Saturday Night’s Biopic: A Look Behind the Scenes of Comedy History
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| Saturday night review |
Introduction
Timing might have been a little off for this one, but
"Saturday Night," directed by Jason Wman, delivers a captivating
biopic. This movie centers around one of the most crucial 90minute periods in
comedy television history — the time leading up to the premiere of Saturday
Night Live (SNL) in 1975. Gabriel Leel stars as Lorne Michaels, the creator of
SNL, acting as the audience's guide through this frantic, pressurefilled
environment. This film captures the essence of the chaos, stress, and the
“underdog” spirit that enveloped the team before their historic debut.
The Underdog Vibe of SNL’s Origins
The movie does an excellent job reminding viewers of
how far SNL has come in the 50 years since its inception. Today, it’s hard to
imagine a world where SNL wasn’t a television staple, but back in 1975, the
show’s success was far from guaranteed. The production was over budget, they
weren’t fully prepared, and corporate didn’t have much faith in the show’s
success. In the event of failure, the higherups had a fallback plan: rerun an
episode of The Carson Show, and that would be the end of SNL before it even had
a chance to start.
However, for Lorne Michaels and his team, this was
their one shot — a makeorbreak moment with no safety net. This film perfectly
encapsulates that sense of urgency.
A FastPaced, HighPressure Environment
One of the highlights of the film is its pacing.
There's no downtime, reflecting the stress that comes with live TV production.
The characters are constantly reminded that they are running out of time. Even
in moments where Lorne Michaels shares quiet conversations with others, the
urgency is always present, keeping the audience on edge.
The film runs for 1 hour and 49 minutes, 19 minutes
longer than the actual time frame portrayed, but that discrepancy serves the
movie well. Time feels like a rubber band here — 10 minutes can stretch into a
halfhour, while a halfhour can evaporate into just 10 minutes. The relativity
of time in highpressure situations is a central theme, and the movie pulls this
off expertly.
The Cast and Their Performances
Gabriel Leel shines as Lorne Michaels, but he’s not the
only standout. The movie also showcases young versions of SNL alumni and comedy
legends, portrayed with impressive skill. Dylan O'Brien playing Dan Aykroyd is
one of the biggest surprises, and though it’s an unconventional casting choice,
O’Brien nails it. The actors don’t always physically resemble their reallife
counterparts, but their vocal inflections and mannerisms more than make up for
that.
Cory Michael Smith’s portrayal of Chevy Chase adds
another layer of enjoyment to the film. The character isn’t sanitized,
reflecting what we now know about Chase’s difficult personality. This element
lends a fascinating antihero dynamic to his character, blending hilarity and
arrogance in equal measure.
Capturing the Chaos of the Era
The film’s production design further immerses viewers
in this tumultuous time in television history. Shot in 16mm film, the movie has
an unpolished, underground aesthetic, reflecting the underbudget, grassroots
vibe of SNL's early days. This visual style perfectly complements the film’s
narrative of a scrappy team trying to make their mark.
Dramatizing History for Impact
As with many biopics, there are dramatic embellishments
for the sake of storytelling. Some events and interactions likely didn’t happen
exactly as portrayed, but these fictionalized moments heighten the drama and
contribute to the film’s overall appeal. While some viewers might wonder about
the historical accuracy of certain scenes, the added tension ultimately makes
for an engaging narrative.
A Minor Missed Opportunity
One area where the film could have gone further is in
its portrayal of time. A realtime approach, where one minute of movie time
equaled one minute of real time, would have been an intriguing and immersive
choice. This technique, reminiscent of shows like 24, would have added even
more intensity to the film’s already highpressure atmosphere.
Final Thoughts: A Worthwhile Watch
Overall, Saturday Night succeeds in delivering a highenergy,
fascinating glimpse into the leadup to SNL’s first live show. It’s a story of
underdogs, pressure, and creativity, all captured with great performances and a
sense of urgency that mirrors the production process itself. The trailer set
the tone well, and the film delivers exactly what it promises. Whether you’re
an SNL fan or simply enjoy compelling biopics, this one is worth your time and
definitely worth adding to your BluRay collection.
Summery
Saturday Night, directed by Jason Wman, is a biopic
chronicling the intense 90 minutes leading up to the 1975 premiere of Saturday
Night Live. Gabriel Leel plays creator Lorne Michaels, navigating the highstress,
chaotic production where the cast and crew are underprepared and over budget.
The film captures the underdog spirit of the team, with standout performances,
especially Dylan O'Brien as Dan Aykroyd and Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase.
Shot in 16mm, it conveys an unpolished, grassroots vibe. While not fully
historically accurate, it delivers a fastpaced, engaging narrative about
creativity and pressure in television history.
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