There is always organized chaos surrounding any production whether it’s a play, a musical, a sketch show or a movie set, but the show must go on. Writer and director Jason Reitman shines the light on the creative process in Saturday Night which is a satirical gem of historic value. It is a true story filled with many moving parts. As a fan of Saturday Night Live, all the history came back to me during Saturday Night even though some of it happened before my time. This movie took me to back to memories of old skits involving George Carlin, Chevy Chase, and others. The story highlights how since the early days of the show the essential direction of Saturday Night was fueled by the pressure for laughs.

The film takes place in October of 1975. Many writers and comedians are together to put on a live performance a half-an-hour before midnight. The man running the show is Lorne Michaels (played by Gabriel LaBelle), and his co-workers are Dick Ebersol (played by Cooper Hoffman) and Neil Levy (played by Andrew Barth Feldman). The studio is in chaos. The show has loads of potential with many running skit ideas. The ultimate question is, “Will it work?” The budget and structure are still all over the place, and time is of the essence. 

As the chaos behind the scenes move swiftly, a unique array of writers and comedians come into the mix. From Jim Henson (played by Nicholas Braun), Gilda Radner (played by Ella Hunt), Chevy Chase (played by Cory Michael Smith), Dan Aykroyd (played by Dylan O’Brien), John Belushi (played by Matt Wood), Garrett Morris (played by Lamorne Morris), and so many more. An image is painted of where many of these artists were standing before they took the stage on Saturday Night Live. The picture that emerges makes it clear that this show was not easy, but the energy and the political atmosphere made Saturday Night a masterpiece.

As these characters evolve, the show does a stellar job managing egos and personalities. This is particularly true with big characterizations of Belushi, Aykroyd, and Chase. They give off a vibe that they feel the show they are about to do has the potential of being below them. Show business is a tough business today and Saturday Night showcases how it was much more complicated back then.

At times, Lorne is practically losing his mind. He keeps thinking about everything that could go wrong and what will be said. There are many layers of real and potential complications. Saturday Night is bonkers! The quirkiness of the actors adds to the craziness. Braun as Henson brings creativity to the character as well as a dose of well-written absurdity. The recurring question is, “Which sketches fit best for the upcoming show?”The big dogs of the business are Dave Tebet (played by Willem Dafoe) and Milton Berle (played by J.K. Simmons). They know the business and how ugly it gets. Their desire for success is portrayed vividly in Saturday Night. It’s a mad world of trying to “nail it” from the beginning.

Reitman’s direction makes the audience feel the sense of urgency in Saturday Night. The lighting is perfect for the nostalgia of the era and the studio in Radio City Music Hall shines with 70s jams that are mesmerizing. The night is young, but can Lorne and Dick pull this off as they hit plateaus with writers, business people, and comedians? The writing offers athought-provoking look back at the early days of Saturday Night Live that is not to be missed. Four out of four stars.