It would be a mistake to think George Clooney plays himself in Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly—a smart take on a man who, in a late career epiphany, learns the meaning of life. Cliches aside, and one-upped: Yes, he’s a movie star! A big one. And the movie plays with all the stereotypes including a heroic moment when Kelly rescues a woman’s purse from a theft on a train. Life and legend merge. Because it is Jay Kelly, superstar, the incident blows up on social media just as he—remorseful about lost moments with family– is on the train hoping to have some quality time with his daughter before she goes off to college.

Co-written with Emily Mortimer, the Jay Kelly script includes a formidable role for Adam Sandler as Kelly’s sideman, bagman, manager, best friend, all around butt wipe named Ronald Sukenick. Ronald Sukenick!!! This is not a casual appellation but rather an homage to Baumbach’s father’s world. Jonathan Baumbach was a college professor/ novelist who with his colleague Ronald Sukenick founded The Fiction Collective; they were pioneers in self-publishing experimental novels. Along with Laura Dern as publicist, Greta Gerwig, and Riley Keough, the films’ casting is brilliant. Billy Crudup as a drama school classmate who never made it, steals the movie, despite Kelly/ Clooney’s obvious charisma.

You could also think that Clooney was that superstar with Amal Clooney on his arm as well-wishers gathered at the Polo Lounge swank afterparty. Richard Kind is always a loyal pal. George Clooney loves to talk to everyone. When I asked him about his activism, he was quick to say, You know how that Jimmy Kimmel firing got turned around? Well, let’s just say I made a phone call.

Regina Weinreich