Venice, Italy — George Clooney anchors the Venice Film Festival with Jay Kelly, a meta, self-reflective journey through Europe that sits squarely in the realm of Clooney’s onscreen persona. The Netflix-produced feature, directed by Noah Baumbach and co-written with Emily Mortimer, surveys the trapdoors and triumphs of fame as a major star navigates both the continent and the people who orbit his life.
Hours before the premiere, Clooney was absent from the festival’s news conference due to a bad sinus infection, but he still graced the red carpet in a classic tuxedo beside wife Amal. The film’s ensemble cast cheered the project’s ambition: Laura Dern lauded Clooney’s performance as “amazing, raw, true,” while Adam Sandler, who plays Jay’s manager, and Billy Crudup, who portrays a rival in an acting class, offered portraits of the industry’s inner workings from their characters’ perspectives.
Sandler spoke about the complexity of the relationship between a star and the people who support them, from managers to publicists, noting the constant push and pull of loyalty, patience, and the emotional tides that come with fame. Dern chimed in with appreciation for the honesty the film allows about what it takes to sustain a career in Hollywood.
Baumbach explained that the project began with a shared vision of casting Clooney in the lead, and the collaboration evolved into a story that both honors and gently satirizes the machinery surrounding a high-profile life. The director highlighted the film’s readiness to lean into the messy humanity behind the glitter of stardom, a theme he also explores in his broader body of work.
Jay Kelly continues Baumbach’s recent collaboration with Netflix, a production approach that has become a significant part of the festival’s programming. The festival’s slate this year includes Netflix titles alongside new work from other major filmmakers, underscoring the streamer’s renewed presence after a year with fewer festival offerings. In addition to Jay Kelly, the festival features Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Kathryn Bigelow’s political thriller A House of Dynamite, which are set to debut later in the event.
The 82nd Venice Film Festival kicked off on the Lido, the barrier island that hosts the event, and runs through Sept. 6. Thursday’s program also features the premiere of Bugonia, a collaboration between Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, adding even more star power to a lineup that showcases a blend of auteur-driven cinema and contemporary celebrity portraits.
Context and value for readers:
– The film’s meta-narrative about fame and the entourage around a star resonates with current conversations about the cost of celebrity and how public personas are manufactured and managed.
– The Venice lineup reinforces Netflix’s ongoing strategy to anchor prestige projects at European festivals, while also highlighting a slate that balances star-driven satire with serious dramatic work.
– The ensemble’s reflections on loyalty, support systems, and the personal costs of a career in entertainment provide a lens into both the character-driven story of Jay Kelly and the real-world dynamics of Hollywood.
Summary:
George Clooney headlines Jay Kelly at Venice with a performance praised by co-stars and directed by Noah Baumbach. The film, a Netflix-produced project, uses a sharp, self-aware look at fame and the people who sustain it. The festival’s broader lineup, including other high-profile Netflix titles and new work by renowned filmmakers, signals a strong, hopeful path for a festival that remains a central stage for both star power and auteur cinema.
Optional additional note:
If you’re drafting a post-festival roundup, consider pairing this piece with interviews or quotes from other cast members about their collaboration with Baumbach and Clooney, plus a short explainer on how Netflix’s festival strategy has evolved this season. This can provide readers with a fuller picture of the festival’s significance beyond the premiere itself.