Saturday Night (2024)
January 6, 2025 6:48 AM - Subscribe
At 11:30pm on October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. This is the story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live.
Shepherd and I watched this on, well, Saturday Night. We liked it even though I am very sure a lot of it is fabricated, but the casting is spot on and uncanny.
And I mean, where else are you gonna see JK Simmons (playing Milton Berle) whip out Berle's famous fictional hog?
I found myself getting anxious to see if they would pull it off despite knowing that, duh, they pull it off.
Shepherd and I watched this on, well, Saturday Night. We liked it even though I am very sure a lot of it is fabricated, but the casting is spot on and uncanny.
And I mean, where else are you gonna see JK Simmons (playing Milton Berle) whip out Berle's famous fictional hog?
I found myself getting anxious to see if they would pull it off despite knowing that, duh, they pull it off.
That pleases me too because it shows him as talented but a huge huge asshole.
posted by Kitteh at 8:54 AM on January 6 [1 favorite]
posted by Kitteh at 8:54 AM on January 6 [1 favorite]
Do people actually like this film? Lots of talented people involved I guess but it frankly looks like hot garbage.
posted by Ashwagandha at 12:12 PM on January 6 [2 favorites]
posted by Ashwagandha at 12:12 PM on January 6 [2 favorites]
It does seem like people have different levels of enthusiasm/tolerance for impersonation/dramatization.
This seems to be getting high marks in that category. I plan on checking it out.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:31 PM on January 6 [1 favorite]
This seems to be getting high marks in that category. I plan on checking it out.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:31 PM on January 6 [1 favorite]
What struck me, watching that scene between Chase and Berle, is that Chevy Chase has spent the entirety of his career just replaying that scene with everyone he works with. Except he thinks he’s Berle.
posted by wabbittwax at 12:32 PM on January 6
posted by wabbittwax at 12:32 PM on January 6
I had heard this was not very good, and so went in not expecting much, and was pleasantly surprised. I'm fine with dramatizations that stray from the truth as long as I'm aware of that, and as long as they don't take themselves too seriously.
I was impressed that this captured what I expect is the frenetic energy behind the scenes when trying to pull off live TV. I don't find the timeline of the events captured in the film particularly believable, but the impression of panic that timeline creates for the viewer? That, I enjoyed.
posted by neutralhydrogen at 12:46 PM on January 6 [1 favorite]
I was impressed that this captured what I expect is the frenetic energy behind the scenes when trying to pull off live TV. I don't find the timeline of the events captured in the film particularly believable, but the impression of panic that timeline creates for the viewer? That, I enjoyed.
posted by neutralhydrogen at 12:46 PM on January 6 [1 favorite]
Didn't love it. Something about it felt really forced, I think the fake high stakes concept of "we're down to the WIRE and only NINETY MINUTES to air" and all the silly made up anecdotes was just conceptually poor and uninteresting, none of it nearly as thrilling and chaotic as it set out to be. Diet Safdie brothers energy without any of the actual stress, Diet Sorkin "witty" jokes that were way too winky and pleased with themselves. Don't think I smiled or laughed once. Felt like a big waste of phenomenal casting and acting.
Don't waste YOUR Saturday night watching Saturday Night, folks, C- this has been Windbox at the Movies
posted by windbox at 1:01 PM on January 6 [1 favorite]
Don't waste YOUR Saturday night watching Saturday Night, folks, C- this has been Windbox at the Movies
posted by windbox at 1:01 PM on January 6 [1 favorite]
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posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:52 AM on January 6 [6 favorites]