It's a shame that Steven Spielberg's version of WEST SIDE STORY, so far, has been a box office disappointment. However, the pandemic severely altered the way we used to flock to the movies. The carefree days and nights of taking the family to the cineplex have been put on hold. Also, it's my opinion that 20th Century Studios could've have done a better job with its publicity. In TV commercials, there should be more clips of the musical numbers such as Tony singing "Maria," the Mambo dance at the gym number and the "Gee, Officer Krupke" number. All are highlights in Spielberg's version. Ariana DeBose, so sensational as Anita, has gotten plenty of network TV show interview exposure. Recently, she hosted SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. Rita Moreno, co-star and executive producer of the new WEST SIDE STORY, got a few network interviews. She should've gotten more. And Fox should've gotten more TV interview exposure for screen newcomer Rachel Zegler who plays Maria, David Alcarez who plays Bernardo, Mike Faist who plays Riff and Ansel Elgort who plays Tony. All gave exceptional performances.
Based on the Broadway classic with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the original 1961 film adaptation was a a hig hit and a major Oscar winner. It won for Best Picture of 1961, Rita Moreno won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her dynamic performance as Anita and George Chakiris won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work as gang leader Bernardo. Even the soundtrack was a best-seller. I am a hardcore lover of the 1961 WEST SIDE STORY. It was co-directed by Robert Wise and choreographer Jerome Robbins. I feel it is a work of film art. Initially, I flinched when I read that Steven Spielberg would remake it. I was skeptical. And I have loved Spielberg's work since the 1970s.
I saw Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY Saturday night. It had me in awe and in tears several times. It's remarkable and relevant. I loved it. You know that it's a modern-day urban take on Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET, so I don't need to explain the story. Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY was supposed to be in theaters in December of 2020. The Fox Studios release was pushed back a year due to the pandemic.
Why is Spielberg's version of WEST SIDE STORY, a tale set in the 1950s, relevant? Basically, Spielberg, the father of an interracial family, has made an anti-Trump musical. Think back to when Trump called Mexicans "rapists and murderers." Remember his obsession to build a wall that would keep Latinos out of America? Steven Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY is a cinematic statement against the racist attitudes of Trump and his MAGA tribe. All the Latino characters in this WEST SIDE STORY are played by Latino actors.
I can't call this a remake because it is so original in its revision of characters and different approach to musical numbers. For instance, "I Feel Pretty." In Spielberg's version, Anita and Maria are on the Macy's maintenance staff. They clean the store after hours. That's where they sing "I Feel Pretty." The "Cool" number, done in a parking garage in the original with The Jets and their girlfriends, is now done outside during daylight hours by just the male Jets and former Jet, Tony, trying to talk his best friend, Riff, out of committing a bigoted crime.. Also done during daylight hours is the "America" number. In that number, the dancing of Ariana DeBose as Anita is a thing of electricity and joy. It is wonderful. Here is a clip from the film.
Chino has been socially and occupationally unscaled -- and he's still a heartbreaking character doomed by racism. Josh Andres Rivera is excellent in the role.
This WEST SIDE STORY is more brutal than the original. You really see that the street fights are potentially deadly gang wars. We also have a Tony that seems like he truly was a gang member. This Tony almost killed a guy and he did a year in prison. Loving Maria is his redemption. Ansel Elgort, previously seen in the crime action thriller BABY DRIVER, registers as Tony. In emotions that wash across his face, we see how deeply he loves her. Rachel Zegler, with her angelica voice, gives us a more independent Maria.
And then there's Rita Moreno. The amazing Rita Moreno. Doc, the kind shop owner in the original who's hired Tony as a helper, is now Valentina, Doc's Puerto Rican widow. Tony works for and learns some Spanish from Valentina. This role reminds us of what a good actress and singer Rita Moreno is. Her poignant rendition of "Somewhere" had me crying, Rita Moreno should get another Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for WEST SIDE STORY.
As good as Spielberg's version is, it just misses having the original's certain magic, "that little something extra" that James Mason as Norman Maine in 1954's A STAR IS BORN mentions. Still, it is a stunning and moving film that is worth seeing. The music orchestrations are beautiful.
Rita Moreno has said on network TV that she didn't work in films for seven years after she won the Oscar for WEST SIDE STORY. She worked on television. That's because Hollywood had no good script opportunities for a Latina, an actress of color, after her Oscar victory. That same happened to Black actresses Cicely Tyson, Diahann Carroll, Angela Bassett, Alfre Woodard down to Viola Davis, Queen Latifah and even Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg. They all got Oscar nominations then had to turn to TV for steady employment because the Hollywood film scripts opportunities were scarce for women of color. Let's hope and pray Hollywood has more film work opportunities for all the outstanding Latino talent in Steven Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY.
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