West Side Story (Spielberg)

 

West Side Story (Spielberg)

• Director: Stephen Spielberg
• Seen by this director – Ready Player One, BFG, War of the Worlds, Catch Me If You Can, AI, Saving Private Ryan, Amistad, Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park, Hook, The Colour Purple, ET, Close Encounters of the Third Degree, Jaws, Sugarland Express, The Duel
• Based on the play by William Shakespeare
• Cast: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Rita Moreno, Brian D’Arcy James, Mike Faist, Josh Andés Rivera, Iris Menas
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Ansel Elgort – The Fault in Our Stars
• Rita Moreno – West Side Story, The King and I, Singing in the Rain, TV series
• Brian D’Arcy James – X Men Dark Phoenix, First Man, Molly’s Game
• Why? The original
• Seen: 13 January 2023      

       Bernstein’s original is a real favourite with one major and one minor exception. Richard Beymer is completely wrong for the role of Tony and, while I love her dearly, Natalie Wood was too sweet as Maria and she doesn’t do her own singing. Otherwise I love it and the dancing in unsurpassable.

       How will this one work?

       Two observations: there is more background to the characters and there are more street scenes and more interaction with New Yorkers. Both good.

       It was a bold and risky move on Spielberg’s part to take this on. He’s a brilliant director but several of his films are flops, in my eyes. It was also courageous of the cast to take on these legendary roles.

       They all succeed admirably. This is as good as the original, in some ways even better. Elgar and Zelgar are definitely better than Beymer and Wood. I have never reviewed and rated the original but if I were to give it 6* of 7, I would have to give this version 

7 * of 7