Posted: 10/13/24 at 9:32pm
I saw Jason Reitman's film SATURDAY NIGHT (which is about the 90 minutes leading up to the first episode of SNL) and was incredibly impressed by the actor, Matt Wood, who plays John Belushi and has an interesting arc throughout the film.
So afterwards I start googling.
And I was thrilled to learn that he appeared on Broadway in SPONGEBOB, and on tour as Augustus Gloop in CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY!
A great talent. Matt Wood feels like a guy who's going to break out in a major way after this movie. (There are a lot of people in this who are going to break out, I think.) And hopefully he'll return to the theatre too.
As for the movie itself: SATURDAY NIGHT is worth your time in theaters or when it's eventually streaming! It's a real "let's put on a show" movie about the tensions and challenges of putting on a live performance. Reminded me a bit of Aaron Sorkin's STEVE JOBS (but not quite as good). Lots of other stage folks in it too: Andrew Barth Feldman, Tracy Letts, JK Simmons as Milton Berle, Willem Dafoe, Robert Wuhl, Cory Michael Smith (of the ill-fated BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S play), and others.
Updated On: 10/14/24 at 09:32 PM
