Jay Kelly

"Does anyone involved have any idea how off-putting and unrelatable this is?" -Sean Burns review on Rottentomatoes.

No Sean, clearly they don't, because they all spend 130 minutes basking in the glow of how important and wonderful they are.

Tonally all over the place and infused with endless product placement (Hellman's, Polo, a few watch brands) Jay Kelly is a film that never stops revelling in how important it thinks it is. It took every ounce of energy to restrain myself from walking after the 10th Clooney close-up, an amateurish attempt to make the film seem "deep" or meaningful.

It's not meaningful or profound. We don't care about these people. No relationship feels real. It drones on pointlessly with endless scenes we've seen 100 times before.

This film is everything that's wrong with Hollywood. You won't ever see A24 put out something like this self-pleased, maudlin waste of 2+ hours.

This film was written for George Clooney, by George Clooney. I understand the basic premise of it: a 35 year illustrious career in which you are highly esteemed by the public and pedestaled as a hero, but all your personal relationships have disintegrated as a result.

The result, however, was a very slow-paced film with poor dialogue (one-liners that were intended as gut punches but fell flat due to lack of conviction) and a LOT of close-ups of Clooney's face.

Clooney acts as he always does -- he plays himself. The film read as extremely self-obsessed, this meta tribute to his own career while lamenting on what he's lost along the way. While there were some heartfelt moments nearing the end of the film, they were lost in the extremely drawn-out plot and self-pity.

Honorable mention goes to Adam Sandler, who I hadn't seen in a serious role such as this before. He nailed the role of a star actor's manager -- you could feel the sheer exhaustion and lack of agency that he felt responding to every beck and call of someone who didn't acknowledge his humanity.

If an introspective single character film is what you're in the market for, this may fit the bill. If you're looking for an actual plot, genuine introspection, or actually utilizing Laura Dern's talent, look elsewhere.

I've loved Noah Baumbach from the jump, however here we are in 2025 with a retrospective character study that grabs, dips, and meanders from a semi-relatable introspection to how-did-we-get-here slog. I liked it? Yes, mostly. I was never bored, and I did laugh out loud at quite a few parts, it's just - - - editing, I guess? Some things definitely could have taken up residence on the cutting room floor. Sandler does a fine job, as does the entirety of the cast. I cue Sandler though because Sandler. He isn't exactly known for his subtlety. The music is a nice stand out. Mortimer being co-writer, her character could've gotten more play. And Laura Dern? Love her. But if the film lost her character entirely, that might give the pace a little more? As it stands, it's the cacophonous surroundings of Jay Kelly's world that elevate the film as much as it bogs itself down. Less is more.

I happen to catch this at the NYFF. This is the type of film we need now. It focuses on our humanity, our relationships, our joys and regrets. The movie captures accurately the working relationships of a movie star and his supporting entourage. And demonstrates the sacrifices that are sometimes necessary to achieve such success. The performances were wonderful. Adam Sandler has really come along way. He just gets better and better as a dramatic actor. His performance was heartbreaking and hopefully he'll receive many deserving accolades for it. Clooney, well, he never disappoints but this is the most vulnerable role I've ever seen him tackle and he did it superbly. I was very moved and hope everyone sees this film.

The Last Movie Star is the superior and more moving piece of cinema.

While Jay Kelly is thoughtful and elegant, The Last Movie Star is superior due to its visceral, human core and emotional authenticity. Where Jay Kelly offers a polished, modern reflection, The Last Movie Star provides the gut-wrenching counterpoint-a story about mortality, acceptance, and the quiet dignity of a life well-lived, even one filled with mistakes. Burt Reynolds' raw, final performance gives The Last Movie Star a genuine, unforgettable impact that Jay Kelly's beautiful calculation struggles to match.