Live From New York

Authors: Pat
Location: NY

"Live from New York”

Directed By Paul Thomas Anderson
Written By Paul Thomas Anderson and Tina Fey
Based Upon the Book By Tom Shales and James A. Miller
Produced By Tina Fey, Lorne Michaels, Paul Thomas Anderson

Principal Cast:

Kevin Pollack (Lorne Michaels)
Zach Braff (Bill Murray)
James Spader ( Chevy Chase )
Artie Lange (John Belushi)
Ron Livingston (Dan Aykroyd)
Amy Sedaris (Gilda Radner)
Parker Posey (Jane Curtin)
Jesse L. Martin (Garrett Morris)
Kathy Griffin (Laraine Newman)
Fred Armisen ( Howard Shore )
Rachel Dratch (Rosie Shuster)
Tom Wilkinson (Don Pardo)
Pedro Rodman Rodriguez (George Carlin)
Cheri Oteri (Janis Ian)
John Marshall Jones (Richard Pryor)

Tagline: "Live from New York, It's Saturday Night!"

Synopsis: Acclaimed director P.T. Anderson tackles a new subject in "Live From New York", the biography of one of the longest running programs on television. Based upon a book by the same name, this film details the origins of the show in the mid-1970s at the hands of creator/producer Lorne Michaels (Kevin Pollack) and follows it during its tumultuous first five years on broadcast television. The story begins when Michaels and two friends (SNL Alums Fred Armisen and Rachel Dratch) conceive the idea for Saturday Night Live and bring a stellar group of actors and writers. The amazing cast is comprised of dry Bill Murray (Zach Braff), controversial Chevy Chase (James Spader), tragic John Belushi (Artie Lange), clever Dan Aykroyd (Ron Livingston), sassy Gilda Radner (Amy Sedaris), beautiful Jane Curtin (Parker Posey), hilarious Laraine Newman (Kathy Griffin), and only African-American cast member Garrett Morris (Jesse L. Martin). The film follows the sex and drugs and tension that builds amongst Lorne and the cast members in one of the most brilliant spectacles of modern cinema. Tom Wilkinson plays announcer Don Pardo and Cheri Oteri stars as the first musical guest Janis Ian. Virtual unknown Pedro Rodman Rodriguez plays first guest host and comedian George Carlin, while character actor John Marshall Jones plays Richard Pryor, who guest stars in one of the show's defining moments.

What the press would say:

Paul Thomas Anderson's newest ensemble film centers on the beginnings of late night sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live". The film examines the first five years of the show, through confrontation and sex and drugs and death. The writing is witty and heart moving, coming from former SNL writer Tina Fey and Anderson, and it moves you in such an unbelievable way that you are blown aback by the sheer emotion that this film evokes. Most of the power of "Live From New York" comes from its most unproven cast. Kevin Pollack leads as series creator Lorne Michaels who battles with producers and executives who want to control the show while keeping the eccentric cast at bay through rough patches. Zach Braff and James Spader, respectively playing Bill Murray and Chevy Chase, play the stories other leads in a battle for screen time and popularity. Spader provides the best performance of the three leads as the backstabbing and despised Chevy Chase , who goes to great lengths to ensure that he is the star of the show. Amy Sedaris, Parker Posey, and Kathy Griffin round out the female portion of the cast who frequently become the butt of numerous jokes while being passed around the male cast members. Jesse L. Martin and Ron Livingston are also members of the infamous cast who bring about humor to the plot while Artie Lange provides an unbelievable performance as the doomed John Belushi. The scenes of drunken rage are terrifying and touching at the same time and Lange's performance is well deserved of recognition. John Marshall Jones, known as the father in the short-lived sitcom "Smart Guy", provides a brief but amazing performance as Richard Pryor in one of the show's defining moments. If one were to pick a standout from the cast, which would be a hard job, one would have to choose either James Spader or Artie Lange, but the rest of the cast is still amazing like the rest of the film.

Awards
Best Picture
Best Director-Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Actor-Kevin Pollack
Best Actor-Zach Braff
Best Actor-James Spader
Best Supporting Actor-Artie Lange
Best Supporting Actor-Ron Livingston
Best Supporting Actor-John Marshall Jones
Best Supporting Actress-Amy Sedaris
Best Supporting Actress-Parker Posey
Best Art Direction
Best Costume Design
Best Film Editing