Word has been traveling hard that Netflix will be campaigning hard for an Adam Sandler Oscar nomination this year for his work in Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly.”
Buzz keeps coming in from industry sources, journalists, and test reports; Sandler steals the show in “Jay Kelly.” Sandler is turning 59 this fall, and one can only hope he continues to deliver these kinds of dramatic turns—pushing himself, and his audience, to maturity.
Saw an early screening of “Jay Kelly.” The overwhelming consensus with the audience afterwards was that Sandler stole the show. He’s funny, touching and very sad, as this pathetic character and his chemistry with Clooney is so good. It’s maybe the most he’s ever “stretched” as an actor. I didn’t know he had this kind of performance in him.
It used to be that, whenever he’d deliver a dramatic role, critics would use the excuse that Sandler was “used well” by great filmmakers like Paul Thomas Anderson and James L. Brooks. But can we just finally acknowledge how utterly effective a dramatic actor Sandler can be?
If you ignore his silly comedies, which comprise around 80% of his filmography, Adam Sandler has already proven that he’s a great actor. His work in “Punch-Drunk Love,” “Uncut Gems,” and “Hustle” is enough proof of his acting chops.
Star-studded doesn’t even begin to describe “Jay Kelly.” After his $150M+ Netflix gamble, “White Noise,” failed to launch, Baumbach is giving the streaming giant the kind of project that they most desire: a romcom set in NYC and London.
“Jay Kelly” stars Sandler and George Clooney as the leads. The rest of the cast includes Greta Gerwig, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Patrick Wilson, Emily Mortimer, Isla Fisher, Jim Broadbent, and Riley Keough. Oscar-winning cinematographer Linus Sandgren (“La La Land”) is lensing.
In “Jay Kelly,” the synopsis details, two middle-aged friends (Clooney and Sandler) “rediscover their youthful spirit during a chaotic weekend reunion, facing hilarious mishaps and heartfelt moments that force them to finally grow up.”
The Netflix-produced movie, an ensemble piece, is being described as a “funny and emotional coming-of-age story about adults.” It’s already internally confirmed that “Jay Kelly” will have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September.