Wonderful casting and Choreography brought the whole story alive absolute adored those scenes in the street with the colours used for the art direction.
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sherstinton1 February 2022
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globewarmer27 January 2022Being a Spielberg fan and believing WSS is great music and a great film that I remember seeing as a teen when it came out, I felt I had a good appetite for this, and thought okay these people look good, though theyre not Wood/Beymer/Chakiris/Moreno, and it's got its feet on the ground not in the sky, no shots of NYC from above, and so much of the classic was filmed from above, but here we are earthbound; okay, and yes, the dancing is more balletic, the singing more authentic and full throated, but at the half way point I thought Spielberg had made a mistake, he had made a fair copy but why spaff all that money to make a poor substitute? However it's the last third of the film that departs into considerably more dramatic mode, and this is where the Kushner/Spielberg pairing shines. They've created something which made me think this could stand side by side with Shakespeare without shame. I think he might have approved and wept.
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bladzofyr29 December 2021The legend who is Steven Spielberg has certainly made another masterpiece. WEST SIDE STORY was absolutetly incredible! I always appreciate and search for films with plenty of heart and this one never missed a beat! The characters are energetic and full of personality and from the get go you're imersed and believing in the world/spaces presented. Theres an ernestness often amiss in modern cinema, but that is not the case for West Side Story.
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gmwernick28 December 2021Spielberg's a brave man to take on perhaps one of the best movies ever made .... but he does a masterclass. Some of the photography, especially at the beginning looks like it was optimised for 3D which detracts, but I was quickly drawn into the maelstrom of fantastic scores, dancing, cinematography, beautiful little touches, and heart jerking by the maestro.
I really don't understand how anybody could rate this anything other than a 10 out of 10, let alone poorly. -
damius-3835710 January 2022Just wanted to make that pun cuz no one else has. Great cast, great director, great movie. Also, if you don't wanna watch it cuz you don't like Ansel then dont. Hundreds of others worked on this, not just him. This is not the work of one, it is the work of many.
You don't get to bring down the whole building because you dislike 1 person inside. -
prberg28 February 2022Really great journey in the theater. Performances were really great and it was just well made and a powerful and emotional journey. Recommended and a really great ride through good times and bad. Spielberg is a Master, no doubt.
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yiayia-662503 January 2022Absolutely loved everything about the movie. Extremely entertaining. Singing by both main actors was incredible. Choreography well done. Set design, wardrobe, etc fabulous as well. I saw the original as a young teen and loved it then, but I have to say this is far superior. A must see.
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g-3233124 May 2022The movie was fun to watch at the beginning but after the dance experiment thing it stopped. I felt like the story was going too fast which didn't really allow me to like any of the characters just and for the most part I just found all of them annoying with how they acted. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the dances they had, those were really fun to watch with how elaborate they were.
Asides from that I liked that this movie was made in a way that includes minorities for example the subtitles. When Spanish was spoken it wasn't translated, which I feel was a way in how those minorities might have felt by trying to figure out English on their own. -
cassidyhossemckenna21 January 2022Amazing, incredible, very impressive movie & I love it so much & it makes me feel inspired & it is my happy place & it's also is a great West side story that I ever loved.every time I watched it over & over I felt like I'm home & free & I see passion of you're celebrities names through your character names from the movie & is like you are the gang of the truth & I love it so much & I feel a connection to you like family like where I belong too & I feel like you are my family who is my brother's of the Jet's & Shark's & I feel amazing & amusing & it feels great & I love it so much.
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First off, I love musicals. Most movie musicals blow it though and this one is no exception. Rita Moreno was fantastic. I also really liked the actor who did Chino. There was not one other character that worked for me. I was shocked that the girl that played Anita won the Oscar. I stopped watching the Oscars 20 years ago, but sometimes I watch a movie, knowing that a certain person won the Oscar for that role. How in the world did she win? I thought she was average at best. The two leaders were also just OK. The dancing was pretty good, and the set was amazing but other than that it was a very poor remake. When an emotional show is done correctly, I'm usually crying, especially in the original. The only scene that caused emotion for me was when Rita Moreno told Tony that Maria was dead. The rest of the movie was going through the dialogue with no anything. And then the final scene was completely flubbed by Spielberg. No wonder it was pretty much a flop.
