Reviews and scores of “Jay Kelly” (Jay Kelly); Middle -aged George Clooney

Jay Kelly, starring George Clooney and Adam Sandler, is the newest made by Noa Bamebak, which you know more about “The Story of Marriage”. The film was screened for the first time at the Venice 2025 and is now available for its initial reviews and scores.

Jay Kelly tells the story of a famous Hollywood actress of the same name (starring Clooney) who now looks at her past and achievements, wants to become a better person and, of course, a better father for her daughter. After confronting one of his old friends, Jay suddenly decides to put a new project to fly to Europe to travel with his daughter Daisy and eventually go to an Italian art festival that is set to award a lifetime of achievement; A prize that smells of retirement.

Criticisms and scores of “J. Kelly”; George Clooney in the role of George Clooney

So far, J. Kelly has received relatively positive feedback than the former Nova Bamebak. The average movie rating on the site is 83% (15 positive and 3 negative cash) with 18 reviews and average is 64% in metacritic (6 positive reviews, 4 average reviews and one negative review). Many audiences have not seen the movie, but so far, the average score on the iDB site is 6.6 out of 10, which is better than 5.7 “White Noise”.

Variety – Owen Gliberman

In Jay Kelly, George Clooney plays the role of a movie star who is very similar to George Clooney. The film creates an image of a movie star as if he came out of the DNA of George Clooney; The same fun and pleasant charm, the same honest smile that makes everything look like a friendly conversation even when it is commanded. But the underlying layer of the film raises a question: Is this his true essence or is it another role he has been playing for years?

The opening scene, where Jay is filming one of the final scenes of his final film, shows exactly the same conflict. He is still perfectionist, continues to believe in the second and third perceptions, but this obsession comes from “selfishness to addiction to” right. ” A tone that is completely colony.

However, outside the scene, another face appears. The ring of old companions has taken away; The longtime manager (Adam Sandler), the hard -working public relations officer (Laura Darren) and others who have been wandering for years. In their eyes, Jay is neither young nor perfect; The question is whether he reaches maturity like a rare wine or is just forgotten?

But the film comes to the heart of the audience most when it shows Jay’s relationship with his daughter Daisy (Grace Edwards). His farewell moment to go to the University of John Hopkins shows a picture of real loneliness; A star at the peak is still empty. The film’s flashbacks also shadow his deep friendship with Peter (Jim Broadbent); The comradeship that begins with a sweet past but ends with a bitter moment: When Jay refused to lend it to a project to save Peter’s decline.

“Jay Kelly” by Noah Bambak is an imaginary image of the inner life of cinema; A full of detailed and playful details that simply attract the audience. George Clooney, in a role that is clearly echoing his true face, delicately picks up the layers of fame and questions the concept of being the star itself. This is a return to the territory in which Bamebak has always been brighter: dialogue -based and intimate drama that relies on personal observations. If “The Story of Marriage” was a new peak in the representation of separation and collapse, Jay Kelly wants to do the same for movie stars.

Just when Jay attended a funeral; Suddenly, Timothy (Billy Corodap, with frozen smiles and hidden anxiety); His old classmate in the acting method class. Jay’s simple invitation to a drink again opens an old wound: Timothy, with a stack of anger, confesses that he hates him; Because he believes Jay had kidnapped everything, including the same fateful role that initiated his starry path. Bambak then makes a surprise move: he offers a complete flashback from that fateful day. We see Jay and Timothy Young in the acting test of a movie called “Kernberry Street”; Timothy destroys the role with a clear vibration, and J-Bi is suddenly a try and succeeds.

You can accuse me of being toxic, but in the past recounting scene, I didn’t see Jay’s treasure. Yes, one can understand Timothy’s profound suffering, but the film narrates it in a way that is not a slip to the viewer, except in one sense: The main betrayal is that Bambak refuses to reach his hero really to the bitter acceptance; A point that could make him a tragic and memorable personality. Jay errors are small and forgiven, and colonial charisma makes them less.

In the following, the narrative deals with his dark relationship with his daughter Jessica (Riley Kyo); A relationship that is more like hostility. Jessica draws him to a psychotherapy session, where a letter is called for him- for his repeated absences in childhood. This absent father’s stereotype, though believable and Jay himself confesses, never dies dramatically. The reason is simple: Colony is so warm and lovely, even when he encourages his managers, that the audience’s mind cannot see him a really failed father.

After confronting Timothy, Jay suddenly decides to abandon his new project and fly to Europe, to accompany his daughter Daisy. The core of the film is the same train trip in Italy: crossing the scenery and new people that eventually lead to a ceremony in Tuscany; A commemoration that Jay was always fleeing because it smelled of retirement. Along the way, he coincides with ordinary travelers, jokes with them, and even saves an old man’s wallet from a psychotic man in a quasi -stroke scene. Spicy rhythm, style conversations and entertaining moments make this section pleasant.

