West Side Story Review - Another Masterpiece from Steven Spielberg
The mere concept of Steven Spielberg directing a musical conjures up images of a whimsical fever dream, but nothing has made greater sense to me since seeing West Side Story! His masterfully articulate vision of keeping the iconic musical's essence intact, but with a splice of modern storytelling tactics interlaced and, more importantly, a diverse and vivacious cast, ensures that the 2021 version is just as fruitful (if not more!) a cinematic success as the classic 1961 10-time Academy Award-winning movie.
Steven makes it clear that West Side Story was a personal, familial effort for him, based more on the 1957 stage musical than the Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins directed film. This may be seen in his grandiose approach, which alternates between realism and surrealism through the gritty characters and the dismal environs. West Side Story, directed by Steven Spielberg, is also an obtrusive love letter to a 1950s New York.
While Anita (Ariana DeBose) is Bernando's kryptonite, a 'doomed' love at first sight affair between a recently paroled and Jets member Tony (Ansel Elgort) and Bernardo's younger sister Maria (Rachel Zegler) leads to the Jets and Sharks' rising tensions reaching a tragic conclusion. While Tony and Maria's love storey is given significant weight, the true storey of West Side Story focuses on the disintegrating, wasted youth who have been cast out of society and find solace in antagonising one another, while being classified as literal rubble to be removed.
When it comes to the performances, Ariana steals the show, controlling every frame like a brilliant painting with infectious sassy confidence. Newcomer rachel is as entertaining, albeit in a less exuberant style, as she conveys Maria's butterfly personality, poised to unfold, with calm delicacy. Zegler has the look of someone who belongs in Hollywood, and it's easy to see why she was picked from hundreds of applicants to play Maria.
Steven makes it clear that West Side Story was a personal, familial effort for him, based more on the 1957 stage musical than the Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins directed film. This may be seen in his grandiose approach, which alternates between realism and surrealism through the gritty characters and the dismal environs. West Side Story, directed by Steven Spielberg, is also an obtrusive love letter to a 1950s New York.
While Anita (Ariana DeBose) is Bernando's kryptonite, a 'doomed' love at first sight affair between a recently paroled and Jets member Tony (Ansel Elgort) and Bernardo's younger sister Maria (Rachel Zegler) leads to the Jets and Sharks' rising tensions reaching a tragic conclusion. While Tony and Maria's love storey is given significant weight, the true storey of West Side Story focuses on the disintegrating, wasted youth who have been cast out of society and find solace in antagonising one another, while being classified as literal rubble to be removed.
When it comes to the performances, Ariana steals the show, controlling every frame like a brilliant painting with infectious sassy confidence. Newcomer rachel is as entertaining, albeit in a less exuberant style, as she conveys Maria's butterfly personality, poised to unfold, with calm delicacy. Zegler has the look of someone who belongs in Hollywood, and it's easy to see why she was picked from hundreds of applicants to play Maria.