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annelsha24 February 2023I confess, I am shocked at the number of positive reviews, both user and critical, in connection with this remake. I almost don't know where to start with its glaring flaws. This version retains none of the charm of the original. It plays more like a straight drama in which the music is a superfluous add-on.
The rewritten screenplay is dull, and the staging sterile. The characters do not engage you emotionally the way they did in the original. I should point out that I do not place the blame for that on the actors, but, rather, on the direction and script. The actors themselves are talented and did the best they could in the face of these limitations (Maria and Anita in particular).
I would only say that, while the 1961 version is my favorite movie, I have seen amateur productions, as well as the Broadway remake with Debbie Allen as Anita. I have been touched by high school productions, so the mere fact that this was a remake is not the determinative factor in my views. This remake just fell flat. -
MostsiXCX9 January 2022It's not a remake. This has absolutely nothing to do with the 1961 film. They are completely separate adaptations of the stage musical. This is not rocket science. New versions of West Side Story are made every year around the world. The 1961 film has literally zero ownership over this story and characters.
It's as simple as this.. anyone crying about this film being "woke" - has not seen it. The extremely short passages of Spanish dialogue are deliberately written to not need subtitles. The performances make the context of the speech obvious - and everything is repeated in English anyway. Anybodys is presented exactly the same as the 1961 film - no reference to "non-binary" is ever made. Ergo the people moaning about the casting have (again) not even seen the film. Nothing about the main plot is changed, but the backstory is developed with great success. Chino especially is a huge improvement from earlier adaptions. Tony's more genuine past is a big asset to the film as well. Rita Moreno's new role is wonderful.
It's an incredible ensemble performance. The dancing is amazing, and the singing is breath-taking. And there's no miming here - many of the songs were even recorded live on set! The work behind the camera is equally impressive. Stunning cinematography and direction. Tony & Maria didn't have perfect chemistry, but the rest of the performance more than makes up for that.
Why are people acting invested in how much money this film makes, as if that has anything to do with it's quality. For a reality check I will remind you Steven Spielberg is literally the richest film director is the history of cinema. The guy is a multi-billionaire. Some people make a success of their lives while internet trolls waste away. Make better choices. And I realise I'm shouting into the void here - this page has clearly been completely lost to those trolls. Or should just say "troll" - on the first page alone I count 6 users that are all literally the same person. That's the extent of my patience, but no doubt this bizarre person has dozens more fake accounts if I could be bothered to check. Why someone would waste their life trolling a film website 24/7 is beyond me - but whatever, it's a free country. -
TheLittleSongbird20 June 2023Expectations were mixed for this remake of 'West Side Story'. The 1961 adaptation of Leonard Bernstein's classic is one of my favourite musicals and an all time favourite as well. Have always loved Steven Spielberg as a director, despite him being hit and miss for quite some time. Not to mention the awards attention. Remakes do not have the best of reputations, with many being pointless and bad on their own terms (i.e. 'Psycho', 'The Wicker Man', 'Rollerball').
Likewise with major directors directing one musicals, look to Sidney Lumet for 'The Wiz' and Richard Attenborough for 'A Chorus Line (actually found it hard to believe that they did those films). John Huston's 'Annie' also has a not so good reputation, have personally always loved that film while acknowledging that Huston was not the right director. While not loving it as much as the critics and understanding the division, 'West Side Story' does not disgrace the original and is one of Spielberg's better films in recent years, while also having a huge amount to love on its own terms.
