dir. Steven Spielberg (trailer)
Steven Spielberg's long awaited passion project West Side Story adapts the Broadway musical for the big screen. Written by Tony Kushner, the film is not a direct remake of the 1961 version but an updated retelling drawing from the same premise. Starring newcomers Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose, as Maria and Anita, the film has an authenticity that the 1961 version does not have. Other actors include Ansel Elgort, Corey Stoll, Brian d'Arcy James to round out the ensemble cast.
Using a Romeo & Juliet style plot, Maria is the sister of a prominent member of the Sharks, a Puerto Rican street gang fighting for their share of the turf. When Maria meets Tony, a member of the rival Jets who is trying to keep out of trouble, fighting begins between the two gangs, as Tony and Maria struggle to be together. Spielberg's expert direction, including the use of sweeping crane shots that give scope to the sheer amount of choreography needed for each musical number, is what really makes this film special.
As someone who isn't even a huge fan of musicals, I really enjoyed this. Spielberg brings a dark grit to the story and writer Tony Kushner further fleshes out the socio-political aspects of the world in which these characters live in. I highly recommend this film to fans of the original film and even those who do not typically enjoy musicals.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Recommended for fans of: drama, La La Land (2017), Rebel without a Cause (1955), musicals, Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
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