Saturday Night
Saturday Night
Starring Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, Cooper Hoffman, Willem Dafoe
Directed by Jason Reitman
On October 11, 1975, Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) arrives at the NBC building to prepare for his show, "Saturday Night," which would air in ninety minutes. A live sketch comedy act, the show seemed a mess from the start - the actors run amok, there's no script, the sets appear unsafe, and everyone is running around like crazy. Michaels tries to maintain control with his boss Dick Ebersol (Cooper Hoffman) who tells him that NBC wants them to fail because they make more money airing reruns of Johnny Carson, but Michaels sees the future, and refuses to relent.
The cast is all over the place, with Garrett Morris (Lamorne Morris) wondering why he's portrayed as the stereotypical Black character despite his years in theater; John Belushi (Matt Wood) still hasn't signed a contract and remains hostile toward the other actors; Chevy Chase (Cory Michael Smith) has already gotten an inflated ego and comes to verbal blows with Milton Berle (J.K. Simmons). The writers are dealing with an overzealous religious fanatic who's disapproving of the meager script that's already been prepared. Lighting fixtures fall to the ground. There's no live studio audience, and NBC executive David Tebet (Willem Dafoe) has brought in numerous executives from across the country to see the taping. Despite all odds, Lorne Michaels continues with his vision and in the end we get one of the longest running shows in television history.
History belongs to those who are determined to overcome the odds and achieve their dreams, and Lorne Michaels is one such person. Not only did he birth "Saturday Night Live," but served as an executive producer for some of television's most iconic shows and has left an indelible imprint in the entertainment landscape - and it all might not had happened if he had listened to the executives and abandoned his dream of "Saturday Night Live," something that could've been easily done considering the almost literal circus show he had to work with.
Director Jason Reitman and editors Nathan Orloff and Shane Reid create the chaotic feel of what it must've felt like for Michaels that first night, as the camera moves in numerous one-shot takes as it traverses the cramped quarters of the NBC building as we journey with him through several obstacles that stand in his way. It's hectic, chaotic, and never lets up - you feel the dizzying intensity from start to finish, never getting a moment to just breathe, which is probably how Lorne Michaels felt that first night as well.
Much like the titular program, "Saturday Night" is filled to the brim with no-name up-and-coming talent. The diverse cast do great in their respective roles, as the camera goes from one scene to another as they deal with their own issues and problems. Rachel Sennott's Rosie Shuster is dealing with her husband Lorne's issues and struggling with taking his last name in the credits; Cory Michael Smith (a dead ringer for Chevy Chase) plays a young Chase as an impulsive, egotistical know-it-all with perfect comedic timing; Matt Wood's John Belushi showcases the late actor's intensity and flair for the dramatic. The rest of the cast - including Ella Hunt's Gilda Radner, Dylan O'Brien's Dan Aykroyd, Emily Fairn's Laraine Newman, Lamorne Morris's Garrett Morris, Kim Matula's Jane Curtin and Nicholas Braun's duel role of Jim Henson and Andy Kaufman all have their moments to shine as well, even if many aren't seen as much as they should've.
The main anchor in this film is "The Fabelman's" Gabriel LaBelle, who plays Lorne Michaels with a sense of determination and grace under pressure, as he's thrown in numerous different directions at once while trying to maintain some sort of normalcy in the hectic, chaotic working environment. On the outside he maintains a stiff upper lip as he's being talked to by executives, talked down on by Johnny Carson on the phone, and interrupted numerous times by questions from cast members and crew alike, and you're just waiting for the explosion to happen. LaBelle manages to keep Michaels grounded as the only anchor we got to keep the film from flying off the rails, and he does so brilliantly.
So does too is Cooper Hoffman (the son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman) who plays Michaels' boss Dick Ebersol, who wants him to succeed but doubts his success, and along with his performance in "Licorice Pizza" proves himself every part his father's equal. Willem Dafoe as well shines, as always, as the executive who doubts the success of the show at large.
Showcasing the intensity and craziness of preparing for a live program, "Saturday Night" provides a dizzying look at the mechanics of it as well as presenting up-and-coming talent a chance to shine in an excellent Jason Reitman-led vehicle.
The Score: A+
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