Review of the 2025 BFI London Film Festival – Jay Kelly

      **Jay Kelly, 2025**

      Directed by Noah Baumbach.

      Featuring George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Greta Gerwig, Riley Keough, Grace Edwards, Stacey Keach, Jim Broadbent, Patrick Wilson, Emily Mortimer, and Billy Crudup.

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      Renowned film star Jay Kelly embarks on a path of self-exploration, facing his past and present alongside his loyal manager Ron. The film is both heartfelt and humorous, exploring the space between regrets and triumphs.

      Noah Baumbach presents George Clooney’s character Jay Kelly with an exquisite single-take behind-the-scenes glimpse that teases an insightful look at the complexities of making it in Hollywood. It’s reminiscent of "Babylon" funded by Netflix or "Jerry Maguire" set within the acting realm. Although this confused melodrama resembles that idea, the bizarre nature of the journey makes it hard to engage with the happenings.

      Clooney portrays an aging legend, essentially as himself, who opts out of participating in a project by two rising Hollywood stars, spurring him to embark on a European trip to follow his youngest daughter. This triggers a frenzy among his support team, a mismatched collection of anxious enablers including Adam Sandler's agent, Laura Dern's assistant, and Emily Mortimer's stylist.

      Throughout this adventure akin to "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," Jay revisits significant moments from his past—his breakthrough role and the ethical dilemmas surrounding it, meeting the mother of his first child, and disappointing a beloved director. These scenes are infused with a bittersweet melancholy, fitting for a film steeped in regret. Had this tone been consistently maintained, "Jay Kelly" might have achieved the depth and warmth it seeks.

      Nonetheless, these poignant moments are intermittently scattered across a film with a wildly inconsistent tone. At one point, it seems Clooney has entered a sitcom as he boards a train, faced with an array of outlandish characters. The exaggerated nature of these scenarios undermines any intended humor, leaving the audience perplexed by the creative decisions. This sense of confusion continues during their trip to Italy, where even more cartoonish characters appear, culminating in a perplexing chase across a field that provokes unintended laughter.

      This jarring tonal shift is particularly striking considering the cast delivers performances worthy of awards. Clooney shines in reflective scenes; the conversations with his eldest daughter (the excellent Riley Keough), a reunion with his old drama school friend Tim (superbly played by Billy Crudup), and a climactic encounter with his demanding father (Stacy Keach) are moments where Kelly becomes Clooney, effectively blurring the lines and making the character feel real. It is during these instances that the film resonates, prompting empathy for Jay, who otherwise comes off as an unlikable and hollow figure—yet that is precisely the intention.

      Conversely, Sandler's beaten-down agent serves as a projection of the audience’s frustrations, particularly in the film's more tedious segments. He shines in quieter moments rather than being part of a broadly drawn family that includes a character reminiscent of Jonathan Lipnicki. His amiable performance is bound to secure him numerous nominations during the awards season.

      Ultimately, Baumbach, who co-wrote the screenplay with Emily Mortimer, struggles to determine whether to criticize or celebrate his main character. This ambivalence diminishes the film's impact. The final scene exemplifies this indecision as Jay watches a reel showcasing George Clooney’s iconic moments—from “The Peacemaker” to “Syriana” and “The Thin Red Line.” While it’s hard not to be moved by the weight and emotion of the footage, as the credits roll, one begins to question whether any real lessons have been learned by either the characters or the audience.

      **Flickering Myth Rating – Film ★ ★ / Movie ★ ★**

      Matt Rodgers – Follow me on Twitter