[Rating: Rock Fist WAY Up]
In theaters now.
How could I have ever doubted Steven Spielberg? The man whose films got me into loving films as a child. The director who I dressed as for Halloween one year because I fell in love with everything I saw of his. Of course, without a doubt, when I heard he was going to remake West Side Story, an already perfect film, I hesitated. And yet, through all the hype and praise I have heard from this film, I can positively say it is a damn masterpiece. Along with writer Tony Kushner, Spielberg puts new style and pizzazz into this reimagining of the famous musical, following more of the plotting of the original Broadway production helmed back in 1957 by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Jerome Robbins. This new telling of the classic Romeo and Juliet in New York City is just what I needed to end the year.
If you have seen the story, it is essentially the same as it was before. The NYC streets are being run by the Jets, a gang of white youth led by Riff (Mike Faist) and the Sharks, a Puerto Rican gang led by Bernardo (David Alvarez). While all the fighting drives the local cops crazy and threats of even more violence escalate, we follow the two gangs to a school dance. Bernardo’s girlfriend Anita (Ariana DeBose), who enjoys her new life in America, and Bernardo’s sister Maria (newcomer Rachel Zegler) both join in the festivities with hope that Maria will fall in love with a Puerto Rican boy. However, in a star-crossed lovers situation, Maria sees Tony (Ansel Elgort) across the room. A former leader of the Jets, the two have nothing in common and yet, they become smitten with one another. They are about to risk everything for love. The rest is history.
Through song and dance, West Side Story comes alive in new and vibrant ways. Spielberg brings the action to the streets but includes actual city people who get to see these crazy kids dance their hearts out and cause chaos in a changing landscape.
Really, at the heart of this film is the inclusion of Rita Moreno who plays Valentina, a friend to all and the voice of reason to the violence these kids cause that will ultimately end in suffering. Her powerful rendition of Somewhere gives an entire new meaning to this film. Plus, having Moreno in this links audiences back to the 1961 film without making this a one-and-done cameo situation. For any Broadway fans, the placement of I Feel Pretty is changed (and beautifully staged – the best production of the film) to what you would have seen on stage, and works so well to juxtapose the previous scene. Just wait, you’ll be shocked.
I could go on and on about this film. It is perfect for me. Everybody in this is perfect and feels like they want to be here. This is a film that provides much more than kids running around, dancing and singing, but a reason why these kids hate and how that hate can ruin everybody’s lives. The fact that I am seeing my favorite director craft a musical in my lifetime is beyond me. It left me speechless. It left me wondering why I would doubt Spielberg, who so lovingly took this story and reimagined it for a new era. You can love both films of West Side Story as I do, and find something new and interesting with each.
Dare I say, for me, the best film of the year.
Christian Ramos is a classic film fan, having had the dream to host Turner Classic Movies for years now. He also has a large amount of Oscar trivia in his head, remembers dressing as Groucho Marx one Halloween, and cherishes the moment Julianne Moore liked his tweet.
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