Original ending sets ‘Jay Kelly’ apart, delivers nuanced themes of stardom
"Jay Kelly” is George Clooney’s best performance in decades, our columnist says. Instead of opting for a predictable happy ending, Noah Baumbach’s realistic storytelling allows the film to flow naturally. Jay Cronkrite | Contributing Illustrator
Support The Daily Orange this holiday season! The money raised between now and the end of the year will go directly toward aiding our students. Donate today.
A pen, paper and an idea. That’s all writer and director Noah Baumbach needs to make a thought provoking movie. Following the success of “Barbie” and “Marriage Story,” Baumbach once again proves his prowess in his most recent film “Jay Kelly.”
One of the most underrated creative minds of the last century returns with Netflix’s “Jay Kelly,” a character study exploring a fading superstar as he comes to grips with the events that led him there
The comedy drama, released on Dec. 5, tells the story of Jay Kelly (George Clooney), a fading Hollywood superstar who follows his estranged daughter to Europe, as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery and redemption.
Jay quickly comes to terms with the fact that, despite his global adoration, the love he receives is disingenuous. His fans love his character, not the man himself.
This overwhelming loneliness consumes Jay and causes him to introspectively look back at his life. He has grown into a man with no one around him. No close family or friends to support him, just hired hands to look after him, the most important of whom is Ron, his manager (Adam Sandler).
A storyline like this has been done time and time again: a star who realized his life has no meaning, trying to figure out where it all went wrong. However, Baumbach retells this overdone plot in such a delightfully raw way that it feels new and real.
One of the important driving factors that prevents this movie from being dull is Baumbach’s beautiful ending. Most similar films end happily, with the main character attaining the redemption they desperately seek. But Jay does not receive this poignant ending. Instead, the film concludes with Jay at a tribute in his honor, looking back at a montage of his career while basking in the glory of his fame, completely leaving any semblance of humility behind.
Jay is no longer dwelling on the events of his career, but instead coming to terms with the person he is, realizing he cannot change the past nor alter the future. Although this scene is bathed with beautiful lighting, emotion and a profoundly gorgeous score, there is an eerie emptiness surrounding it.
Placing this montage at the end of the film showcases Jay’s tranquility, revealing that the character has come to terms with never moving on from the career that created this void in his life. The film could have been a boring run-of-the-mill movie about a disgruntled star finding his way. Instead, Baumbach had the ambition to turn the storyline on its head and eliminate the happy ending, completing the story in the most realistic way possible.
This movie is propelled by its wonderful lead performances, with Sandler and Clooney both acting at the top of their game. My hope for Sandler’s dramatic career was dwindling, but this movie has completely reestablished him as a force to be reckoned with.
In the case of Clooney, I haven’t seen him perform this well in a movie this decade. To bring such grittiness to a character while simultaneously shifting between introspection and self-absorption is a feat that not many actors can pull off.
“Jay Kelly” has an autobiographical feel to it for Clooney (especially with the ending scene actually showing a montage of Clooney’s own films). Acting in a film like that requires a gravitas and humbleness that only an actor of Clooney’s caliber could display. Both Clooney and Sandler deserved their Best Male Actor and Best Supporting Male Actor Golden Globe nominations for “Jay Kelly,” and I hope that, come award season, the Academy delivers the same love once again.
The film’s strongest asset is its ability to perfectly alternate between simplicity and complexity so eloquently. The movie is packed with a plethora of breathtaking and intricate shots, which are juxtaposed with other simple shots that help ground the viewer into the story.
Baumbach’s script is a triumph, paralleling the cinematography in its ability to toe the line between overtly preachy dialogue with straightforward and humorous one liners. Every line uttered by each character feels so relatable, offering a level of applicability that only Baumbach can muster. Even with a longer run time of 132 minutes, the movie flows so naturally that it feels more like a 90-minute film.
If you’re searching for something extremely enjoyable and new, or don’t like going to the theaters, “Jay Kelly” is the perfect film to watch during your free time over winter break. Whether you’re into great scripts, acting or a great story, this movie has everything for any type of viewer.
