“Saturday Night Live” is arguably one of the most influential pieces of pop culture. From a crazy idea thought up by a group of 20-somethings, it became a staple of entertainment featuring the biggest stars and creating timeless sketches that will live on for generations.
The new film “Saturday Night” transports the viewer back almost 50 years ago, to the first night SNL ever aired. It captures the magic at the core of the beloved show. It is a journey back in time, transporting you to green rooms and back stages filled with smoke. It’s 1970s New York City. It’s laughter and friendship, anger and panic.
The film, released on September 27 2024, and directed by Jason Reitman, takes place over just 90 minutes of fictional time, from 10pm to air time at 11:30. It follows the creator of SNL, Lorne Michaels, and a group of young writers and comedians as airtime quickly approaches.
The movie is fast paced and the stress increases as cast members hurriedly prepare for the show, though various slower moments balance this intensity. Such scenes include ones between Lorne (Gabriel LaBelle) and his wife Rosie Shuster (Rachel Sennott), painting the complexities of their relationship, and a scene at the Rockefeller ice rink where Matt Wood, playing comedian John Belushi, shines.
The viewer feels the stress of Lorne as he scrambles to get the show ready and on air as a series of unfortunate events unfold. The scrambling, all-over-the-place emotions emanate off the screen.
One piece of the film that is lacking is the complexity of the characters. The style doesn’t allow us to learn about and understand them enough, and some of the acting is “not yet ready for primetime”.
Walking into the theater as a big fan of SNL, I also hoped to learn more about what led up to this night – the writing, the collaboration – how they turned their ideas into reality. I didn’t get this, and walking out I felt a bit unfulfilled. The movie is about the experience and the immersion, not the storyline. And yet, it works. The fact that it’s only set over a few hours makes it all the more immersive. The viewer feels like a part of the set. And when the credits roll, you want to stay in this world. It feels incredibly real, both thanks to the actors and the cinematography and timing.
As the hours count down, the movie puts you at the edge of your seat as Lorne, the comedians and the crew scramble to bring their dream to life in time to get on the air.
“Saturday Night” is a unique, immersive experience and creative film. It takes the viewer on a suspenseful, exciting rollercoaster of emotions. It’s a wonderful tribute to the iconic show that has changed television forever, and it captures that same feeling as the first time I heard those iconic words: “Live from New York, It’s Saturday Night!”
