West Side Story
West Side Story
Starring Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, Rita Moreno
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Starring Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, Rita Moreno
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Ever since Arthur Laurents wrote the musical theatre play "West Side Story" in 1957, there's been countless iterations of the classic story told through multiple mediums including Broadway, the big screen, and countless high school theater productions, and this modern-day telling of the famed William Shakespeare tale "Romeo & Juliet" will undoubtedly continue to remain a classic decades from now, despite the incredibly poor outing of the most recent big-screen adaptation. The story of forbidden love is nothing new, but here it's told through the eyes of two star-crossed lovers: one white, one Puerto Rican, who both live in a tumultuous time where both races were at war with one another on the grimy streets of San Juan Hill on Manhattan's West Side, and it's a love story that threatens to destroy everyone around them, and themselves if they allow the hate and anger to take over the love they have for one another.
In Manhattan's West Side, San Juan Hill is run by a gang of white youths called the Jets, led by Riff (Mike Faist). They roam the streets with impunity until their power is threatened by a gang of Puerto Rican youths called the Sharks, led by Bernardo (David Alvarez), and the two come to blows but are interrupted by the police. As they prepare for the local dance, Bernardo's girlfriend Anita (Ariana DeBose) and sister Maria (Rachel Zegler) prepare for a fun night of dancing, while Bernardo worries a scuffle will ensue again between the Jets and the Sharks, and warns Maria not to fall for a "gringo."
At the dance, former Jets leader Tony (Ansel Elgort), who just got out of prison, wants to turn his life around and abandons the Jets mentality, and immediately catches Maria's eye. The two dance in secret but are discovered by Bernardo, and he forbids Maria from seeing Tony again. They begin a secret relationship as tensions between the Jets and Sharks escalate, culminating in a rumble that threatens the lives of everyone involved.
It's always surprising to be that high schools would put on a "West Side Story" production because the story is incredibly dark and depressing, with adult themes that most high schoolers might not get a full grasp of. Even though its a musical, it's not the same feel-good tone as "The Greatest Showman," "In the Heights," or even "The Sound of Music." Instead, it's a musical about the slums, about youth who are eagerly seeking somewhere to belong but are misguided in their efforts, resorting to violence, rape, and robbery to maintain their underclass social status. Yet despite all the negativity, love can still bloom - but at a great cost.
This is the love story between Tony and Maria, a tale that's as old as time, and as tragic as the classic novel the play takes itself from. Tony is a white man and Maria is from Puerto Rico, and much like the Montague and Capulet families, they find themselves at odds with the feud between the Jets and the Sharks, led by Tony's best friend and Maria's brother respectively. As their love begins to bloom, its overshadowed by the despair and anger around them, threatening to extinguish their love story.
Steven Spielberg is a man who needs no introduction, and yet despite his vast catalogue of films, this is his first musical, but he still brings his A-game in delivery, execution, and production. He amassed the best of the best for his team in the background, including "Angels in America" writer Tony Kushner who managed to maintain the integrity of the beloved classic while also supplying unique backstories for Maria, Anita, and Bernardo. Cinematographer Janusz Kaminski provides dazzling visuals of 1950s-60s Manhattan that makes you feel like you're watching a movie that was actually filmed in that era (not to mention the slightly off-color tone that makes it looks more old-fashioned), if not for the exceptional camera work that makes you feel like you're dancing along with the musical numbers that the cast members are dancing to as well. Choreographer Justin Peck continues to teleport viewers to the 50s and 60s with his intricate dance numbers that play to the characters' strengths, and costume designer Paul Tazewell provides Oscar-worthy costumes that bedazzle and pop with an intense vibrancy.
The cast consists of mostly unknown actors who get their first big break in this big-budget production, and none shine more than first-timer Rachel Zegler, who plays Maria. This young actress won the role over thousands of applicants and was thrust from her small town world to Hollywood almost overnight, and after seeing her performance, you fully understand why Spielberg had such faith in her. This was a choice that could've ended up terribly (much like another Broadway musical-turned-film "Cats," which featured a new girl in the lead role who's name escapes me because she probably went back home vowing to never act again after that abomination), but Zegler is a thing of beauty in her performance, as she plays the only truly innocent person in the entire production. She's already earned Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations, and it'll be no surprise if she gets an Oscar nod as well.
