This is The New Yorker Radio Hour, a co-production of WNYC Studios and The New Yorker.

This is The New Yorker Radio Hour. I'm David Remnick.

The filmmaker Noah Boundack was long known for comedies and dramas that drew on his own life.

Films like The Squid in the Whale and Marriage Story.

But things change, and so did Boundback's source material.

In 2022, he released White Noise, which is based on the novel by Dondalillo.

And then in 2023, he worked on a smash hit in Hollywood called Barbie.

He co-wrote the script with Greta Gerwig, who directed.

Boundback's latest film is something of a return to form.

It's a sharp character study of an extremely handsome, extremely famous movie star having an identity crisis.

George Clooney, of course, plays the actor, and Adam Sandler is his beleaguered manager.

Suddenly remembering things I've been thought about in a long time.

Our family's losing it at home.

It's like a movie where I'm playing myself or watching myself.

I'm sorry.

I said, I go again. I didn't hear a word you said. I said, I'm suddenly remembering things.

What is that?

Memory?

Well, yes.

Maybe your memory's trying to tell you something about your present.

Wait, what?

I don't know. I'm tired.

...