Guardian – Peter Bradshaw

Everyone loves George Clooney, and they are right. His games in films such as “Michael Claiton”, “Outside” and “Eleven Siders of Ocean” have been enjoyable, and on the other hand, he has almost retained Hollywood’s classic credibility and dignity. But in this highly emotional and narcissistic film, he looks like a man who has found poison in his cup of coffee.

The film was made by Noah Bambak, who was one of the main contenders for the Venice Film Festival, “White Noise” (2022). (It is said that Bamebak was upset by the cold reaction of the audience, but I think it was a bright film) But this one is an exaggerated and catastrophic work on a Hollywood good -natured actor who participates in an Italian art festival to receive a lifetime of achievement and naturally.

The reason for his presence at the festival is that Jay Kelly can accidentally face her teenage daughter who is busy in Europe. He travels even with a simple train to spend time with him, making it a set of interesting and ordinary people, including a highly active German cyclist starring Lars Aydinger.

And in these moments of middle -aged self -sufficiency, it feels like that all the people of his life are frustrated (though confusing, the mother of her adult children has been removed from the story). She has been away from her daughters (Riley Kyo and Grace Edwards) in serious and unnecessary ways, prepares to betray her patient program manager (Adam Sandler), refuse to help her coach (Jim Broadbent), and to think about how to play a key role at the beginning of her career. And he cannot decide who he is, or whether there is something behind his fame.

Therefore, the Bambak film walks in a path previously traveled by Fellini and Woody Allen’s “Eight” and “Memories of Starda”, but it is gentle and neutral, full of tasty jokes.

DRAP – Steve Pand

Jay Kelly, who was unveiled at the Venice Film Festival, is full of a rhetoric for an industry that seems to stand on a trembling land and look at its history with nostalgia. For Bambak (55) and his star George Clooney (64), this film is very suitable for its time.

After Bambak shifted to the pure drama genre with “The Story of Marriage” (2019) and then slipped with “White Noise” (2022), the film again returned to the drama. Clooney is an ideal person to play the role of a big star who simply showcases his fame. Even his name is great, who could play Jay Kelly?

It’s easy to say that Jay Kelly belongs to a colony, but that’s not true. Adam Sandler also has his painful moments as the director of the Patience Program, as well as Laura Dren, Riley Kiwi, Stacey Kitch, and a collection of complementary actors including Patrick Wilson, Yves Hiceson, Greta Gruig, Alba Rohrovar, Issla Fisher, and a filmmaker.

The film gradually becomes a European trip, but Jay’s journey has to pay extra for all the psychological burden it takes. As the weight is heavier this time, the more trivial questions (“Do I have to tell my daughter to monitor her mother’s credit card transactions?”) Are under

But the key point is to find balance; Making a movie that is both bright and dark, a movie that moves like a comedy but has a lot to say in its mind. With the help of Nicolas Brittel, a composer who is sometimes reminiscent of former Bambak colleague Randy Newman, Jay Kelly does so.

Dedline – Pete Hammond

Making a movie about a movie star is not a new idea. From Natting Hill and Badigard to the Talay Thunder, American Delibers, “Born Star”, “Bradman”, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and “Buffiner”. But perhaps the most complete example I have seen “Everything About Eve” by Joseph L. Be mantyyvich; Although it was flowing in Broadway, it still presented a penetrating image of the nature of being starring. That same year, Billy Wilder launched another masterpiece: “Sanst Boulevard”, which revealed the dark side of Hollywood, when the industry no longer needs you. The sound of Norma Desmond still listens: “These are the films that are small”, while insisting that herself is “big”.

This year is the seventy -fifth anniversary of the two films, and surprisingly, they still look as new and accurate. Eve is a record holder with 14 Oscar nominations and six awards, and Sunst Boulevard with 11 nominations and three wins has consolidated its position; The testimony that Hollywood is always fascinated by narratives about himself.

For this reason, it is unlikely that the industry will welcome the latest film of Noah Bamebak, Jay Kelly; The film, which had its first worldwide play at the Venice Film Festival tonight, playing the role of a co -star. Jay Kelly moves in the splendor of his fame; Until suddenly he can no longer, and a personal journey to find himself. But the problem is: J. came so quickly that you might never understand who is beyond the face we see on the screen. And that’s the central question: Who is the real jay?

The film is a narrative about identity and an attempt to give meaning to life. The screenplay – Bambak’s writing with Emily Mortimer (which also plays a short role) – is moved with a remarkable skill between comedy and drama. Jay Kelly is reminiscent of masterpieces such as Fellini and Sullivan’s Solivan Travels; However, they were not about the cast but about the crisis of creativity. However, Bamebak’s film in Venice’s competition succeeds in finding its unique identity in the genre of “Movies About Movies” and creating a new, clever and enjoyable work.

Source: Screendaily