Something’s coming, something good, at least if the early responses to Steven Spielberg’s remake of “West Side Story” are any indication. The highly anticipated 20th Century Studios film had its first screenings in New York and Los Angeles on Monday night and left audiences thrilled with how Spielberg and writer Tony Kushner reconceptualized, reconfigured, and restaged the 1961 musical adaptation from Robert Wise that won Best Picture.
“Spielberg has been rehearsing to make a musical for 50 years so it’s not like he was gonna mess up one of the greatest ever written,” Indiewire critic David Ehrlich wrote on Twitter.
Below the Line editor and critic Edward Douglas was even more enthusiastic. “I don’t see any possible scenario where #WestSideStory doesn’t win Best Picture (again),” he wrote. “Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional. The Mouse House has a winner and they know it.”
Based on the original 1957 musical, which was adapted into the 1961 film, Spielberg’s “West Side Story” stars newcomer Rachel Zegler as Maria and Ansel Elgort as Tony, two star-crossed lovers whose lives are forever altered on the streets of the Upper West Side in 1950s New York. Zegler and Elgort are joined by a large ensemble cast, including Ariana DeBose and David Alvarez as Anita and Bernardo, respectively, iconic roles that won original stars Rita Moreno and George Chakiris Oscars in the supporting actor categories.
Moreno, an executive producer on the Spielberg film, returned for the new version of “West Side Story,” playing the owner of the local drug store, a key location in the film. The legendary actress, who is now 90, received strong praise from the initial screenings and nascent awards buzz as well.
“Rita Moreno just might be in that Oscar race with her,” The Daily Beast senior entertainment reporter Kevin Fallon wrote.
“Rita Moreno might be the first actor to win for a new role in a remake of the film that won her first Oscar. West Side Story reminds you why she’s a legend,” added Variety deputy awards and features editor Jenelle Riley.
“West Side Story” is out in theaters on December 10. Check out reactions from the film’s debut screenings below.
Rita Moreno might be the first actor to win for a new role in a remake of the film that won her her first Oscar. West Side Story reminds you why she’s a legend.
— Jenelle Riley (@jenelleriley) November 30, 2021
West Side Story (2021): A great musical becomes another good movie. Looks like it cost a billion dollars, which goes a long way in restaging it. I’m screaming about every choice in the back of a car right now so maybe that’s good. Shoe-in for Best Revival Oscar.
— Matt Patches (@misterpatches) November 30, 2021
https://twitter.com/kpfallon/status/1465521021730103296
I cried during West Side Story. Rita Moreno is a legend. But omg nothing prepared me for @rachelzegler stunning debut.
— Jazz Tangcay (@jazzt) November 30, 2021
WEST SIDE STORY: when every frame of your movie looks like something you’d hang on the walls of your home that’s The Kaminski Method
— Evil Emma Stefansky (@stefabsky) November 30, 2021
Only Steven Spielberg could make a shot of someone standing in a puddle one of the most beautiful images of the year. West Side Story is quite a feat of reimagination.
— Jordan Raup (@jpraup) November 30, 2021
West Side Story: Spielberg has been rehearsing to make a musical for 50 years so it’s not like he was gonna mess up one of the greatest ever written, but some emotionally deadening choices sure were made in act 2. Young CGI Jeff Bridges is a good Tony & John Mulaney kills as Riff
— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) November 30, 2021
https://twitter.com/alex_abads/status/1465518101995429890
https://twitter.com/ChrisHayner/status/1465527455117103107
WEST SIDE STORY is *phenomenal.* Steven Spielberg has been talking about making a musical for almost his entire career, and this was worth the wait. This is top-tier Spielberg.
— Chris Evangelista (@cevangelista413) November 30, 2021
WEST SIDE STORY thoughts:
Steven Spielberg directs the hell out of a mediocre script. What an eye-roll inducing story.
Anything related to The Jets is insufferable, hell most of The Sharks are as well. The ladies do the heavy-lifting. This is Zegler, DeBose, and Moreno’s movie
— EJ Moreno (@EJKhryst) November 30, 2021
Spielberg’s West Side Story does understand that the best thing that can happen on film is a bunch of people strutting toward the camera singing in harmony
— Jackson McHenry (@McHenryJD) November 30, 2021
I was hoping that WEST SIDE STORY (2021) would sate my decades-long desire for Spielberg to do a musical. Alas, it is so beautifully shot and staged, such an absolute schooling of the usual musical directors, that I fear I now want him to make two or three more.
