Key Takeaways
- Noah Baumbach's new film 'Jay Kelly' elicits mixed critical reactions from the podcast hosts.
- The film, starring George Clooney and Adam Sandler, explores celebrity identity and fractured family relationships.
- Hosts analyze Adam Sandler's Oscar potential and construct his career Hall of Fame.
- Director Noah Baumbach shares insights into his filmmaking process and thematic evolution.
Deep Dive
- Hosts Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins had mixed reactions to Noah Baumbach's 'Jay Kelly' after multiple viewings.
- Amanda Dobbins was 'flummoxed' after seeing the film twice, including at its Venice premiere.
- Sean Fennessey, despite high expectations, had reservations after seeing it at Telluride and rewatching it at home.
- One host described the film as a 'mess' with an unclear narrative, despite liking performances and visual experimentation.
- Noah Baumbach’s 'Jay Kelly' explores celebrity and public perception through George Clooney’s portrayal of the titular star.
- A scene depicts Clooney’s character performing a viral video interaction perceived as heroic, contrasting a nuanced interaction with a bag thief.
- Adam Sandler's performance as Ron was found 'heartbreaking,' portraying a lack of recognition despite years of loyalty to Jay Kelly.
- Sandler's real-life career success is noted as being larger than George Clooney's.
- Hosts discuss Adam Sandler's potential for an Academy Award nomination, noting his charm and effectiveness in awards campaigning.
- Sandler's early career included 'The Hanukkah Song' and his tenure on 'Saturday Night Live' from 1990 to 1995.
- Before his Netflix era, Sandler had over 21 films grossing more than $100 million worldwide.
- He is described as a 'smart dumb star' in the comedic tradition of Buster Keaton and Jerry Lewis.
- Early Adam Sandler films like 'Going Overboard' (1984), 'Shakes the Clown' (1991), and 'Coneheads' (1993) were deemed not Hall of Fame worthy.
- 'Airheads' (1994), starring Sandler with Brendan Fraser and Steve Buscemi, was acknowledged for past enjoyment.
- 'Mixed Nuts' (1994) was described as a Christmas movie disaster, though 'The Hanukkah Song' from the same year was nominated.
- 'Billy Madison' (1995) and 'Happy Gilmore' (1996) are discussed as important early comedic hits.
- Adam Sandler's 2002 film 'Punch Drunk Love' received praise for his performance, showcasing his ability to convey both anger and softness under Paul Thomas Anderson's direction.
- 'Eight Crazy Nights' (2002), an animated Hanukkah-themed movie, expanded Sandler's brand to a broader audience.
- 'Anger Management' (2003), co-starring Jack Nicholson, was noted for its iconic meme-worthy moments and significant box office success.
- '50 First Dates' (2004) was a popular hit that became a cultural reference, leading to its 'yellow' designation.
- 'You Don't Mess with the Zohan' (2008), a comedy about an Israeli supersoldier becoming a hairstylist, had a $202 million worldwide gross.
- The Disney film 'Bedtime Stories' (2008) highlighted Sandler's appeal to a younger audience.
- Judd Apatow's 'Funny People' (2009), initially criticized for its length, is now considered by some as underrated and among Apatow's best.
- 'Grown Ups' (2010) became Sandler's highest-grossing live-action film at the time.
- 'The Ridiculous Six' (2016) was a consequential film for Netflix, legitimizing its original movie production despite hosts finding it unfunny.
- 'Sandy Wexler' (2017) was described as an unfunny attempt at Woody Allen-style comedy.
- 'The Meyerowitz Stories' (2017) was critically acclaimed for Adam Sandler's performance alongside Dustin Hoffman and Grace Van Patten.
- 'Murder Mystery' (2019) was noted for its popularity and Mediterranean filming location.
- Noah Baumbach generally avoids revisiting his older films, stating his memories of them are more prominent than the actual movies.
- He only rewatches films for special editions and has not seen some recent works like 'Margot at the Wedding' or 'Greenberg' since their release.
- Baumbach's older son has recently started watching his films, beginning with 'White Noise' and 'Jay Kelly.'
- The director had a 'seamless and pleasurable' co-writing experience on 'Jay Kelly' with Emily Mortimer.
- Noah Baumbach acknowledges 'Jay Kelly' functions as an elegy for a past era of movie stars and an aging Hollywood system.
- He drew parallels between characters and real-life industry figures struggling with careers, like his mentor Peter Bogdanovich.
- Baumbach sees the protagonist, Jay Kelly, as a cautionary tale for aging movie stars, citing Cary Grant's retirement.
- The director notes the industry's challenge in defining new stars amidst changing perceptions of heroes and mentors.