There are issues. The weak link is the stiff, bland and one note performance of Ansel Elgort as Tony, who also overacts unintentionally humorously towards the end. Also would have liked a lot more romantic chemistry between him and Rachel Zegler, which is nowhere near as well developed or interesting as the gang rivalry.
What would have made it a little more believable would have been to have had "Tonight" more stripped back and straightforward and not have the amount of clambering there was. Did think too that it was misjudged to not have subtitles, which is likely to confuse those with limited or no knowledge of the language and the idea to give "Somewhere" to Rita Moreno's character and at the time it was placed made no sense.
However, so much is great. There are improvements here, the rivalry between the gangs is much grittier as is the portrayal of the Sharks (if the film did exactly how they were portrayed in the original it would be seen as problematic). Really appreciated that a backstory was given to Tony and Riff has a lot more depth too. The diversity did not bother me at all. It is beautifully made, with stunning photography and absolutely loved how they opened up the action with more authentic and uncompromising locations. Spielberg is far from out of his depth, directing it like a love letter to the genre and with affection while not being overblown.
Bernstein's music is still timeless and vibrantly arranged, especially "America". Many of the musical numbers are staged incredibly well, with "America" being a hugely colourful showstopper. "Officer Krupkee" is absolutely hilarious and the montage in the second rendition of "Tonight" was beautifully put together and sweet. And then there is the showdown, which is full of fierce brutality. The rest of the performances are terrific. Zegler is a revelation and it was like she had been doing film and musicals for years, she really charmed and moved me. Her one failure was Maria's indifferent reaction to Bernardo's death, but that was a directing issue rather than her. Ariana DeBose is amazing too as Anita, the fire and passion she shows sizzling. Mike Faist brings so much nuance and depth to Riff.
Concluding, really liked it while not loving it. 7/10. -
Marymambo28 May 2023Why did the lovers not sing Somewhere? The whole story revolves around their tragic love story and that was their song, not the song of a widow singing about her dead husband. Who cares about that, honestly? The male lead lacked passion and power. Why no subtitles for all the dialogue in Spanish? That was a missed opportunity to communicate every bit of the story that you could. Why cast a skinny guy as Riff? Also the original choreography was brilliant - why scrap it? I'm surprised Bernstein's score wasn't discarded, just to do something different. But certainly not better than the original film.
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fedorovaanasnas19 January 2022Steven Spielberg remade the 10-time winner of the 1961 Academy Award and the musical known as "West Side Story." The film was definitely a remake, as it represents the conditions that were created in the 1960s, especially the social conditions and behavioral problems that existed in that decade. People waiting for a modern update will be really disappointed.
I must say right away that this is definitely my favorite piece of musical cinema. Based on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet".
I really liked it, I advise everyone to watch it!!! -
tmc-5894923 December 2021Amazingly good. I liked the original. This version left me awed. While true to the original the sets, the choreography, the cast were all beyond my wildest expectations. And Rachel Zegler is Maria is exquisite.
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aaturner19 December 2021How many remakes have you seen that does justice to the original? This one does.
West Side Story IMO is the hands down best musical of all time
In some areas it is stronger, others weaker.
Less stagey, choreography not quite as good Maria and Tony were weak, same as the 61 version.
Anita and Bernado were excellent But, what possible reason for having Spanish dialogue without subtitles.
