danieljfarthing

Though co-written (badly) by Emily Mortimer (her first screenplay) & its director Noah Baumbach, self-satisfied drama "Jay Kelly" is a blatant George Clooney puff-piece. He's the titular fictional version of himself, a 60 year old movie star with trappings like an entourage (including Adam Sandler (always better in drama than in his own lame comedies), Laura Dern, & Mortimer) with him always, even through a latter-life breakdown across France & Italy (encountering the likes of Jamie Demetriou & Patrick Wilson) as he flagellates his own past with characters like Billy Crudup, Jim Broadbent, & Stacy Keach. While probably meaningful to Clooney, to others it'll be self-indulgently dull.

In original, off-centre, Baltimore-set Christmas rom-com "The Baltimorons", on breaking a tooth on Christmas Eve (with fiancée Olivia Luccardi) recovering alcoholic Michael Strassner sees dentist Liz Larsen... and events pull them into an unexpected but edgily charming festive adventure. Avoiding cliché it's brilliantly co-written (by Jay Duplass & first-timer Strassner) with outstanding performances - despite its leads being relative unknowns (both so good). Huge props go to Duplass, as this his first film as solo director (without brother Mark) is an indie triumph - a warm & wonderful film that blows the current crop of lame new Christmas movies right out of the water.

After slumping with upper-crust "Millers In Marriage" indie-king writer / director Edward Burns returns to his blue-collar NY Irish-American heartland in the richest, warmest way with "The Family McMullen" (sequel to his 1995 "The Brothers McMullen"). Central again, everyman Burns subconciously binds his family as his daughter & brother (Halston Sage & Michael McGlone - both terrific) suffer break-ups, and son Pico Alexander has his first love (with Juliana Canfield) - while the likes of Connie Britton, Brian d'Arcy James, & Tracee Ellis Ross float in & out. Burns has his flaws but his whole admirable career may have been building to this one. It's archetypal him - quietly magnificent.