Two other major Oscar contenders come with supporting actors Ariana DeBose and Rita Moreno, who both earned Best Supporting Actress nominations for the Critics Choice Awards. DeBose is best known for her stage work, especially on "Hamilton," so playing the role of Anita comes as second nature to her. She plays the character with fierce determination and also showcases excellent singing and acting chops that makes it no surprise that she's garnering such attention. Then there's Rita Moreno, who returns to "West Side Story" after starring in the 1961 original film, and after winning an Oscar for her role (something she could possibly do again here). Playing the shop owner Valentina, Moreno exudes confidence that comes with decades of work, mixed with her deep love for the product that is showcased in audible glory with her rendition of "Somewhere" that'll give you goosebumps.
If there's one questionable acting choice, it's Angel Elgort, who plays the main character Tony. Personally, I never found Elgort to be a good actor, although I give him credit for his work in "Baby Driver." Yet it seems all his films he's the same brooding, unemotional person that reminds me of cardboard, and he once again gives a cardboard performance here. While everyone else around him exudes this youthful energy, he comes off as the gruff elderly neighbor who constantly yells at the teens to turn the music down. He performs with almost a clean slate, where you never know what he's thinking or even if he's thinking at all, and seems like he just goes through the motions of the story. There's not a lot of chemistry between him and Zegler, and it isn't her fault at all. Then there's the personal problems Elgort has faced recently, with a sexual assault allegation brought against him by a seventeen-year-old back in 2014 that tarnishes the film.
When the movie was released, it was a box office bomb, grossing only $10.5 million dollars on its opening weekend (in contrast, "Spider-Man: No Way Home" grossed over $250 million) against an over $100 million dollar budget. There's a lot of questions swirling as to why this film - which received unanimous praise by critics as well as being an impeccable film in its own right - bombed so bad, and the most obvious answer is the target audience. "West Side Story" is easily geared for people of a certain age, and it's for those who were born before the 1990s. Yet with the Covid-19 concerns still looming, many older people don't feel safe in a theater, which could be the main reason why this film bombed so badly, while "No Way Home" more than met expectations, due to the fact that the later is geared for a younger audience. It seems that the future of the cinema will belong to big-budget extravaganzas, while these dramatic products might be relegated to streaming, which is a shame, because both really need to be experienced and valued on the big screen. Hopefully this is just a blip and the older-skewed dramas will find a resurgence in 2022, otherwise the cinematic landscape will forever be altered.
Filled with toe-tapping songs, exceptional choreography, dazzling cinematography, and impeccable performances, "West Side Story" continues to amaze and inspire people decades after being written, providing a escape from our reality if only for a moment.
The Score: A+
In Manhattan's West Side, San Juan Hill is run by a gang of white youths called the Jets, led by Riff (Mike Faist). They roam the streets with impunity until their power is threatened by a gang of Puerto Rican youths called the Sharks, led by Bernardo (David Alvarez), and the two come to blows but are interrupted by the police. As they prepare for the local dance, Bernardo's girlfriend Anita (Ariana DeBose) and sister Maria (Rachel Zegler) prepare for a fun night of dancing, while Bernardo worries a scuffle will ensue again between the Jets and the Sharks, and warns Maria not to fall for a "gringo."
At the dance, former Jets leader Tony (Ansel Elgort), who just got out of prison, wants to turn his life around and abandons the Jets mentality, and immediately catches Maria's eye. The two dance in secret but are discovered by Bernardo, and he forbids Maria from seeing Tony again. They begin a secret relationship as tensions between the Jets and Sharks escalate, culminating in a rumble that threatens the lives of everyone involved.
It's always surprising to be that high schools would put on a "West Side Story" production because the story is incredibly dark and depressing, with adult themes that most high schoolers might not get a full grasp of. Even though its a musical, it's not the same feel-good tone as "The Greatest Showman," "In the Heights," or even "The Sound of Music." Instead, it's a musical about the slums, about youth who are eagerly seeking somewhere to belong but are misguided in their efforts, resorting to violence, rape, and robbery to maintain their underclass social status. Yet despite all the negativity, love can still bloom - but at a great cost.
This is the love story between Tony and Maria, a tale that's as old as time, and as tragic as the classic novel the play takes itself from. Tony is a white man and Maria is from Puerto Rico, and much like the Montague and Capulet families, they find themselves at odds with the feud between the Jets and the Sharks, led by Tony's best friend and Maria's brother respectively. As their love begins to bloom, its overshadowed by the despair and anger around them, threatening to extinguish their love story.
