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.

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His co-star Laura Dern earlier praised his “amazing, raw, true performance” in the film, whic

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