Courtesy of Deadline
Jason Reitman’s majorly anticipated biopic telling the story of the first episode of “Saturday Night Live” has finally hit the major screens on Oct. 11 — exactly 49 years after the first show.
The film stars an impressive cast of Generation Z comedy darlings playing the 20-somethings that started it all. Bringing the story alive so beautifully, Reitman’s new film feels much more like a love letter to the program and the passionate people behind it — something we have rarely seen in recent “Oscar-campaign” biopics, which tend to cram as much of the story as possible without much nuance to its plot. The chaotic storytelling and camerawork in “Saturday Night” only supporting a passion for telling the story.
“Saturday Night” whittles down the process from the show’s creation to its most intense moment — the wild 90 minutes before its first broadcast at 11:30 p.m. on NBC — choosing to focus on the enthusiasm and drive of both creator Lorne Michaels (played by Gabriel LaBelle) and the cast of then-unknown comedians bringing their dream to reality. Alongside this, the movie expresses the essence of conflict between the new and old generations of prime-time TV deep within its narrative. The movie is so undeniably ‘70s — surrounded by sage, warm yellows and recreational drugs, Michaels grapples with his unique chance to change the world of comedy forever.
When bringing the story to life, Reitman spoke of his rigorous process of interviewing “anyone who was in the building” on Oct. 11, 1975, creating an amalgamation of memories and moments that made that “Saturday Night” special — a love for the story so intense, you could feel it sitting in the cinema. “We were allowing the people who were there to define what memories they had that were important to them from that moment,” Reitman said in an interview with Letterboxd.
But where Reitman’s story truly shines is in its tender moments, something previously seen in his other heartwarming films, like “Juno.” The chaos is broken up with glimpses of emotion, the raw connection and care between characters bursting at the seams as they work to bring their hard work to the air.
One must sing the praises of the brilliant cast assembled by Reitman, bringing together up-and-coming young stars with an impressive lineup of actors, as well as two returning icons of cinema — Willem Dafoe and J.K. Simmons as the NBC executive and star, respectively. LaBelle and Rachel Sennott, who plays Rosie Shuster, bring a level of professionalism and care to their portrayals of the husband and wife writer duo. With Sennott’s performance of Shuster as her most serious and charming role yet, and LaBelle as a true shining star on the “Saturday Night” tree, the genius of Michaels and his belief in the program is brought to the screen. Cory Michael Smith’s perfectly “dickish” performance as Chevy Chase (a certainly controversial figure of the many “Saturday Night Live” alumni) captures the cocky and rapid rise of the young comedian as he is propositioned with his possible TV future, with a surprising character arc. Dafoe walks the thin line of NBC executive David Tebet, who aims to shut down the show before it even goes live by bringing his unique expressiveness into the role, a process one truly cannot just put into words.
But the true standout performances of Dylan O’Brien, Lamorne Morris and Andrew Barth Feldman line the movie’s subplot, where each one brings a charming and attention-grabbing personality to their performances of the iconic comedians Dan Aykroyd and Garrett Morris and assistant Neil Levy respectively. In interviews, the cast was open about their process of aiming to portray the real-life characters — capturing their raw and driven selves, something delivered with wit and care by the breakout cast.
However, the movie’s thrilling atmosphere that keeps the viewer’s heart beating must be attributed to Jon Batiste and his live-recorded soundtrack playing alongside the sharp editing and rough handheld camerawork. Batiste’s aim to create a score that felt “as frenzied as the energy coursing through (Reitman’s) version of NBC Studios” was executed with sharp piano chords, fun saxophone, striking percussion and an unmissable “New York jazz sound” that serves as the film’s constant ticking clock as we follow the journey to “action.” The music appears in multiple aspects, creating the immediate atmosphere of Studio 8H on that day in 1975, dragging the viewer within and calling for them to feel and breathe with Michaels and his fight to bring his new and fresh idea of “Saturday Night Live” to TV screens across the nation.
Although the movie may not be as satisfying to those looking for perfection, the imperfections of this film truly show its love, authenticity and dedication to showing the 90 minutes before “Saturday Night Live” first aired without aiming to be ideal, and that is probably its greatest feat yet.
8/10
