★★★★1/2
Much like how Lorne Michaels captured lightning in a bottle decades ago, Jason Reitman did the same with this movie! Saturday Night is a frenetically chaotic ride, and one of Jason Reitman’s best films. The film focuses on the 90 minutes that led up to the airing of the first ever SNL episode in 1975 with a “race against the clock” thriller angle. It perfectly captures the chaotic energy, camaraderie, and backstage shenanigans of putting together the first SNL in real time. There is only so much you can cram into such a short runtime, but this film tests that theory and shoves everything it possibly can in. The ticking clock throughout, a witty script, the stressful score, long takes, and breakneck editing make the final product absolutely chaotic in the most brilliant way. It genuinely plays like a cross between Birdman and Babylon, and if you know me that is a very high compliment.
The true highlight however is the incredible all-star cast that both embrace the chaotic characters they’re playing and intensity of putting SNL itself together. The movie is not just any ensemble piece, it’s the ensemble piece. I haven’t seen actors bounce off of each other so well in ages.
Like Lorne Michaels, Gabriel LaBelle is the driving force. LaBelle is slowly climbing up to become one of the all-time greats. He has played Steven Spielberg, now Michaels, and holds his own opposite veterans. He is the glue that holds the cast together. I am shocked as to how many supporting players made a massive impression with so little screen time, and there’s no way I can pick a favourite. Nicholas Braun with dual roles as Andy Kaufman and Jim Henson is comedic gold. Cooper Hoffman is stepping right into his father’s shoes. Cory Michael Smith and Dylan O’Brien are perfectly compatible with Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd respectively. Andrew Barth Feldman, Matt Wood, Lamorne Morris, everyone is phenomenal. It’s crazy that J.K. Simmons and Willem Dafoe, both amazing as well, are probably some of the less extraordinary of the bunch. I’m genuinely surprised how much of the cast are rising stars — and I thought that was an excellent decision made by casting considering the original SNL cast were also fairly unknown. They deliver on levels as someone who’s been in the industry their entire lives.
Jason Reitman has given us the love letter of a lifetime with Saturday Night, recognizing those who work their asses off behind the scenes for our amusement. The rapid-fire script is wildly entertaining, the film is a total blast from beginning to end! Highly recommended by me!
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