Live from Centenary University, It’s Saturday Night!

Making it to Air

Lights, camera, action! One of the year’s most well-received movies is now live for all viewers to see. Saturday Night is the latest directorial effort from acclaimed director Jason Reitman, who is no stranger to working in both comedy and drama. Some of his previous directorial works include the 2007 Academy Award darling Juno and the well-regarded legacy sequel Ghostbusters: Afterlife. 

With his latest effort, Reitman aims to detail the conception of one of the most iconic shows in all of television. In discussion about the medium, when the term “comedy” is mentioned, one of the first shows that may come to mind is Saturday Night Live (SNL), a sketch program that has been airing strongly since 1975. While several movies have been based on specific sketch characters from the show–including The Blues Brothers, Wayne’s World, and A Night at the Roxbury–there has never been an attempt to tell the story of how Saturday Night Live came to be until the second weekend of October 2024.

When Saturday Night had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival back in August, it was met with positive critical reception. Even now, as the nationwide theatrical release goes into effect, these strong ratings have remained intact. Audiences are also responding well to the movie, earning a B+ grade from crowd polling system CinemaScore. 

After catching the film on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, at the Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas in Hackettstown, the question remains: Is this movie worth airing live to the public, or should it have been canceled on the spot?

Tonight’s Special Guests

Saturday Night chronicles the making of the first Saturday Night Live episode in 1975, as producer Lorne Michaels tries to get the project under control in the 90 minutes leading up to the show’s premiere. Due to mishaps of the cast and crew, chaos erupts behind the scenes in these final minutes, leading to a tense situation as the deadline draws nearer. 

The film features an ensemble cast that includes Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, Cooper Hoffman, Dylan O’Brien, Cory Michael Smith, Willem Dafoe, J.K. Simmons, and many others. 

With a massive amount of talent both behind and on screen, I am happy to report that their efforts did not go to waste. The cast’s depiction of their respective characters proved itself as the crowning achievement of the film. They all bring their own unique energy to their performances, which helps keep the viewers engaged in their actions. 

LaBelle provides a grounded, confident approach to Lorne Michaels as he tries keeping everything intact, making for a captivating lead performance. 

Everyone surrounding LaBelle also does terrifically, including those who portray other behind-the-scenes figures, with Sennott’s wisecracking portrayal of writer Rosie Shushter particularly standing out. 

Even those who play classic comedians give it their all and make their characters memorable. These include Smith’s sarcastic approach to Chevy Chase, O’Brien’s committed performance as Dan Aykroyd, and Nicholas Braun providing a memorable take on Jim Henson. 

Every character gets their own time to shine during the movie’s runtime, whether it be through re-enactments of classic SNL sketches or tender character moments where the dialogue and chemistry get to shine.

Doing it Live

One of the major selling points of Saturday Night was its concept, which it uses to its full potential. The movie has one core concept: telling the story of the production behind the first ever Saturday Night Live episode. There is no over-reliance on subplots, preferring to focus on what is going on in the heat of the moment. This approach to the story keeps the movie engaging throughout, as the unpredictability of what might happen next heightens the intensity as the show approaches airtime.

The film has a really well-balanced tone to coincide with its strong script writing. Rather than play it as a straightforward comedy, there is a clear dramatic side to this flick as well. There is a plethora of tense character interactions, underscored by a subtle musical score composed by Academy Award and Grammy-winning instrumentalist Jon Batiste, who also appears in Saturday Night portraying the legendary Billy Preston. 

Ironically, the soundtrack makes the movie more thrilling than many of the actual thrillers I’ve seen in recent memory. This balance in the tone makes for an unforgettable experience, especially when the film reaches its climax. 

This script also makes way for strong character development, with Lorne Michaels getting the best treatment of the lot. His determination to make the Saturday Night program work is evident, even as others surrounding him start going haywire and doubting the show’s success. Because his chemistry with the script’s demands and other characters meshes so well, he proves himself an electrifying force for the audience, creating one of the most memorable characters in a 2024 movie. 

Real-Time: Real Problem or Benefit?

Another unique aspect of the film is its editing style, which aims for a real-time effect. Since this movie looks at the 90 minutes leading up to the first Saturday Night Live episode premier, it tells the story over the course of those 90 minutes rather than frequent cuts between time and location. It takes place in one primary location, NBC Studios, with the story beginning at 10 p.m. and culminating at 11:30 p.m.

Personally, I can appreciate this real-time take on editing. Although the pacing resulted in a few slower moments than I’m used to, it didn’t bother me much. 

I love how the movie offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what the hour and a half leading up to a live show premiere might actually look like. The editing style and execution is a different step compared to a typical story-driven feature, yet still manages to stay engaging because of the shenanigans playing out on screen. This makes Saturday Night one of the most entertaining yet different movies to come out this year.

Crushing the Ratings

Overall, despite a few slow moments, Saturday Night stands as one of the best films of the year, thanks to its engaging script, entertaining cast, unique editing style, well-balanced tone, and fantastic portrayal of Lorne Michaels. This is a must-watch for any Saturday Night Live fan and for those who love the comedy in Reitman’s previous films. 

I also highly recommend this to any Communication majors at Centenary University who may be reading this. Saturday Night provides an engaging look at the behind-the-scenes process of creating a show, which will resonate with any student aspiring to pursue film, broadcast, or television production. In fact, it could also be relatable to anyone who has already worked in these fields. 

The film, rated R for language, sexual references, and drug use, is now playing nationwide in theaters, including at the nearby Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas.

After all the chaos that played out on screen, I’m glad to report that this movie lived up to the hype; it is most certainly worth rerunning to boost its ratings even more.

My Rating: