Jason Reitman, filmmaker and producer, notably known for his work on “Juno” and “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” is truly a visionary. It is quite rare to see someone’s work and feel as though these characters exist beyond the screen, but with someone as passionate as Reitman, it isn’t surprising.
Reitman speaks to many, but I feel that Gen Z can truly connect to his work in a special way.
For Gen Z, Reitman’s work goes beyond entertainment; it’s a connection. His latest film, “Saturday Night,” is proof of that. Set around the hectic debut of Saturday Night Live, the movie is a wild ride through all that could go wrong on such a high-stakes night. Somehow, though, it’s more than a chaotic narrative, it’s about what happens when life throws everything at you, yet you still show up. If there’s a generation that gets what it’s like to make things work amid chaos, it’s Gen Z, and “Saturday Night” speaks to that in ways few films do.
Reitman’s gift for crafting real conversations is like no one else’s. Working with his frequent collaborator Gil Kenan, he’s made “Saturday Night” feel so genuine that you lose sight of the actors and only see the people they are embodying. Every word feels purposeful, every interaction honest. And when I say real, I mean real. Reitman doesn’t pander, doesn’t overdo it and doesn’t try to portray young people with clichés or stereotypes. Instead, he lets each character reveal themselves, in all their layered, unpolished glory.
Relating this back to Gen Z, it feels like many films rarely aim to represent young people correctly. It feels almost like a mockery, but Reitman does the opposite. There is care and very close attention to detail.
For me, it started with “Juno.” If you haven’t seen it, it’s time to fix that. Elliot Page as Juno MacGuff and Michael Cera as Paulie Bleeker bring so much personality and warmth to their roles.
I was probably in middle school when I saw “Juno,” for the first time and I had never heard someone say the phrase “I should be really cheesed off,” and feel as though they really were cheesed off.
With all its quirks, “Juno” still feels real.
Reitman is someone who steps back and allows other voices to be amplified. His presence is felt in the film, but it doesn’t overpower. He has this knack for making you care deeply, for making the most unusual moments feel like reflections of our own lives.
Many times, there is an aesthetic attached to directors, such as Wes Anderson or Sofia Coppola, as their artistic vision is known by their unique dialogue and wondrous shades of pinks and yellows, but Reitman does something different. His aesthetic, his unique artistic vision, is simply in his relationship with realism. His stories could exist in this world, which allows these visions on the screen to feel 10 times more impactful.
Gen Z, if you crave a story, a character, the subtle voice that reigns within you to finally be unleashed, look no further than a film brought to life by Jason Reitman.
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Valeria Nalani is a student at the University of Arizona studying Business Management.
