Jay Kelly
2025-10-10
Vancouver, BC

A spiritual sequel to La La Land — La La Land representing the relationships and life experiences that mark the road to fame, and this representing the comedown. More specifically, the disintegration of the very same relationships that managed to survive the wake of fame, and new responsibilities that the fame altered from the get-go, like fatherhood. It's just the nature of the beast, but most people are going to relate a hell of a lot more to the dreaming of La La Land than the regrets of Jay Kelly, because we simply won't get there in our own lives. It probably doesn't help that I'm not a huge George Clooney fan, and I'm not sure if this was semi-autobiographical from either his perspective or that of Noah Baumbach, but I could see this feeling more profound coming from someone's who's career arc has meant more to me. Naomi Watts comes to mind, especially with the context of Mulholland Drive. This did stick the landing though. Very Babylon-esque.

VIFF 2025 #6. Screened at the Vancouver Playhouse.