Saturday Night

Saturday Night is a different kind of biopic, telling the story of the moments before the very first broadcast of SNL.

It’s an absolutely chaotic, almost real time rollercoaster of a film which takes the Birdman approach of a roving backstage camera checking in on a series of escalating events.

It won’t be to all tastes but has a wonderful sense of place and immaculate production values. It’s a searingly impressive feat of choreography and production and there are some wonderful interpretations of some of the main players.

It’s an eye opener as well and a great opportunity to wonder ‘what if this didn’t happen?’ The amount of talent that sprung from this particular well which, if the film is to be believed, only came together fully at the final hour.

However, it’s lacking some of the crowd pleasing elements of the very show it’s depicting. Sure, it’s entertaining and funny in parts but it’s also deliberately arty and difficult to follow, requiring some knowledge of those involved and an appreciation of the era it’s trying to depict.

So it’s rewards will very much be in the eye of the beholder. A well crafted and acted ensemble piece depicting a monumental moment in history but in a divisive way which could undersell the value in the wrong hands.

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