West Side Story (2021)
West Side Story
- 4.5/5 Cameras 🎥🎥🎥🎥.5
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
- Starring: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, et al
- Where to find it: Disney +
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In recent years, remakes of beloved films have become
somewhat of the norm. Many have criticised this onslaught by saying filmmakers
have run out of fresh ideas, an argument fuelled by the fact that many of these
remakes are poor in quality (take 2017s The Mummy, for example). However, every
so often a director manages to get a retelling of a classic film right by
keeping the essence of the original, whilst also adding just the right amount
of modern filmmaking gloss. This is a rare feat to achieve, and yet with his
version of West Side Story, Steven Spielberg may have just done it.
The second on-screen feature-length adaptation of the 1957
musical of the same name, West Side Story explores rivalry and forbidden love.
Based on Shakespeare’s infamous Romeo and Juliet, the film tells the story of two
star-crossed lovers, Maria (Rachel Zegler), and Tony (Ansel Elgort). During a
local dance, the pair meet and quickly fall in love, despite having
affiliations to two rival gangs, The Sharks and The Jets respectively.
The original feature-length West Side Story, released in
1961 and directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, can undoubtedly be called
a timeless classic, the kind of film Hollywood rarely makes anymore. Steven
Spielberg’s version, however, comes as close as possible to that old-school
Hollywood feel that so many want to experience again. Much like the original,
the movie feels contained in terms of its locales, yet incredibly grand in
scale at the same time. Beautifully choreographed dance numbers that fill
entire streets with bright colours, and timeless songs such as ‘I Feel Pretty’,
and ‘America’ (written by the late Stephen Sondheim) sang perfectly induce a sense
of nostalgia and warmth that makes you feel all fuzzy inside. It may come as a surprise
to some, but West Side Story is Steven Spielberg’s first musical directorial
effort, and after creating a film as excellent as this, I wouldn’t be surprised
if he revisited the genre again.
West Side Story is beautifully shot, with its cinematography
making it truly stunning to look at, however where the film really shines is in
its casting. Rachel Zegler, a relative newcomer, portrays Maria perfectly, with
a stunning voice and captivating performance, it seems like she was almost born
to play this role. Mike Faist’s Riff, the leader of The Jets is another
highlight, commanding every scene he’s in. However, it’s Ariana DeBose, as Anita,
who really steals the show. Every time DeBose is on screen it’s impossible to
take your eyes off her, and it’s clear to see why she is receiving so many awards
for her role in this film. Many actors in West Side Story were directly pulled
from musical theatre, with Steven Spielberg rather unsurprisingly proving that
casting musical theatre actors in a musical actually pays off.
As mentioned before, this new version of West Side Story not
only keeps the essence of the original film but also adds more depth to
background characters in a way that only elevates the story. For example, in
the 1961 version, the character of Anybodys is a tom-boy trying to be part of
The Jets, but with no real backstory. However, in Spielberg’s version, Anybodys
is a trans man who just wants to be accepted by his peers.
Overall, Spielberg’s take on West Side Story has done a rare
thing, in that it has pleased both fans of the original as well as those experiencing
the story for the first time, and because of this I’m sure it will become a
timeless classic itself in years to come.
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