TIFF 2024: Saturday Night Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

Saturday Night, directed by Jason Reitman, is the story of the ninety minutes leading up to the first airing of Saturday Night Live on October 11th, 1975. The film chronicles the many trials and tribulations creator Lorne Michaels (Labelle) faced in getting the production off the ground with the biggest challenge perhaps being balancing the multiple huge personalities on and off the set. Not only was he trying to keep his cast in line, he had to convince NBC network executive David Tebet (Willem Dafoe) that he could get the show to airtime and that he could control a crew who appeared to be in active rebellion.

Saturday Night is a thoroughly entertaining film. That being said, audiences going into the film expecting a thorough look into the formation of Saturday Night Live and the people who were a part of it may end up leaving less than satisfied. The film, however, delivers a thrilling look at the entertainment industry and a love letter to the legions of dedicated people who work behind the scenes to bring productions to life. The film is a vignette about the hectic atmosphere surrounding bringing something as relevant and groundbreaking as Saturday Night Live to life. Michaels is a relatable figure, as a man with a dream and a vision who will do what it takes despite the odds being heavily stacked against him. Despite all the mistakes and missteps made along the way, it is still so compelling to watch how something could emerge from all that chaos.

Shot in gorgeous 16mm, it brings so much personality to the film. Its aesthetic sensibilities are not only gorgeous, but its production design, bringing a 1970’s Rockefeller Plaza to life, are cool to see. Meanwhile, a live score, composed by Jon Batiste accentuates the film’s hectic energy beautifully. It is a rush to see the film come together in all its chaotic glory. Creating a level of stress for audiences akin to a film like Uncut Gems, it barely affords them any time to breathe as there is so much going on at any given time. With a lot going on from scene to scene, there are many little details that one could easily miss on a first watch, prompting audiences to go back to look for what they may have missed the first time. In the end, a film that could come off as an exhausting watch to some will be riveting to others.

For a film like, casting is important and the casting here is excellent. Though the majority of the cast don’t get much time to explore their characters due to the film’s chaotic premise, they nevertheless do a great job at bringing the essence of the iconic characters they are playing to life. Featuring a star-studded cast with too many names to name here, Smith as Chevy Chase was the standout for how remarkably he fits the role.

Overall, Saturday Night is just a fun time at the movies. For audiences fascinated with history of late night television and the 70s, it is a must watch. Reitman (and co-writer Gil Kenan) did a great job bringing such an ambitious vision to life. Just keep in mind that the film is a mere snapshot and not a full exploration of the history of SNL.

still courtesy of Sony Pictures

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Brett Schutt

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