#TIFF24: “SATURDAY NIGHT” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

Director Jason Reitman pays joyful homage to Lorne Michaels and his troupe of young comedians who changed television forever with the smash-hit Saturday Night Live.

SATURDAY NIGHT depicts what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first taping on October 11, 1975. Reitman and his Co-Writer Gil Kenan capture the frenetic energy and stress at 50 Rockefeller on the 17th floor the night that made history. This hectic atmosphere is elevated by the outstanding score by Jon Batiste who developed it after working and witnessing what happened on set each day. He captures the anxiety, joy and playfulness those comedians felt and managed to fit it all into his Score.

The Script is fast-paced, which brings us right into the madness of putting on a live program, and is loaded with witty jokes, each of which are delivered by the ensemble cast with impeccable timing. Reitman has cast each of these beloved people to perfection. His idea to focus on a collective ensemble rather than any one individual is genius. It parallels the collective unit of the cast members working on SNL both past and present.

If there was a primary character Reitman focuses on it would be Michaels, for obvious reasons. This beloved Canadian changed television forever. He swung big and he didn’t know if he was going to stick the landing. Gabriel LaBelle’s performance allows for the anxiety and stress to be brimming just below the surface of the restrained and calm demeanour Michaels is known for. Other notable performances come from Cory Micheal Smith as Chevy Chase, Dylan O’Brien as Dan Aykroyd and Matt Wood as John Belushi. Each get their own moment to shine and show just how charismatic they and those they portray are. And finally there’s Rachel Sennott as Writer Rosie Shuster. She’s got a magnetic energy on the screen and the intimate moments she shares with Labelle are strong.

Overall, SATURDAY NIGHT is a hilarious, fun, entertaining Film that captures the moment a dreamer took a huge chance and won.

SATURDAY NIGHT screens at TIFF ’24:

Tue, Sept 10 at 5 PM at Royal Alexandra Theatre

Wed, Sept 11 at 3 PM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre

Fri, Sept 13 at 3 PM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre

Sat, Sept 14 at 9 AM at Scotiabank Theatre

#TIFF24: DAY SIX SIGHTINGS – ZOE SALDANA, KARLA SOFIA GASCON, ROBBIE WILLIAMS, RACHEL SENNOTT, DYLAN O’BRIEN, WILLEM DAFOE, J.K. SIMMONS AND MORE

Even at the half-way point, the star power still is electric at the Festival! Our Day Six sightings include:

•Zoe Saldana and Karla Sofia Gascon for EMILIA PEREZ

•Robbie Williams at TIFF ’24 for BETTER MAN

•Jason Reitman, Willem Dafoe, J.K. Simmons, Rachel Sennott, Gabriel LaBelle, Dylan O’Brien, Nicholas Braun, Ella Hunt, Kim Matula, Billy Bryk, Cory Michael Smith and more at TIFF ’24 for SATURDAY NIGHT

Highlights below:

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#CANNES: “THE IDOL” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

Sam Levinson’s latest TV Series is Euphoria meets 50 Shades of Grey, while set in the world of a Pop Superstar.

The first two episodes, which screened Out of Competition at Cannes, sets up the mindset of Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp). She recently lost her mother which led to a nervous breakdown that derailed her last tour. Now she’s releasing anticipated new music with the hope to be the greatest, sexiest pop star in America. However, she’s still grieving over her loss, leaving her vulnerable.

Cue club owner Tedros (Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye), who sees the vulnerability and takes advantage of it. He swoops in and helps her remix her newest single. As Jocelyn is already underwhelmed by the original version, Tedros ignites a passion within her again. But will this new romantic-professional relationship bring new heights or the deepest of lows for the Popstar?

There are lots of provocative sexualized scenes in The Idol. For those familiar with Euphoria, the scenes here are dialed-up a notch further. However, these provocative scenes are being used to highlight bigger themes and messages within the Script. Here, Levinson — and Co-Creators Tesfaye and Reza Fahim — are dissecting the highs and lows of a life of a pop icon.

In the first episode, a compromising photo gets released online of Jocelyn. It shows the singer with ejaculate on her face. Everyone on her team immediately attempts to spin this into a positive light for the star. This brings us to the life of the busy bees that surround and ‘manage’ a popstar. Additionally, it highlights how they keep her protected from these horrible things for fear of another break.

The people surrounding Jocelyn care for her deeply. Some even take on the role of pseudo-parents (Hank Azaria and Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s characters) even if they don’t always know what’s best. The person who will move mountains for her is her best friend and Assistant Leia (Rachel Sennott). Sennot is superb as the caring friend who’s the only one who sees Tedros as the snake he is.

In his acting debut, Tesfaye, dawning a Rattail, gives a chilling performance as the manipulative Tedros. In these first two episodes, the Actors share tantalizing scenes that people will have mixed feelings over. However, once again Levinson is using them to inform the viewer of the mental states of his characters. Tedros is controlling while Jocelyn succumbs to his demands.