That takes my score down from nine to an eight. -
gullycat10 January 2022I took my 75 year old mother who detests change at all costs to see this production. (It wasn't easy getting her to go, and I was sneaky going about it too). I am talking about literal panic attacks over the thought of change. During the movie, I saw her smiling every time she heard her favorite songs, seeing the new interpretation. There was even the occasional toe tapping. Even after the tragedy of the final scenes (it is Romeo and Juliet based after all), she barely walked out the theater door and stopped. She grabbed my arm with a straight face of wonder and awe and said, "Jennifer, I think that was better than the first. Jennifer, it was perfect." I can think of no greater compliment and review. Steven Spielberg breathed new life into the story that unknowingly had become a treasured relic to me. This version reimagines the songs, the story, the choreography, the photography, the colors, the setting, the lighting, the costumes, the characters, giving them purpose and significance. The characters have depth and dimension, providing the viewer a more thoughtful perspective that did not exist before (my thoughts). This film is more than a regurgitation of the songs that we have heard a million times over with the same script. It is an actual film with singing direction, acting direction, and speaking direction, and in every aspect, there is a method to the proverbial madness. It is apparent that every single person that worked on this production, actors, actresses and crew, dedicated their whole heart and soul into making this the best version it can be. Each cast member has a personal connection to West Side Story, just like we do, and I promise you this is not a remake or a reboot. It is something different. What more can we ask?
Side note - It took me two years to come around to even entertaining the idea of a new movie because it is so personal to me (both the movie and the play), so I understand why a person might be annoyed or uninterested, it wasn't until I saw Steven Spielberg's interview where he explained why he decided to direct a new film because I could relate to his desire. His passion and excitement of this project is palpable. Steven Spielberg received Rita Moreno's blessing, Sondheim's blessing, and the Bernstein estate as well. Richard Beymer even went to the set.
To anyone who reads this review - I promise you that it is worth your time. The first time I saw it, I had to see past the original, nonetheless, falling in love with the characters all over again and feeling exhilarated by the new interpretation of the songs and choreography, and the second time, it was even more earth moving because there was so much to absorb and feel - the love, the conflict, and ultimately hope that came from the tragedy. Take the time to go. Try to be open to a new experience and ask yourself - do you honestly think that Steven Spielberg, one of the best directors and my personal favorite, would ever half-ass the Holy Grail of his bucket list? Absolutely not. I am descending from my soapbox now, but again, if my 75 year old mother, an art teacher of 50 years who is set in her ways, said that it is better than the first, it is absolutely worth your time. PS - Give yourself the opportunity or option to fall in love for the first time or again like I did (I'm 42 now but saw it for the first time at age 7). -
Over the years I have rated hundreds of movies, but I have only given twenty five a 10 out of 10. One of these was the original WSS movie version of 1961. So how does the old one stand up to the latest Spielberg outing? Ok, the original had it's faults but it took itself seriously enough to be a fairly successful transfer from stage to screen. This new version, while still setting it in the 1950s, tried to bring it into the 21st century with flashy camera work, ginormous sound stages and hundreds of extras. Gone is the feel of a theatrical stage production. In fact, the editing of some of the dance sequences (e.g. Dance at the Gym) was so spit-second fast that it was impossible to concentrate on any one performer.
Now to make Romeo & Juliet/West Side Story work we rely heavily on the chemistry of the leads. I'm afraid Ansel and Rachel have no chemistry. They can sing well but as lovers...well? The original Dance at the Gym meeting was laughable. At least the '61 version treated it as a sort of dance fantasy. Which worked. If you can't feel some sympathy for the leads then who cares what happens to them later.
Rather than focusing on the negative side of the movie then let's mention the things that worked. There were several stand-out performers. Ariana DeBore (Anita), David Alvarez (Bernardo), and Mike Faist (Riff) stole the show with some great acting and amazing dancing. I did miss the Jerome Robbins' choreography but I am sure the Justin Peck version would have impressed me as much if the camera would stop darting all over the place. Two other actors deserve mention. Josh Andres Rivera (Chino) did so well in his slightly beefed up role, and, of course, Rita Moreno would have me even if she was promoting baby nappies!
The costume designs were great, especially the men. The women's were a bit loud and a little too perfect for Puerto Rican's who hang their washing on the fire escape to dry.
So this version does not replace the original '61. It may appeal to a younger generation who have never seen the other....although I wonder if they would really sit through a number like 'I feel pretty' without bursting out laughing. -
francois-wevers-955-5571330 January 2022I was skeptical into this knowing how great the orignal is. Yet, I was extremely impressed and dumbfounded by how good this new version is. It kept with the spirit of the origInal work and made a few changes but very appropriately.
