Reel Corner - January 2026

January 2026 Issue
Reel Corner by Donne Paine

Jay Kelly

The new year often brings a sense of renewal,
motivation, fresh starts, and a chance to reflect on the past.
Whatever the past has brought, The Reel Corner wishes you
a happy, healthy New Year filled with positive energy,
much luck, joy, and great movies.

Streaming on Netflix:
JAY KELLY
George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Billy Crudup, Laura Dern
Directed by Noah Baumbach

It’s hard to feel sorry for someone who has it all—money, fame, and success. But the film everyone is talking about, Jay Kelly, takes us right into that world and shows what lurks underneath the glamour. Jay Kelly (Clooney), a handsome, aging movie star who is starting to realize that the things he gave up on his way to the top were the things that really mattered. This is a story about longing, regret, and the quiet ache of having everything except happiness.

Most of the film is set against the stunning landscape of Italy, where the film captures both beauty and loss that the character feels in equal measure. Clooney gives one of his most touching performances. There is something haunting about the way he carries himself, a mix of confidence and quiet sorrow. You really believe he is a man who has achieved all his dreams yet feels like he has missed the point. Watching him wrestle with his past and face the truth about what he left behind is both beautiful and sad.

Then there is Adam Sandler, who absolutely shines as Jay Kelly’s manager and longtime friend. I have been a fan since his SNL days and always thought Sandler was underrated as a dramatic actor, and this movie proves it again. His character adds warmth and balance to Clooney’s brooding energy and adds a little humor, as well.

Also of note is actor Charlie Rowe, who plays young Jay Kelly. His performance is a convincing portrayal of an ambitious young actor.

What makes Jay Kelly special is its honesty. The film never gets preachy or over the top. Instead, it takes its time, letting the emotions build naturally. You watch two men reflect on what success really means, and by the end, it makes you think about your own life and what you might have traded along the way. In the end, Jay Kelly isn’t just a movie about fame, it’s about rediscovering what is important in life—love, connection, and small quiet joys that no amount of success can replace.

My only critique is that I wish we had gotten more of Jay Kelly’s backstory. The film hints that he is not in a relationship, has had a couple of failed marriages, and has two grown daughters he longs to reconnect with, but it never explains how those relationships became strained. A bit more context would have helped. That said, it is a thoughtful film about reflection and what matters, and I enjoyed it.

Netflix also has an interesting documentary, The Making of Jay Kelly, about the director and the production of the film— he avoided CGI (computer-generated imagery) and relied on traditional set design and practical filmmaking. So, if you liked the movie, the documentary is worth checking out.

References: www.imdb.com

Donne Paine, film enthusiast, once lived around the corner from the Orson Wells Theater in Cambridge, Massachu-setts, where her strong interest in films, especially independent ones, began. Supporter of the arts, especially films, she has traveled to local and national film festivals including Sundance, Toronto and Tribeca. There is nothing like seeing a film on the big screen. She encourages film goers to support Hilton Head local theaters, Park Plaza Theater and Northridge. To support her habit of frequent movie going, Donne is a vaccine medicine nurse consultant and also the author of 4 Interview Pillars available on Amazon. See you at the movies!