West Side Story
West Side Story (2021)
It takes some nerve remaking a Best Picture winner but Steven Spielberg said “Go on then”. Not content with mastering the summer blockbuster, sci-fi and the historical epic he’s dipped his toe into the great American musical.
If you were born yesterday West Side Story is a skirt twirling, hand-clapping retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet; a couple of “seize the day” youths rush into a brief love affair while their respective families (or gangs) literally wage war on each other. You know how it is.
Originally a Broadway musical in 1957 with iconic music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by the late Stephen Sondheim. The original film from 1961 amassed an impressive 10 Oscars. And while the music has endured over the decades, the production is, let’s face it, dated and scratchy. I was more than excited for a 1997-George-Lucas style remastered version. Not least because this time around the actors would get to sing their own songs. Vintage Hollywood replaced the beautiful movie stars’ unseemly singing voices with unseen professionals.
Not that this version doesn’t have beautiful faces. Blimey, they are all angels. Ansel Elgort as Tony looks like Marlon Brando in his plump lipped prime.
The film is swelling with fantastic performances. As Maria, first-time film icon Rachel Zegler is so perfect you can’t help but wonder if she’s a Pixar creation. Ariana DeBose as Anita is assured, sexy and headstrong. And heading the Jets and the Sharks both Riff and Bernardo (Mike Faist and David Alverez, respectively) dominate their scenes, with Riff in particular embodying the untrustworthy and gnarly street-rat of the era. What a star.
Rita Moreno, who won the Oscar for playing the original Anita, slides into Doc’s shoes as the drugstore owner and only voice of trustworthy authority and kindness. Her scenes are nostalgic and regal . But the choice to give her sole ownership of one of the key duets feels like a generation has been denied their own “I’ll never let you go, Jack” moment.
Despite characters creeping into song and dance there is genuine vibe of authenticity here. The vocals often seem live and the lack of subtitles during Spanish dialogue feels right.
The film musical will always be challenged. By their very nature there is always an element of belief which we must suspend. But once you forgive how quickly our selfish leads can fall in love you can lose yourself in the music and movement. The vibrant yellows and reds of ‘America’ are pure ecstasy as we skip though the landscape of New York’s Latin quarters. And the blue/grey chrome of any routine involving the Jets conveys the vibrant danger of a determined and ruthless troupe.
As a kid I loved the original film and was obsessed with the soundtrack. But even I could shave off half an hour from both versions. On the rare occasions when the pace slows down it can feel like a slog. Fortunately the incredible dance sequences resuscitates any snoozy moment with urgency.
A fresh and exuberant recreation reminding us of the amazing original songs and score; incredible choreography and passionate performances all produced and packaged with respect and affection by a visual master.
9 Clicking Thumbs Up! 👍🏻
