Saturday Night

Now into its 50th season, Saturday Night Live is a late night staple for North America and has been the birthplace of some of the most influential comedians: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Bill Murray, Adam Sandler, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Kristen Wiig, Jimmy Fallon, Bill Hader; and the list goes on and on. SNL, arguably one of the most important television shows ever, "Saturday Night" is the story of how Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) managed to get the first episode to air (or almost didn't). It's riveting stuff. Jason Reitman's camera zooms and jumps from scene to scene with the manic energy of cocaine and too much pot. Part of the fun is seeing the impressions of the young cast of John Belushi (Matt Wood), Dan Aykroyd (Dylan O'Brien), Chevy Chase (Cory Michael Smith), and Gilda Radner (Ella Hunt). Each actor did such a great job it felt like I was watching the real cast, an incredibly talented bunch of unknowns. How truly gifted these young people were. Reitman gives each of them time to shine while the tornado of the set swirls, the minute hand of the clock spinning towards 11:30, live showtime. Shout out to Nicholas Braun who plays both Andy Kaufman and Jim Henson - Braun is great. It's a nostalgic ride with a whip smart and punchy script.  Catch one of the best films of the year, now in theatres.  

Woman of the Hour

Anna Kendrick. When I thought of that name I used to think: bubbly, smart, charming, rom-com type of girl. After seeing her in "The Accountant" (one of my favourite action films in the last few decades) and in "Up in the Air," my thoughts of Anna Kendrick began to change. This is a girl capable of bigger things and seems to desire more serious material. Well now, after "Woman of the Hour" I have a whole new and deepened respect for Ms. Kendrick. David Fincher has set the bar for serial killer movies, in my book. Do we need another one? Ms. Kendrick felt we did and after watching "Woman of the Hour" I can't say she is wrong. Women, so I have read, are the main consumers of true crime fiction. Maybe that's because men are dangerous and Ms. Kendrick would very much like to remind of us of that fact. There are few scenes from this film which have haunted me since it's viewing. Dark stuff here. What's it all about? It's the true story of rapist and murderer, Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto) as he sets foot on The Dating Game as one of three suitors for Cheryl Bradshaw(Anna Kendrick). It's also about the women Alcala meets and kills along the way, told in a jumping timeline. Anna Kendrick may not be Fincher (who is?), but she can hold her own and has proven she is capable of a lot more than maybe people thought (myself included). This is an engrossing thriller. Catch it in theatres now.   

The Idea of You

Goddamn it, I didn't want to like this movie. A romantic-comedy-drama with Anna Hathaway. I mean come on, I watch films, not this nonsense. Ah, who am I kidding, I pretty much watch everything to bring you this blog of only the best stuff. I wade through the Hollywood trash dump and occasionally I find a treasure. Like "Pretty Woman," "The Idea of You" is a gem found in a toilet bowl of romantic comedies.  Nicholas Galitzine plays Hayes, a world famous 24 year old star in a boy band. He accidently runs into Solène (Hathaway) who has taken her daughter to see Hayes' group perform at Coachella. This is the goofy setup. Paparazzo, internet gossip, dealing with an ex-husband and juggling a teenager: it all fuels the comedic fire of, "The Idea of You." If this sounds pedestrian and stereotypical of the genre, well it is. But here is the thing, it doesn't feel so by the numbers and I'm not exactly sure why. I think it's co-writer and director Michael Showalter's really smart script and the fabulous performances of the two leads. They have steamy chemistry for sure. I found myself sucked into their relationship like a soap opera, waiting to see how it would all play out. Will it win any awards? Absolutely not. Well maybe a Golden Globe nod. Will you enjoy yourself? I think so. Catch it steaming and streaming on Prime or catch it on video when it gets released.