Starring: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Rita Moreno, Brian d’Arcy James, Corey Stoll, Mike Faist, Josh Andres Rivera, Iris Menas.
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios
Runtime: 156 mins. Reviewed in Dec 2021
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc
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An adaptation of the 1957 musical, West Side Story explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.
For audiences who remember the wonder of 60 years ago, West Side Story was a key cinema experience – the music of Leonard Bernstein, lyrics of Stephen Sondheim, the choreography of Jerome Robbins, Oscars for best film, director Robert Wise, and for cast actors, Rita Moreno and George Chakiris. It was a landmark film of the 1960s, canvassing social issues such as Americans being threatened by Puerto Rican migrants, Anglo-Hispanic clashes, and a Romeo and Juliet adaptation set in New York City.
Now Steven Spielberg, acknowledging that it was the key musical of his growing up, directs his first musical film. And, so many critics and audiences, wary of a remake, have praised this new version. For those who treasure the 1961 film, they will be happily reminded throughout this version of why they enjoyed the original so much.
However, with the developments in technology, effects, cameras, editing, this is very much a 21st-century version. Arthur Laurents’ original book has been adapted by Pulitzer-prize-winner Tony Kushner.
The audience is immediately taken into the rubble of New York, with the demolition of neighbourhoods around 68th Street (and an image of the about to be built Lincoln Centre). In the open spaces where homes once stood, the Jets and the Sharks begin to rumble. As the rhythms and music of the opposing gangs start, we begin to anticipate the rest of the familiar music and songs.
One of the strengths of this version is that Tony (Elgort), who sings his songs, is given a much stronger and credible background than earlier. He established the Jets with Riff, has been violent himself and spent a year in Sing Sing, but wants to change. Riff and the others certainly don’t want to change. Full of resentment they want to fight.
Zegler, with her Hispanic background, is more realistic as Maria than Natalie Wood was. However, DeBose, already winning awards for Best Supporting Actress, is a powerhouse as Anita, singing, dancing, dramatic, and the whirlwind exuberance of the song and dance. As we watch her, we are reminded of Rita Moreno and her vitality in that role.
Spielberg invited Moreno, who turned 90 on 11 December 2021, to play a significant role of Valentina, widow of the drug store owner, who gives shelter to Tony, and supports Anita and Maria, and defies the Jets. She has several powerful scenes and it is she who sings ‘Somewhere’.
The familiar scenes are there, the fights, the police interventions, the attempted harmony with the dance where Tony and Maria see each other, a Romeo and Juliet neighbourhood balcony sequence, some religious aura as they make vows to each other, the inevitable rumble and deaths.
And, as Shakespeare once told the story, wrong messages, deaths and tragedy, star-crossed lovers. There is certainly a place for both versions of West Side Story.
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