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soccermaniac-8590715 December 2021West Side Story is a beautiful story but the original was always hard for me to sit through. No disrespect, but it never completely caught my attention. Spielberg's version is well thought out, keeps your attention and is worth seeing. I'm so impressed by the cast. I'm even more happy that Spielberg casted actual singers vs people who can't sing but really try. I haven't always loved West Side Story but when it's done right, it's beautiful. I hope to see more musicals come out in theatres. If they're redoing classics, I hope they do them justice.
Spielberg may not attempt any more musicals in the future but I'm impressed with what he accomplished in West Side Story. -
kimhanson-3388515 January 2023Choreography proves that, while it is easy to be different than Robbins, its very difficult to be as good as Robbins. Filming and editing of dance sequences are often cliched and no less often overly sentimental...not surprising from Spielberg. "America" is an exception to most of these comments although the editing is still choppy and interrupts the flow the choreography itself is hot. Again the slow dolly down at the end is cliched to the max (perhaps trying to pay tribute to the end of American in Paris.) Mostly this number is great because Ariana DeBose is fantastic here, and throughout....a well-deserved Oscar winner in an otherwise 2nd rate production.
Most of the vocal performances are lifeless and never more-so than when Ansel Elgort's Tony is singing. Most of the numbers were recorded off set contributing to the lack of emotion. One Hand One Heart was apparently recorded on set and had much more feeling than most of the other songs but I still find Ansel 's Tony lacking in passion here.
Much of the orchestrations are modified from the original, not sure if driven by the choreography but they often result in the diminishing of a great score.
The non-lead characters of the Sharks and Jets, women and men, are excellent .
Rachel Zegler's Maria nicely acted, well sung, and believable. I found little honesty in Ansel's portrayal, your mileage may differ. -
kingstarserve124 December 2021I have been a fan of the original film for years. I was very concerned that this version would just not work. However, it was just brilliant. The acting was great, the singing was easily up to the quality of the original film. A couple of changes but they work well. I would highly recommend this film.
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ElMaruecan8228 May 2023To be honest, "West Side Story" remade by Steven Spielberg was more an object of curiosity than the kind of cinematic-offer-you-cant-refuse. I could accept the premise since the Best Picture winner of 1961 was already an adaptation of the stage musical by Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein, itself an umpteenth retelling of Romeo and Juliet (which wasn't even a novelty). Such material is likely to be retouched, revisited and readapted to a modern audience and baby-boomer Steven who was enamored with the play decided to make his own version for a 2020s audience. He did well but that's not saying much.
Now, it was Godard who said the best way to criticize a film is to make your own and Spielberg's remake seems to carry some criticism against the original, and while enjoying both versions isn't an impossibility, one should question whether the changes enhance the story or not. Well, first the film doesn't take as many liberties as I expected: all the catchy songs featured in the original (practically all of them) are there... yet a few minor changes speak volumes about our world's overly sensitive mindset.
I can already imagine screenwriter Tony Kushner torturing himself with an adjective rhyming with "any girl who's not me today" during the "I feel pretty" segment until Eureka-ing with "bright" and prompting Spielberg to switch the scene from morning to night. It sounded a bit off for the word 'gay' didn't have the same connotation in the late 50s when the film is supposed to take place, that Spielberg removes it shows that he's not as much a purist as his insistance to have the Sharks talk non-subtitled Spanish implies. Sorry but either you play the full-authenticity card or you don't. Now let's get to the controversial lack of subtitles in theaters.
