VENICE, Italy (AP) — In “Jay Kelly,” George Clooney plays a very George Clooney-esque movie star on a self-reflective journey through Europe. The film, which is premiering Thursday night at the Venice Film Festival, explores heady questions about finding oneself while also poking fun at the business of being a major celebrity in the world and all the people on their payroll around them.

Hours before the premiere, Clooney was absent from the news conference with his castmates due to a “bad sinus infection,” the moderator explained. Yet he rallied for the red carpet, bedecked in a classic tuxedo with his wife Amal by his side, looking the part of A-list movie star.

His co-star Laura Dern earlier praised his “amazing, raw, true performance” in the film, which is in competition for the festi

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