West Side Story
remaking of classic films are n’t Modern , but there ’s a responsibleness to institute them up to date despite the clock time period of time they ’re primitively place in . Acclaimed director Steven Spielberg attempts to do just that with 2021’sWest Side Story , altering certain aspects of the 1961 melodic film , which is adapted from the 1957 Broadway melodic by Arthur Laurents , Leonard Bernstein , and Stephen Sondheim ( he recently passed away at 91 ) , who wrote the medicine and lyrics , respectively . With a screenplay from Tony Kushner , West Side Storyis visually entrancing , aroused , and the stage dancing and staging magnetic even when certain aspect of the account do n’t always influence .
Like the original musical and its subsequent film adaptation , Spielberg’sWest Side Storyfollows the same narrative : the Jets — a mostly Irish pack led by Riff ( Mike Faist ) — chivy the Sharks — a Puerto Rican gang lead by Bernardo ( David Alvarez ) — over territory fuel by racialism on the part of the Jets . There ’s a lot of tension between the street crowd and they ’re always on the brink of a grumble . Riffian further Tony ( Ansel Elgort ) , a former loss leader of the Jets who was released from prison for beating someone to near death , to unite them in their fight against the Sharks , but Tony is against it . Meanwhile , Bernardo and girlfriend Anita ( Ariana DeBose ) advance his 18 - year - old sister Maria ( Rachel Zegler ) to meet Chino ( Josh Andrés Rivera ) , Bernardo ’s genial - hearted booster who is not involved with the Sharks . However , Maria and Tony contact each other during a gymnasium dance and fall head over heel in love , heighten the tension between the Jets and the Sharks .
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While the latestWest Side Storyis a rather close version of the melodic , Spielberg and Kushner make distinguishable change to the story and fictional character in a bid to add touches of realness , altering aspects of the plot to the benefit of some thing and to the hurt of others . There ’s a bluntness that surrounds and envelop every character and their life that feel a lot rough than it did in the 1961 film . call like “ Gee , Officer Krupke ” and “ A male child Like That ” have an additional layer of dark and sorrow , as do certain character conclusion ( include that of Rita Moreno ’s Valentina , who is a re - visualised variation of Doc from the original ) . Changes range from song placement to the addition of characters like Valentina and the choice to make the character of Anybodys ( Ezra Menas ) more obviously trans ( versus it being implied in the original film ) . There ’s absolutely no doubtWest Side Storyis a well - made picture , with Spielberg prove capable of helming a musical that has a complicated and superimposed history .
The alterations do n’t always work , however , with certain storylines and perspectives lacking the depth to fully amplify underwritten character of the story . Here , the jet are in the spotlight , specially as their backstories and dynamics with each other dally out while the Sharks are elevated in their roles , but are still abruptly - shift overall . Other things , like the Sharks ’ accents , are n’t necessary . West Side Storyultimately continues to play up the bankruptcy to capture the range of the Puerto Rican experience live on in New York City as the focus still leans heavily towards the Jets . The film does n’t have much to say about the difficulties of absorption in the U.S. beyond the lyric to “ America , ” which is a mixed bag of the film and stage versions of the call . The best numeral in the moving picture , Spielberg leaves the rooftop setting of the 1961 film , allow the cast to take to the street of their neighborhood , which showcases more of the Puerto Rican culture and residential district .
To that goal , the melodic routine are well - choreograph and stage in a room that is n’t stagnant . The cameras move to full becharm the histrion ’ movements and the gorgeous costume ( designed by Paul Tazewell ) , the vibrancy and intensity of the functioning make them all the more memorable and wonderful to watch . The cinematography by Janusz Kamiński is deep and gritty , pit the tone of the film ; the camera zooms in on the actors when the emotion is high and far too raw to face away , adding subtlety and profoundness to an already layered plot and generally strong stamp performance . Ariana DeBose give a stunning , memorable performance as Anita , one that is filled with joy , heartbreak , and so much passion . DeBose ’s onscreen presence is incredibly magnetized and she steals every scene she is in . She ’s designate to steal the hearts of the audience , too , who will likely need to see more of her in future projects .
Mike Faist is committed to his theatrical role as Riff , who manages to make a profoundly unlikeable case appealing to some extent . Like DeBose , Faist ’s volume make his delineation all the more efficient . David Alvarez is marvelous as Bernardo ; he ’s get panache and gels well with DeBose ; the pair have a lot of chemical science together . For her first major film role , Rachel Zegler does a good job conveying Maria ’s naïveté , self - involvement , and love for Tony . Ansel Elgort , while having a fairly becoming singing voice , is underwhelming as Tony , overacting in scenes that require a spot more reflection and not always matching Zegler as a lovestruck youth . Rita Moreno is boisterous yet weary as Valentina , and it ’s lovely that she is a part of the new film in a role that is not just a cameo .
There is a circumstances to have it away aboutWest Side Story — be it the spectacular detail , the look and palpate of the movie , the musical performances , or the update made to certain aspects of the story . However , there are also change that do n’t work and are never going to , regardless of the filmmakers ’ best efforts to do so . And yetWest Side Storystill manages to captivate somehow , with the cast passionately lighting up the screen and hit the most out of their storylines despite everything .
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Based on the 1957 Broadway musical, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story is the second feature-length film to adapt the musical for the big screen. Starring Rachel Zegler and Ansel Elgort, the film tells the story of the forbidden love between a young couple on opposite sides of a conflict between two rival gangs in 1950s New York City.
West Side Storyreleases in theatre of operations on December 10 , 2021 . The film is 156 minutes farseeing and is fink PG-13 for some strong violence , solid language , thematic content , suggestive material and abbreviated smoking .
Based on the 1957 Broadway musical , Steven Spielberg ’s West Side Story is the second feature of speech - duration film to adapt the musical for the big screen . star Rachel Zegler and Ansel Elgort , the film tell the history of the forbidden love between a young couple on opposite sides of a conflict between two rival crew in 1950s New York City .