I saw it on Disney+ with subtitles but I can imagine the frustration in the theaters. If there's a point not to reveal the content of some exchanges, I understand, but depriving viewers from clear understanding in order to give a symbolic edge to the Puerto Ricans seems more like a guilt-trip move from a white director sucking up to the minority and it's utterly irrational. The Puerto-Rican chant might not have needed subtitles or some idioms like "guapa" or "vamos" etc, but following the same logic, wouldn't they sing "America, America" (or any songs for that matter) in Spanish then? Should we dismiss any film with foreign-speakers speaking English? Should we re-dub "Scarface"? How zealous should we get? How about suspension of disbelief, the essence of movie-making? Seriously, Spielberg's so-called respect to Spanish culture can hardly hide his desperate attempt to be 'relevant' and make the buzz through a little controversy. Not that it helped the film.
Some good points though: Rachel Ziegler was as convincing as Natalie Wood in her portrayal of the sweet and delicate (but strong-willed) Maria and while Ansel Egort as Tony didn't bring much magnetism, neither did his predecessor Richard Beymer. But "WSS" is essentially a supporting cast film and the juiciest roles belong to Riff (Josh Andres a little less charming than Russ Tamblyn), Bernardo (David Alvarez reprising George Shakiris' role) and of course, Anita (Ariana DeBose taking the part of Rita Moreno). In fact, Anita is the central protagonist who displays the widest range of emotions, she has that big sister's supporting instinct with Maria, she's strong, naughty, saucy and sassy with men, using both her tongue, her moves and dresses as deadly weapons.
And now, she belongs to these characters that won two Oscars by different actor like the Joker (Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix). De Bose would succeed to Moreno, who has a small but touching role as Tony's drugstore employer. A nice touch. On the other hand, Alvarez doesn't have Shakiris' magnetism and never strikes as a gang leader.
Now, the film features a good deal deal of well-choreographed scenes and some brilliant camera-work from Spielberg, but they lacked the colors and the genuine punch of the original. The "America, America" song is one of the most iconic musicals moments of history and that it was shot in dark intimacy brightened the beautiful girls' dresses and the interactions with the boys made it look a fun inside joke, but Spielberg treats it as a Disney ensemble song shot in broad daylight... as for the "Tonight" song, I was so turned on by Rita Moreno putting on her stockings and saying she would get her kicks (for her little private mix), that I couldn't forgive they made her whisper that line in a church. The joke relieved that moment from its hot sexual tension.
Speaking of DeBose, not saying she wasn't good, she nailed the part but her Oscar win confirmed a certain trajectory taken by the Oscars lately making the Best Supporting Actress the most predictable slot. It seems that all it takes is to have a female character a little more charismatic than the heroine, and that's it. De Bose seems to have fun being Anita, overplaying her accent and intonations and I wish there could be one silent scene that showcases her dramatic ability, there was such a moment, it lasted only three seconds.
Anyway, it's worth watching this version to realize how the original stood the test of time, this one is a bit weaker but to the degree that it remained faithful to the original I kind of appreciated it, to the degree it tried to insert some relevant issues (although the tomboy girl seemed forced and gratuitous), I understood it, but to the degree that I like to rewatch masterpieces, I'll stick with the original. If anything, this film made me want to rewatch the 1961 classic. -
harril-586-2674522 May 2023Reviews often talk about a lack of chemistry between lead characters. Any version of a Romeo & Juliet story has to convince the viewer that these lead characters truly love each other whilst their families hate one another with deep intensity. In Zeffirelli's version these 2 criteria are met convincingly and also in the 1961 version of West Side Story to a lesser degree. On-screen chemistry must mean good acting since Natalie Wood disliked her co-star Richard Beymer but both managed to act like they were in love. The same can't be said about Rachel Ziegler & Ansel Elgort who can't seem to muster the chops to show real passion for each other. The new sequencing of the songs often weakened the excitement of the plot: I Feel Pretty - straight after climactic fight/murder scene and Crazy Boy - during Tony's lame attempt to take Riff's gun are a couple of examples. The Jets and Sharks didn't get each other in this version. In the older one their mutual loathing was fierce & obvious. In spite of the high standard of Tony, Maria & Anita's vocals this production is bland and unmemorable.