Okay, listen. The Venice Film Festival is about to kick off, and you know what that means: the first wave of truly prestige, awards-bait cinema is about to hit us. We're talking about the films that will be dominating conversations from now through next spring's Oscar ceremony. The latest from Noah Baumbach, Jay Kelly, just dropped its first look, and man… it's exactly what I hoped it would be.
You've got Baumbach, the guy behind Marriage Story and The Squid and the Whale—a master of making emotionally messy, painfully real stories. And now he's got George Clooney and Adam Sandler. Seriously. Clooney is playing a “super famous movie star” named Jay Kelly, and Sandler is his “devoted manager,” Ron. The posters they've released feel like a whole thesis statement in themselves.
Clooney's poster—he's looking down, smiling a little, but it's a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. There's a sadness there, a contemplation. It's all very “I'm a famous actor and I'm thinking about the legacy I'll leave behind.” That's the movie star role. The public face. Then you have Sandler, and I love this. He's got the beard, the checked shirt, the kind of wry, knowing grin that says he's seen it all. He's the guy behind the guy, the one who cleans up the messes and actually knows what's real.
The whole premise is so meta, I'm almost giddy. A movie star goes to a European film festival to contemplate his life, and the movie itself is premiering at a European film festival—the 2025 Venice Film Festival, to be exact. It's a genius move, honestly. It's the kind of project that reminds you Baumbach isn't just a filmmaker; he's a chronicler of the human condition, especially as it relates to artists and the people around them.
The cast list is insane, too. I saw Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough… and Greta Gerwig. My mind immediately went to Frances Ha, a film that felt like a secret whispered just to me. Seeing Gerwig and Baumbach's names on the same project again, it's like a little cinematic easter egg. And the rest of the ensemble is just stacked with talent. This is not a movie you watch for one or two people; this is a movie you watch for a masterclass in acting.
And let's not forget the behind-the-camera talent. Cinematography is by Linus Sandgren. You know, the guy who made La La Land look like a dream. His work is lush and emotional. And the score is by Nicholas Britell, a guy who knows how to make you feel things just by listening. Moonlight? Succession? Yeah. That guy. This is a dream team, no question.
The teaser trailer gives us a few lines, a taste of the tone. “You're never alone.” “Really? I think I'm always alone.” That's the Baumbach special right there: a moment of connection followed by a chasm of loneliness. I'm telling you, this is going to be one of my most anticipated films of the fall. It just has all the right ingredients.
So, here are the dates you need to know. It's premiering at Venice later this month, then it's off to the New York Film Festival. Then, it will have a select US theatrical release on November 14, 2025. And for everyone else, it hits Netflix for streaming on December 5, 2025. Mark your calendars. I'm telling you, you do not want to miss this one.
What do you all think? Are you ready for a new Baumbach film? Are you a believer in the Clooney-Sandler combo? Let me know in the comments. I'm curious to see if I'm the only one this excited.
