score is lovely, and the cinematography is gorgeous. For all its sentimentality, I enjoyed the A-list performances and nostalgic appeal.
ROBERT
Ambiguity can be either the life raft that lifts a film and its message or the anchor that sinks it completely. The life of Jay Kelly, as portrayed by George Clooney, is designed to make the audience question reliability in the narrator’s account of the past, forcing them to consider whether they should root for him, right until the end. For me, Jay Kelly is wildly successful in its journey of retrospection, sold beautifully by Clooney, Adam Sandler’s beaten-down charm, and whirlwind stints by Billy Crudup and Riley Keough. Some might find it saccharine, but as a father, it leaves me contemplative and emotional.
PAIGE
Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly is an intriguing meta yet sentimental piece that explores themes of regret and the cost of choosing fame over authenticity. While I found the first half of the film a bit difficult to connect with, mainly due to clunky dialogue and a lead character who initially feels unrelatable, George Clooney’s performance slowly drew me into the narrative. As the story unfolds, you begin to put yourself in Jay’s shoes and reflect on the memories we wish we could have had with the people we love, and that, right there, is the power of cinema. Not to mention Nicholas Britell's beautiful score, which truly enhances the emotions you feel by the end of the film.
This film was reviewed by Quentin as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2025 Zurich Film Festival.