The movie tells about two friends Jim and Amanda who have been out of touch for over 20 years. Things turn out completely when they return to their small home town in California, as they meet each other by chance, and there may be a past that ties them together.
It's to the credit of both the movie and its stars that the easy sense of naturalism isn't undone by the eventual revelations. These people are believable, and so are their conversations, and so is their shared past.
Though the film largely trains on the simple, dialogue-fueled interaction of two people, it feels more spectacular than theatrical, showcasing the acting prowess of two master performers feeding on mutual chemistry and performative bravado.
Blue Jay is wistful and beautifully acted until the moment Amanda produces an unsent letter from Jim that she has discovered among the piles of old clothes and keepsakes. Nostalgia gives way to melodrama.
Paulson is way overdue for a lead role, and though Blue Jay is minor fare ... it's a great vehicle for her to run up and down the emotional scale without breaking a sweat.
Sarah Paulson and Mark Duplass shine in Blue Jay, a charming nostalgia trip tackling heady themes in a manner that is both lovingly awkward and brutally real.
If the first hour or so of "Blue Jay" were anywhere near as compelling as its last 15 minutes, the film could have proved quite a special little experience.
