'Saturday Night' is a Cinematic and Well-Directed Masterpiece

“It matters that it’s 11:30 when we go on!” - Lorne Michaels

Saturday Night is a 2024 film based on the true events of the first SNL broadcast on October 11, 1975. The film takes place 90 minutes before the live airing of the first Saturday Night Live television broadcast. Producer Lorne Michaels runs feverishly backstage as the lights crash to the floor, writers are stoned, and actors are ready to quit.

Saturday Night is an impeccable film that takes audiences on a whirlwind 90-minute adventure. This is a story that needs to be told. Conducted with impressive filmmaking, this film captures the chaos before history started. Saturday Night encourages any creator to never give up on their dreams even when the current outlook doesn’t look encouraging.

Gabriel LaBelle stars as Lorne Michaels. After playing Sammy Fabelman in Steven Spielberg’s, The Fabelmans, LaBelle is on his way to an impressive acting career. Lorne races around the studio, tending to incidents that are way over his shoulders. I didn’t know much about Lorne, but the film showcases his incredible perseverance to make his dream happen.

The casting is a prominent feature of the film. Saturday Night casts an assortment of actors, ranging from well-known (or like SNL) who are in the beginning stages of their careers. There’s a lot to say regarding everyone involved which probably needs a separate article. Every character (or 80 speaking parts!) gets equal screen time.

Some credits include Rachel Sennott, Cory Michael Smith, Willem Dafoe, Cooper Hoffman, and many more. Every actor channels the persona of real-life individuals who starred on SNL. Actors like Matt Wood, Nicholas Braun, and Nicholas Podany ace their performances. Someone give Podany an award for his incredibly realistic portrayal of Billy Crystal.

Jason Reitman’s direction of Saturday Night is skilled, conveying the 70s era, recording history, and matching a chaotic tone set in real-time. The cinematography and direction of scenes are well-planned with most scenes happening in one take. The level of detail is impressive. The camera is constantly moving and everyone is doing something in each scene.

Reitman was inspired to make this movie after he worked on SNL for a week as a guest writer. He was asked several questions about his vision and process. For Reitman, the most important aspect of this film was shot in real-time.

He embraced the chaotic direction, wanting to make people feel like they were watching a real SNL episode. Reitman’s direction in making this movie, even creating a schedule board is pure dedication.

A lot goes on in this movie. Not many films achieve stress, like this. I felt like my head was spinning. It wouldn’t be the entertainment business without chaos. The writing by Gil Kenan and Jason Reitman solidifies a moment in time we didn't realize we needed to see.

The behind-the-scenes of any entertainment platform deserves its rightful attention. Nobody knows the sheer dedication that goes into something as popular as SNL. I have learned to appreciate behind-the-scenes work more since becoming a movie reviewer.

Keep fighting for your dreams, no matter how difficult or higher authorities you face. We can achieve anything we set our minds to. Thanks to Lorne Michaels, SNL is still airing 50 years later with new material and actors. This is a show that dedicates talent, entertains, and gives people a needed laugh.

Saturday Night is funny and had several audience members laughing at the unbelievable disarray. Go see Saturday Night in theaters. This film needs more audience. The theater is the place to experience this movie.