Steven Spielberg is a man who needs no introduction, and yet despite his vast catalogue of films, this is his first musical, but he still brings his A-game in delivery, execution, and production. He amassed the best of the best for his team in the background, including "Angels in America" writer Tony Kushner who managed to maintain the integrity of the beloved classic while also supplying unique backstories for Maria, Anita, and Bernardo. Cinematographer Janusz Kaminski provides dazzling visuals of 1950s-60s Manhattan that makes you feel like you're watching a movie that was actually filmed in that era (not to mention the slightly off-color tone that makes it looks more old-fashioned), if not for the exceptional camera work that makes you feel like you're dancing along with the musical numbers that the cast members are dancing to as well. Choreographer Justin Peck continues to teleport viewers to the 50s and 60s with his intricate dance numbers that play to the characters' strengths, and costume designer Paul Tazewell provides Oscar-worthy costumes that bedazzle and pop with an intense vibrancy.
The cast consists of mostly unknown actors who get their first big break in this big-budget production, and none shine more than first-timer Rachel Zegler, who plays Maria. This young actress won the role over thousands of applicants and was thrust from her small town world to Hollywood almost overnight, and after seeing her performance, you fully understand why Spielberg had such faith in her. This was a choice that could've ended up terribly (much like another Broadway musical-turned-film "Cats," which featured a new girl in the lead role who's name escapes me because she probably went back home vowing to never act again after that abomination), but Zegler is a thing of beauty in her performance, as she plays the only truly innocent person in the entire production. She's already earned Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations, and it'll be no surprise if she gets an Oscar nod as well.
Two other major Oscar contenders come with supporting actors Ariana DeBose and Rita Moreno, who both earned Best Supporting Actress nominations for the Critics Choice Awards. DeBose is best known for her stage work, especially on "Hamilton," so playing the role of Anita comes as second nature to her. She plays the character with fierce determination and also showcases excellent singing and acting chops that makes it no surprise that she's garnering such attention. Then there's Rita Moreno, who returns to "West Side Story" after starring in the 1961 original film, and after winning an Oscar for her role (something she could possibly do again here). Playing the shop owner Valentina, Moreno exudes confidence that comes with decades of work, mixed with her deep love for the product that is showcased in audible glory with her rendition of "Somewhere" that'll give you goosebumps.
If there's one questionable acting choice, it's Angel Elgort, who plays the main character Tony. Personally, I never found Elgort to be a good actor, although I give him credit for his work in "Baby Driver." Yet it seems all his films he's the same brooding, unemotional person that reminds me of cardboard, and he once again gives a cardboard performance here. While everyone else around him exudes this youthful energy, he comes off as the gruff elderly neighbor who constantly yells at the teens to turn the music down. He performs with almost a clean slate, where you never know what he's thinking or even if he's thinking at all, and seems like he just goes through the motions of the story. There's not a lot of chemistry between him and Zegler, and it isn't her fault at all. Then there's the personal problems Elgort has faced recently, with a sexual assault allegation brought against him by a seventeen-year-old back in 2014 that tarnishes the film.
When the movie was released, it was a box office bomb, grossing only $10.5 million dollars on its opening weekend (in contrast, "Spider-Man: No Way Home" grossed over $250 million) against an over $100 million dollar budget. There's a lot of questions swirling as to why this film - which received unanimous praise by critics as well as being an impeccable film in its own right - bombed so bad, and the most obvious answer is the target audience. "West Side Story" is easily geared for people of a certain age, and it's for those who were born before the 1990s. Yet with the Covid-19 concerns still looming, many older people don't feel safe in a theater, which could be the main reason why this film bombed so badly, while "No Way Home" more than met expectations, due to the fact that the later is geared for a younger audience. It seems that the future of the cinema will belong to big-budget extravaganzas, while these dramatic products might be relegated to streaming, which is a shame, because both really need to be experienced and valued on the big screen. Hopefully this is just a blip and the older-skewed dramas will find a resurgence in 2022, otherwise the cinematic landscape will forever be altered.
Filled with toe-tapping songs, exceptional choreography, dazzling cinematography, and impeccable performances, "West Side Story" continues to amaze and inspire people decades after being written, providing a escape from our reality if only for a moment.
The Score: A+
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