Released: December 2021
Director: Steven Spielberg
Rated PG-13
Run Time: 156 Minutes
Genre: Romance/Drama/Musical
Distributor: 20th Century Studios/Disney
Cast:
Ansel Elgort: Tony
Rachel Zegler: Maria
Ariana DeBose: Anita
David Alvarez: Bernardo
Rita Moreno: Valentina
Brian D’Arcy James: Officer Krupke
Mike Faist: Riff
There are many people who would consider Steven Spielberg to be the greatest filmmaker of all time. It’s really hard to argue with that when you look at his filmography. From Jaws and E.T. to Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park, Spielberg has one of the most impressive resumes of any director living or dead. He might not have hundreds of movies as a director, but he’s also a producer. As a producer, he’s just as impressive. When you look at what he’s done, his movies have run the gamut of genres from thrillers, science fiction, action, drama, comedy, and horror. It seems like he’s covered everything. Or has he? Not quite. You see, up until two years ago, there were two genres that he had yet to add to his legacy: Westerns and musicals. Well, with 2021’s West Side Story, he can add musicals to his repertoire. So, is West Side Story a remake worth watching? Uh…yeah. It really is. Let’s explore why.
Stephen Spielberg’s adaptation of West Side Story is based on the Academy Award-winning 1961 film, which itself was based on the 1957 stage play. It’s a story that’s been adapted from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. For those unfamiliar with Romeo and Juliet and the subsequent West Side Story adaptations, it’s a story of a forbidden romance between two people from opposing groups. In West Side Story, this romance becomes the focal point in the conflict between rival street gangs: The Jets and the Sharks. The Jets are of Irish and Polish descent, while the Sharks are Puerto Rican. This is all set in the late 50s/early 60s New York. The two people at the center of all this are Tony and Maria. At a local dance when both the Jets and the Sharks show up, these two spot each other, and the sparks begin to fly. It’s an amazing story about two people who defy the odds to be with each other, despite what other people think. There is something enticing about a forbidden romance. It’s not just about love, but rebellion and defiance of certain norms of what is expected of people of certain backgrounds. The thing is, this story is not just about Tony and Maria, but also the people around them which includes Anita, Bernardo, Riff, and many others.
The performances in West Side Story are extraordinary. Rachel Zegler, who plays Maria, simply shines in her first movie. She gives the character this wide-eyed innocence with a rebellious streak. Her singing is out of this world. I was simply not expecting for someone like her to have those kind of pipes. One of the real standouts of the film is Ariana DeBose as Anita. She really steals the show, in my opinion. She’s tough, feisty, and her relationship with Bernardo is one of the best in the movie. You can’t ignore the guys on the Jets, though. These guys are fantastic. Mike Faist plays Riff, the de facto leader of the Jets since Tony was in jail. He’s sinister at points, but you understand where he’s coming from and Mike just gives him this edge that makes the character unpredictable. Most of the actors here have a background in singing and dancing, which makes sense as a lot of the side actors have come from Broadway. Spielberg was really smart in bringing them on board. It really elevates the film’s theatrical nature. If there’s something about this movie that I have an issue with, it’s with Ansel Elgort as Tony. Don’t get me wrong, this guy’s got talent. His singing and dancing are really good, but when he’s required to actually ACT, he doesn’t have it. I’m not saying he’s awful, but he’s clearly outclassed and outgunned by everybody around him. To be fair, he had the most difficult role to play as Tony. He’s supposed to be tough, yet charming, but I didn’t buy it from Elgort. His performance is incredibly uneven. Because of that, I didn’t really buy into Tony’s romance with Maria, who upstages him at every turn. Ansel Elgort is a weak link in what is other-wise an incredible cast. One thing I should mention: The actress that played Anita in the 1961 film, Rita Moreno plays store owner Valentina, and has a surprisingly decent role.
The fact that Steven Spielberg never made a full-blown musical before is really bizarre. He’s clearly got a talent for it. Don’t believe me? Just go back and watch the opening sequence to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. It’s spectacular, because Spielberg knows how to find the right talent for what he wants. Because of that, the new West Side Story is one of the most visually spectacular musicals I’ve ever seen. The dancing is simply stunning. The choreography is really on point. One of my favorite sequences is the ‘America’ song which is incredibly colorful, energetic, and just plain fun. The use of music here isn’t just for kicks and giggles, it’s here to tell a story. The “Cool” song sequence where Tony tries to convince Riff not to fight with Bernardo is incredibly intense, but is one of the most beautifully choreographed dances in the film. The Ball Room dance-off is probably the big highlight of the film in terms of dance numbers. It’s epic. That’s really all I can say. You have to see it to believe it. The cinematography by Janusz Kaminski is…perfect. We get a good sense of scale of what’s going on, and we can see the dancing and the fighting in all it’s glory. One thing I will say is that this movie is a bit grittier, especially when it comes to the Rumble. We don’t see a lot of “dance-fighting” in this movie. The fighting is handled fairly realistically, so there is an impact with that.
I have give credit to Steven Spielberg for this movie. It’s one of the best movies of 2021, and it’s not surprising that it’s up for multiple Academy Awards. Will it get ten Academy Awards like the original movie did? Honestly, I doubt it, because the movie is up against some serious competition. I think it might win one or two, but TEN? Not a chance. Not with movies like Dune, Being The Ricardos, King Richard, and Belfast being in play. It certainly deserves the nominations that it got, and I hope it wins something. Now that Steven Spielberg has a musical under his belt, I would love to see him tackle an actual Western. He’d be really good at it. I want to see that and him making a Star Wars movie, because why not? He’s clearly capable of doing anything and everything under the sun. So, is West Side Story worth seeing? Absolutely. Whether your a fan of the 1961 film or a newcomer to this kinds of movies in general, West Side Story is a remarkable movie. Easily and highly recommended.