Ep. 795 - Saturday Night
Added 2024-10-15 16:00:14 +0000 UTCDavid, Devindra, and Jeff call action on The Franchise, unleash the horror of V/H/S Beyond, and unearth the dark secrets of Disclaimer. Then they travel back in time to 1975 with Saturday Night.
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Weekly Plugs
David - Decoding TV: The Franchise, The Penguin, Agatha All Along
Devindra - Engadget Podcast on data center vampires with Paris Marx
Jeff - Jeff’s Cameo Page
Shownotes (All timestamps are approximate only)
What we've been watching (~00:19:08)
David - The Franchise, Wicked Little Letters
Devindra - The Franchise, V/H/S Beyond
Jeff - Disclaimer, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft
Featured Review (~00:57:21)
Saturday Night
SPOILERS (~01:23:04)
Support David's artistic endeavors at his Patreon and subscribe to his free newsletter Decoding Everything. Check out Jeff Cannata’s podcasts DLC and We Have Concerns. Listen to Devindra's podcast with Engadget on all things tech. You can always e-mail us at slashfilmcast(AT)gmail(DOT)com, or call and leave a voicemail at 781-583-1993.
Credits:
Our theme song is by Tim McEwan from The Midnight. This episode was edited by Noah Ross who also created our weekly plugs and spoiler bumper music. Our Slashfilmcourt music comes from Simon Harris.
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Comments
It could be I just have a better memory, I suppose. I didn't go back and listen to your Steve Jobs episode (is that even possible?), I just listened to it when it came out and simply remembered what you said. Just curious, have you ever gone back and rewatched Steve Jobs, or is it just that it improved in your mind over time? Like did you see it a second time and think "this was a lot better than I remembered it"?
Stranger2Reality
2024-10-22 02:51:43 +0000 UTCI understand why you're making this request as a listener (I might feel the same way if I were you!) but something I'd ask you to try to empathize with is the following: I don't experience the show the same way that you do. For me, I'm a changing person who happens to share my opinion on a podcast at single point in time. If I asked you to recall a conversation you had six years ago with a friend, would you be able to do so? Neither can I. There just happens to be audio recording of my convos. But I don't go back and listen to the catalog, like ever. To illustrate: I literally didn't remember what my review of STEVE JOBS was until you commented on it. I'll make a good faith effort to point out when I contradict something I've laid out earlier -- I think my record has shown I'll happily admit when i'm wrong. But most of the time? I honestly just don't remember. -DChen
Slashfilmcast
2024-10-22 02:35:10 +0000 UTCI really loved Steve Jobs when it came out (and still do), and saw it a couple times in theaters when it was released. So I was pretty bummed by how badly you savaged it in your review back then, especially with what I thought was such a bizarre critique, that the movie "did violence to his legacy" by not presenting 100% factual events, but rather by being interpretive. I'm glad to hear you've done a 180 on this and now appreciate the approach that movie took, since it seems like this approach is the only way to avoid the whole Walk Hard issue with doing biopics. However, you probably should have explained that or clarified how you've flipped your opinion and now think that's a strength of that movie rather than the main criticism of it. This is doubly true if you then went on to make the exact opposite criticism of Saturday Night, especially when compared to Steve Jobs. So it's good you own up to this here in the Patreon comments. But since hardly anyone will see this, don't you think that you probably should clarify that in your actual reviews going forward when you contradict yourself because your opinions have changed? Otherwise people like myself end up confused when you make diametrically opposed complaints about two similar movies. That's a fair criticism, don't you think? This goes for all the hosts as well, like when Devindra said he loved the work of Ari Aster after completely eviscerating Midsommar on the podcast. Everyone has watched a movie and had an initial reaction upon first viewing that then changes over time. But if that movie comes up again later and your opinion about it has completely changed from your initial review, it's probably worthwhile to say your feelings have changed. Because while some listeners might not have heard your Steve Jobs review, you did publish it and some of us remember it, so it was a bit jarring to hear you complain that this movie didn't do the thing you trashed Steve Jobs for doing. If there's a movie you guys loved or hated that comes up again and you've completely flipped your opinion about it, you probably should clarify that for the listeners. Just a suggestion.
