The Adam Sandler Hall of Fame and ‘Jay Kelly’ With Noah Baumbach!

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.

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.