JAY KELLY Review

Jay Kelly (Netflix)

With Jay Kelly, Noah Baumbach once again proves his gift for finding truth beneath the noise. What begins as a sharp, self-aware industry satire gradually evolves into something far more affecting — a meditation on identity, fatherhood, and the loneliness of performance. Co-written with Emily Mortimer, the film captures the melancholy that seeps in when success becomes routine and real connection begins to fade.

At the center is George Clooney, delivering his most vulnerable work since Up in the Air. He is our titular Jay, a world-famous actor traveling through Europe alongside his longtime manager, Ron (Adam Sandler). Jay is caught in the fog of middle age — reflecting on the career that defined him, the daughters who are moving beyond him, and the growing awareness that time is something even fame can’t control.

Baumbach cleverly frames Jay’s story as both literal and metaphorical performance. There are moments where Jay’s memories are reenacted on screen like surreal film scenes — hazy, dreamlike fragments that blend past and present. These sequences underline one of the film’s central ideas: the difficulty of distinguishing the person we are from the person we pretend to be. It’s a rich, introspective premise, and Baumbach executes it with remarkable restraint.

THE PERFORMANCES

Clooney is exceptional here. The performance thrives in silence — in the pauses, the hesitations, and the quiet melancholy that sits behind his eyes. There’s a lived-in sadness that feels autobiographical, as if the actor himself is confronting his own reflection through Jay. Clooney captures the soul of a man who’s been playing versions of himself for decades and is no longer sure where the performance ends.

The supporting ensemble compliments him beautifully. Laura Dern provides grace and grounding, Emily Mortimer brings a brief but affecting presence, and Billy Crudup delivers one of the year’s most memorable single-scene appearances — a small moment that lends more complexity to Jay's tale. Yet it’s Adam Sandler who emerges as the film’s secret weapon. As Ron, he embodies an everyman’s awe of the industry, tempered by regret and quiet self-doubt. His bond with Jay becomes the emotional anchor of the story, mirroring Jay’s own struggle for meaning and connection. Together, Clooney and Sandler form one of the most understated yet powerful pairings of the year.

TECHS & WRITING

George Clooney & Adam Sandler

Technically, Jay Kelly is modest but elegant. The cinematography, often bathed in soft European light, mirrors the characters’ introspection. The screenplay — easily one of Baumbach’s best — is both literate and heartfelt, balancing humor with a sobering awareness of mortality. While the direction favors subtlety over spectacle, the film’s emotional precision and tonal control keep it consistently compelling.

Baumbach and Mortimer’s script is the true triumph here. It’s structured with grace and humor, yet unflinching in its exploration of middle-aged disillusionment. Few films manage to feel this personal while still resonating so broadly. The pacing is deliberate but purposeful, allowing each moment of reflection to linger just long enough to matter.

OSCARS?

Jay Kelly should be a formidable contender this awards season. Expect strong consideration for Best Picture, Original Screenplay, and acting recognition for both George Clooney (Lead Actor) and Adam Sandler (Supporting Actor). It could also make a showing in the newly introduced Best Casting category, given its perfectly balanced ensemble. And, as previously mentioned, I 100% expect a nomination for original screenplay (if not the win).

THE VERDICT

Jay Kelly is a film about the performance of living — about how we craft personas to survive, and what happens when we finally take them off. It’s Baumbach’s most mature, introspective work to date: funny, wistful, and quietly devastating.

Anchored by Clooney’s best performance in years, an unexpectedly soulful turn from Sandler, and a screenplay that brims with empathy and insight, Jay Kelly is not only one of the year’s best films — it’s a reminder of why we fall in love with cinema in the first place.

🍿 SCORE = 90 / 100

*Jay Kelly is playing in theaters (11/14) and streaming on Netflix (12/7).