Stranger2Reality
2024-10-21 22:53:00 +0000 UTCPeople change over time. So do their opinions on movies. STEVE JOBS is now a movie I really love despite its flaws. And the approach of capturing the essential truth of something (vs. what actually happened) is something I have a lot of sympathy for these days. That obviously was not my issue with this specific film, tho. -DChen
Slashfilmcast
2024-10-21 16:06:30 +0000 UTCAgreed that Dave’s evaluation often feels like a moving target. I’m curious about how much of that (if anything?) is just the fatigue of being someone who professionally reviews and analyzes film/TV? I feel like your average person who’s even remotely aware of early SNL would really enjoy Saturday Night for the nostalgia factor alone (not to mention the great performances and fun energy of the movie). I would be shocked if their reaction was “really a missed opportunity to interrogate the more controversial aspects of Lorne Michaels legacy” Sometimes I wish the analysis was more along the lines of “what was the artist intending to convey with this piece? Then, was that effectively conveyed??” A lot of times the review ends up being “I didn’t like it because I wanted X but this was Y” which is very frustrating as a listener and I would also imagine as a creator.
Jon See
2024-10-20 03:50:42 +0000 UTCNevermind. He did later.
Mesfin Mebrate
2024-10-18 14:32:02 +0000 UTCHe is a MARVEL zombie from way back.
Mesfin Mebrate
2024-10-18 14:29:14 +0000 UTCI am surprised that Devindra did not mention Underground Railroad when Aaron Pierre was being discussed. That is one of my favourite running jokes.
Mesfin Mebrate
2024-10-18 14:28:46 +0000 UTCDave when reviewing Steve Jobs: "by tackling the darker aspects of his character in a movie that doesn't purport to show the events exactly as they happened does violence to the legacy of Steve Jobs the person. That's why I didn't like this movie." Dave when reviewing Saturday Night: "By not exploring the darker aspects of these real life characters enough in this movie that doesn't purport to show the events exactly as they really happened is just a huge missed opportunity. That's why I didn't like this movie."
Stranger2Reality
2024-10-18 07:13:49 +0000 UTCI did the same thing and I totally agree. Fascinating how different the show was back then from what it's since become, just in terms of its format.
Stranger2Reality
2024-10-18 07:09:47 +0000 UTCDave's criticism was especially bizarre after bringing up the movie Steve Jobs, because he made the exact opposite criticism of that movie when they reviewed it on the show years ago. Dave's specific complaint about that movie was that by tackling a bunch of the controversies surrounding Jobs while doing it in a way that wasn't intended to be perfectly accurate to how these things played out (by deciding to have the entire movie take place in the 30-40 minutes before three different product launches), Dave said, and I quote, "this does violence to Steve Jobs legacy." He was so upset that in an interpretive movie about who Jobs was (as opposed to just doing another Dewey Cox like biopic), that it was wrong to explore the darker aspects of who he was as a person. Dave is kinda all over the place with these kinds of movies though, and seems to always figure out some twisted logic for why he doesn't like them. If it's a straightforward biopic telling a famous person's life through famous beats over time, he says that Walk Hard ruined the ability to do that. But if it's more interpretive like Steve Jobs or Saturday Night, then it's either not fair to explore the depths of the character of the people being portrayed, or it's a missed opportunity if they don't do enough of that for his liking.
Stranger2Reality
2024-10-18 07:06:33 +0000 UTCI feel you, Devindra. Underground Railroad is one of the most exquisite and immersive pieces of story telling in a long time. Painful, tho. Beautiful and harrowing. Thankfully there is the gothic camp of Interview to give folks an easy out at the ends of their brainy days
Kess Broekman-Dattner
2024-10-17 19:20:44 +0000 UTCWho else is highly disappointed in Jeff to not knowing this 😌😉
Rico
2024-10-17 17:30:11 +0000 UTCI heard next week's main review is a streaming film on Netflix. Having just watched "Caddo Lake" on MAX, completely blind, now I REALLY want the Filmcast crew to watch that movie 100% blind and then discuss it. Sadly, it's probably going to be a movie that people won't see because those who have seen it won't spoil, but I know if I named movies it is similar to, Dave Chen especially would drop everything he's doing and watch it this instant. I also think Devindra AND Jeff would eat this movie up like crazy. It's wild because before the movie, I didn't expect to like it, and even 20 minutes in, I wasn't thinking I'll like it. Now that's it's over I want to discuss it with everyone who has seen it and tell everyone else to watch it NOW, and watch it 100% blind. Wow.
Papool Chaudhari
2024-10-17 02:21:46 +0000 UTCAfter watching Saturday Night I got home and watched episode one of SNL on peacock. Made for a nice bookend to the movie.
