“Saturday Night."

“Saturday Night” (2024, Netflix) biographical comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman, about the night of the 1975 premiere of NBC's “Saturday Night,” later known as “Saturday Night Live.” 

       The movie: 109 minutes of matching mostly relatively unknown actors and actresses with real SNL alumni that they were portraying. Oh that is Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Jane Curtin, Al Franken, Billy Crystal, Dick Ebersol, Milton Berle etc etcetera. There's Billy Preston and Janis Ian, too! 

       Of course Lorne Michaels is Gabriel LaBelle, although this young dude is also “unknown” somehow. The movie's center is Lorne so you don't miss him. Mr LaBelle earned a Golden Globe nomination for this but, I reckon, a young Billy Crystal would have done better.

       At first, I didn't notice. But Matthew Rhys accounted for George Carlin quite well. As did Nicholas “Succession” Braun in a dual role as Andy Kaufman and Jim Henson. Mr Braun's Kaufman bit was hilarious! 

       “Saturday Night” is simply that. I can't tell if it's a fine movie. No hint or shades of director Jason Reitman of the more earnest “Juno” (2007) and “Up in the Air” (2009). Or I didn't notice. I was busy ID'ing who was playing who. 🎥💻📽