— Jesse Hassenger (@rockmarooned) November 30, 2021
Steven Spielberg’s #westsidestory is bold and stirring. The best parts are Tony Kushner’s book and the dramatic reimagining of classic numbers such as “America” and “Somewhere.” Ansel was a bit flat, but the rest of the cast is great and it feels like an #Oscars contender. pic.twitter.com/PAYJcoVAfZ
— Brent Lang (@BrentALang) November 30, 2021
More on WEST SIDE STORY on the whole in a bit, but first … HOLY MOLY, Mike Faist as Riff. One of those performances that grabs you by the collar, stops your pulse, and demands attention. That exceedingly rare pleasure of feeling like a star is forming before your eyes. A thrill. pic.twitter.com/mWfzaRGaIT
— Marshall Shaffer (@media_marshall) November 30, 2021
I don't see any possible scenario where #WestSideStory doesn't win Best Picture (again). Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional. The Mouse House has a winner and they know it.
— Edward Douglas (@EDouglasWW) November 30, 2021
A shocker: I didn’t dislike Spielberg’s #WestSideStory. It’s not a patch on the original (what is?). People’s skin are rendered way too pale. And the VFX is jarring. But Ariana DeBose and her evocative eyes were incredible. So were Rita Moreno and David Alvarez. Ansel? Eh. pic.twitter.com/OwEPlVuv4L
— Robert Daniels @ Locarno (@812filmreviews) November 30, 2021
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This year 2021 the digits add up to 5 so it is run by Mercury. Although Mercury has a tight hold over prosperity governing speculation and the financial procedures of the world, Venus governs ready cash at hand and arts in general and therefore musical extravaganza.
The year 2022 the digits add up to 6 which is Venus number.
Generally in a year, the months of October, November and December tends to usher in gradypually the characteristics of the next year. Why?
October which is 10 comprising 1 twhich is Shiva the unborn one and 0 Brahman the infinite consciousness of the ether space around us. October sets the stage for slowly dissolving the trend of the current year.
November which is 11 comprising two 1s meaning Shiva is slowly waking up after receiving a call from Brahman.
December which is 12 where Shiva has Parvati helping to set the stage of the mundane world of the new year.
Cyrano and West Side Story is going to make a splash at the end of the year. Catch the radar also to see any films of Venusian themes like prosperity of the family, the home (The Humans), trading involving cash on deliver, that is any films about the market bazaar both literally and figuratively (The House of Gucci).
So well deserved with all of this praise. Get ready. Spielberg’s coming to WIN IT ALL at the Dolby Theater in 2022. The new Best Picture frontrunner, in the form of a musical, is upon us and THIS is that film.
First, I always thought the music in West Side Story was so good it made the movie seem much better than it really was. So a remake made some sense. But I now hear that 40 percent of the dialogue is in Spanish and there are no subtitles. News flash: at least 80 percent of Americans do not speak fluent Spanish. I doubt if Spielberg himself even does. As soon as people learn this, you have just lost 80 percent of your possible audience. People who don’t know will be demanding refunds in droves. Has everyone lost their minds? This will surely be a huge disappointment to anyone expecting a hit. Spielberg is saying to 80 + percent of America, screw you. So, good luck with that!
I don’t think this is a problem at all. Critics actually praised Spielberg’s decision regarding no subtitles during Spanish dialogue. He’s trying to show us that even if you don’t understand what the Puerto Rican characters are saying vocally in that language during the film, you still can by watching the EMOTIONS and MOTIVATIONS portrayed by the actors playing those characters. Remember what Bong Joon-Ho said at the Golden Globes when he won Best Foreign Film for “Parasite?”
This is a sad comment.
Kudos to Mr. Spielberg!
I’ve always had a gut-reaction against remakes of good, older classic films, especially something like West Side Story. I’m a devout fan of the old original 1961 film version of West Side Story. I saw both trailers of the upcoming 2021 film version of West Side Story, and I did not care for what I saw. It seems way overdone, too heavy, and totally unnatural, to me, and not like West Side Story. The fact that 40% of the dialogue is in Spanish without any subtitles could also be a real turn-off for a lot of people, since most Americans (myself included, are not the least bit fluent in Spanish.
The Jets and Sharks themselves look too much like the newsie boys, and their girls look more like wealthy suburban prep-school girls that are dressed to the nines for partying around town than a bunch of gangsters’ girlfriends. The dancing also seems way too hyped up, as well
I was not planning on going but by circumstance I did. I was disappointed that the disrespect toward Jesus and God was not necessary, it hurt my soul to hear the remarks, that by the way were not in the original. Other than that the show was ok, but if you are a true fan of the original movie stay true to it. I did not cry at the end of Spielberg version, but when I went home and watched the 60’s movie I cried like I saw it the first time. So my feelings that the emotions were lost in the remake. Great movies are usually of moral standards which we are sadly losing in the face of Hollywood who they believe we want to hear those kinds of remarks.