Nervous_NRG
2024-10-16 18:57:35 +0000 UTCHow did none of the guys know Nathan Fillion is already Guy Gardner in Superman (2025)? Or at least mention that
Phoenix Bauer
2024-10-16 18:18:22 +0000 UTCSaturday Night Live is like a sports team - they might have bad seasons, but I’m always rooting for them.
Steven Kennick
2024-10-16 17:33:19 +0000 UTCI'd also throw in the "creating saturday night live" series they put together around season 44-45? it has videos going into the set building, film crews, cue cards, make up, costumes all as individual videos on their youtube channel. they shouldn't be "US only" either like some sketches end up being.
Jacob Chimilar
2024-10-16 16:58:07 +0000 UTCJames Franco made a behind the scenes documentary, also called Saturday Night, about the week running up to the broadcast of an episode. Made during the Hader, Mulaney, Armisen period. It’s a good sit. Free to watch on YouTube
Garry L
2024-10-16 12:02:12 +0000 UTCWhen Lorne Michaels dies, there will be tons of bad stories about him. So many can’t speak about him because his influence is that huge.
Mountain of Conflict
2024-10-16 11:51:19 +0000 UTChttps://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTFHtDh9b/
Reynaldo K. Cruz
2024-10-16 04:24:28 +0000 UTCThe crew not knowing about the colorism issue re: John Stewart is disappointing.
Reynaldo K. Cruz
2024-10-16 04:08:41 +0000 UTCWasn't that dude some random guy with the Starheart and not a member of the corps?
Cardassian Vexillology
2024-10-16 03:40:24 +0000 UTCNebulous war in Middle East causing massive immigration to Europe. Spike in right wing authoritarian governments, a global pandemic. We don't need cauron predicting the future again.
Cardassian Vexillology
2024-10-16 03:38:00 +0000 UTCThey are just too much and fast. His jokes per minute is way too high to the point of being annoying. The interviewer and Hugh jackman just sit back and keep getting hit in the face with 40 qips.
Cardassian Vexillology
2024-10-16 03:36:19 +0000 UTCMy memory…yikes!
Brian Deaton
2024-10-16 02:37:58 +0000 UTCLove The Bay
Grant Cosper
2024-10-16 02:27:29 +0000 UTCDave backing down ab the Ryan Reynolds thing is just good shit. Props, DChen, that was refreshing.
Asher Maitin
2024-10-15 22:53:13 +0000 UTCThe boring thing about Reynolds self-effacing comedy is that his jokes are mostly stuff people have already made fun of. He’s just joining the chorus.
Mountain of Conflict
2024-10-15 22:36:58 +0000 UTCIf Cuaron did a sequel to Children Of Men he would have to call it “ PD James was right” not “I was right”
Garry L
2024-10-15 22:12:45 +0000 UTCDavid mentioned liking found footage. I was wondering if he’s ever watched the 2012 movie The Bay directed by Barry Levinson. If not, I highly recommend it.
Eric Webster
2024-10-15 21:47:25 +0000 UTCI really did not like Interview With a Vampire the TV Series
This
2024-10-15 21:46:13 +0000 UTCReally enjoyed Saturday Night. I don’t understand David’s criticism. Not sure why he thought Jason Reitman should have made a different movie. 🤷🏻♂️ It’s the movie he wanted to make.
Jerry Mudd
2024-10-15 20:08:20 +0000 UTCYes, Devindra mentioned it in the show!
echofar
2024-10-15 19:22:29 +0000 UTCNathan Fillion will be a Green Lantern in the superman movie!
Nelson W
2024-10-15 19:22:11 +0000 UTCThe Franchise has the view (as noted at the end of the pilot) that this may seem like all the work going into this movie is a waste of everybody's time, but at the end of the day, it's still filmmaking and there is some kind of magic in that. The key is going to be are there moments in the show where it appears like magic being made in the middle of everything seemingly going wrong or is that statement just the characters lying to themselves?
Benji Black
2024-10-15 17:25:33 +0000 UTC100% agree with David on Saturday Night. It’s fine! It’s fun! Just frustratingly unambitious.
Stephen David Miller
2024-10-15 16:56:59 +0000 UTCThis is the Women in Refrigerators debacle all over again!
Brian Deaton
2024-10-15 16:26:17 +0000 UTCI was hoping to see that one of the guys watched Red Rooms. Saw it last night and I’m still thinking about it. This film could spark some good conversation. Has it been mentioned on the show yet?
Brian Deaton
2024-10-15 16:25:46 +0000 UTC“Hal Jordan is the OG Green Lantern” This is Alan Scott erasure.
J.S.
2024-10-15 16:22:10 +0000 UTC
