Noah Baumbach's film Jay Kelly is an anatomy of a movie-star. A must-watch for all those who get overexercised when famous Hollywood actors publish their musings about Israel, Palestinians, or any issue whatsoever.
Kelly' daughter calls him an "empty vessel". /1
Kelly' daughter calls him an "empty vessel". /1
Another character asks,
"Is there a person in there? Maybe you don't actually exist,"
emphasizing the lack of any authentic meaningful life outside of his roles. /2
"Is there a person in there? Maybe you don't actually exist,"
emphasizing the lack of any authentic meaningful life outside of his roles. /2
The film explores the idea of actors being so detached from reality that they struggle to "matter" anyway they can.
The film opens with a Sylvia Plath's line:
"It's much easier to be somebody else". /3
The film opens with a Sylvia Plath's line:
"It's much easier to be somebody else". /3
The Greeks called Actors artisans. The Romans dismissed them as prostitutes with better stage directions.
Medieval Europe saw them as peddlers of sin.
Shakespeare’s day saw them as Vagabonds with soliloquies, tolerated only if an aristocrat tossed them a coin.
/4
Medieval Europe saw them as peddlers of sin.
Shakespeare’s day saw them as Vagabonds with soliloquies, tolerated only if an aristocrat tossed them a coin.
/4
Romanticism rebranded them as Artists, still immoral, still dependent, forever dangling between the scullery and the salon. Then came Hollywood, and actors ascended; now they are demi-gods, plastered on billboards.
/5
/5
And today? Agonized parvenus preen like peacocks reciting moral edicts, certain the world awaits wisdom from those who cry on cue.
Jay Kelly shows how it's done.
George Clooney, BTW, handsome and brilliant as the quintessential narcissist star🙃
#Vacuityofactors /6
Jay Kelly shows how it's done.
George Clooney, BTW, handsome and brilliant as the quintessential narcissist star🙃
#Vacuityofactors /6
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