Depp gives a groundbreaking performance that will skyrocket her character. And the Supporting Cast is outstanding. To name a few not priorly mentioned: Troye Sivan, Jane Adams and Blackpink’s Jennie Kim. And at the end of the second episode, Red Rocket breakout Suzanna Son delivers a show-stopping performance while sitting at a piano.

We’re excited to see where the Series goes from here.

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The Idol screens at Cannes ’23:

Mon May 22 at 10:30PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

#SXSW: “I USED TO BE FUNNY” REVIEW

By Mr. Will Wong

Rachel Sennott (also at SXSW ’23 with BOTTOMS) continues her ascent, giving us range in Torontonian Ally Pankiw’s (The Great, Schitt’s Creek) self-penned directorial feature debut, I USED TO BE FUNNY. We meet Comedian Sam (Sennott) who is beginning to carve-out her own space in Comedy, but then suffers a trauma which de-rails her aspirations. All the while, she debates whether or not to reconnect with a missing teen whom she used to nanny, Brooke (Olga Petsa).

Upon initial glance, we’d have thought I USED TO BE FUNNY would lean more towards the quirky Comedy we’ve come to expect of Sennott in prior films like Shiva Baby and Bodies Bodies Bodies. However, other than traces of her inspired past, much of the jokes are presented in flashbacks. The focus is the present where Sam is struggling to get her life back on track and thanks to Pankiw‘s crafty storytelling, we try to figure out the connection why she’s so fixated on protecting the young and carefree Brooke. Though it takes a moment to establish its tone, we get a better understanding of where Sam is coming from the further along we get in the story.

That being said, Sennott undeniably is great and rises to the challenge, diving deep and exploring the numbness Sam feels in her languishment. This really is a glimpse into the aftermath of trauma and the struggle to re-discover one’s passion and purpose again, and sometimes we find that fire again in others.

I USED TO BE FUNNY screens at SXSW ’23 as follows:

I Used To Be Funny at Alamo Lamar E

Mar 13, 2023

2:30pm—4:15pm

I Used To Be Funny at Rollins Theatre at The Long Center

Mar 15, 2023

11:00am—12:45pm

I Used To Be Funny at Alamo Lamar A

Mar 17, 2023

3:30pm—5:15pm

#FIRSTLOOK: “BODIES BODIES BODIES” TRAILER

After a popular premiere at SXSW ’22, here comes the new Trailer for hilarious Whodunit BODIES BODIES BODIES!

Synopsis:

From Halina Reijn and starring Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Myha’la Herrold, Chase Sui Wonders, Rachel Sennott, with Lee Pace and Pete Davidson. BODIES BODIES BODIES – Only In Theaters August 5. #BodiesBodiesBodies

BODIES BODIES BODIES is in theatres August 5, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: A24)

#SPOTTED: RACHEL SENNOTT, SABRINA JALEES & CALEB HEARON IN TORONTO FILMING “BROOKE & SAM”

Fresh off her Gotham Awards nomination for Breakthrough Actor, Rachel Sennott is an emerging star. She floored us at TIFF ’20 with a breakout performance in SHIVA BABY, directed by Toronto’s own Emma Seligman. We loved how the Film was a witty coming-of-age story, but yet a witty Psychological Horror. Sennott was just mesmerizing as Danielle! And while the pandemic prevented her from being able to make it to the City last year, late is better than never, right?

Sennott was in Toronto a few weeks ago working on her latest, BROOKE & SAM, which centers on a young woman immersed and navigating the world of Comedy. She plays Sam and Olga Petsa plays Brooke. It is directed and written by Ally Pankiw – her first Feature as Director – who has worked on videos for Ariana Grande and Janelle Monae, plus series like The Great and Schitt’s Creek! She is actually developing a series with Dan Levy!

Synopsis:

Brooke & Sam is a female-driven dramedy about hope, love, and how humor can heal. It follows Sam, a young stand-up comedian and au pair struggling with PTSD, as she decides whether or not to join the search for Brooke, a missing girl she used to nanny. The story exists between the present, where Sam tries to recover from her trauma with the help of her friends in the comedy community, and the past, where memories of Brooke make it harder and harder to ignore the petulant teen’s disappearance; and harder and harder to get back on stage.

Comedian Mae Martin (Feel Good) produces.

We are so thrilled to have met some of the Cast who were in and around Bloor West filming a few Comedy Club scenes over a couple days. I had hoped to sign-on to be in the background as they were looking, but sadly my work schedule wouldn’t allow. Would’ve been epic seeing this Cast of comedic geniuses at work!

Also on-set were fellow Comedian-Actors Sabrina Jalees and Caleb Hearon who play supporting roles, Paige and Philip respectively. Despite the rain, they were all energy and good vibes getting ready for a day of filming. Sennott needed her Venti Iced Coffee. Us too, girl, us too!

Jason Jones, Ennis Esmer and Dani Kind also star.

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Sennott next can be seen in Slasher-Horror Bodies, Bodies, Bodies alongside Amandla Stenberg, Pete Davidson and Maria Bakalova. Looks good!

BROOKE & SAM wrapped mid-November and is a Barn 12 Inc. production. Cannot wait!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)