West Side Story (2021)

[Greg]

Finally, Spielberg's remake of West Side Story came to Oakhurst. I was disappointed when the film was released in December but my local theater didn't screen it. First, tQ and I were probably the youngest people in the theater. And the audience was loud, so loud. I was getting ready to tell the alta cockers to shut the fuck up when they all seemed to quiet. I did give one glare to the row behind us.

The film was good. It might have been received better if there hadn't been the original  1961 version. But that version does exist and this film isn't as ground breaking as it could have been. Spielberg does use New York very well, there is a tremendous sense of place. The original film was filmed and set in the area of New York where Lincoln Center exists today and the 2021 version makes great use of the neighborhood being torn down to make way for the new music center and upscale apartments. It's probably one of my favorite things about the new movie.

The big musical numbers are very well done. I especially liked the Officer Krupke number and the "Everything great in America" song which I really liked in the original. Spielberg does shuffle the order of the songs which was odd, but makes it work. Of all the actors, I think Mike Faist who plays Riff does the best job. Although David Alvarez who plays Bernardo is pretty good as well. Tony and Maria are always terrible characters and they are terrible in this as well.

During the movie, I kept waiting for things to happen that I knew should happen. Being too familiar with the story is a problem. At the end of the day, the film is fine.

A nice brawl or two but no sword fights.

[Greg]

Spielberg: King of the Oner.

[Drunk Monk]

Seen. Loved it. The original is a tough act to follow and this does better than anticipated, although still in the shadow. Rita produced and performed, so there’s a blessing in that. 

The choreo was sharp. Quick kids to the original but then took it somewhere else. Spielberg ripped a page from Bollywood with some of the staging, but that’s okay. It still felt fresh. It started out a bit preachy - yeah this is about race - and during the first half I was thinking I should just fast forward to the dance scenes, but once the numbers got rolling, it was all good.

So many lens flares. So much playing with the lighting. Spielberg hasn’t lost his touch. Lensflarepaloosa!  But a master class in how to move a camera. Spielberg still gots mad skills with framing and light, even if it’s so overdone. 

My only disagreement was with Tony and Maria. They were good, Maria especially. They could belt songs which is all I ask of show tune singers. And they could dance. Sure, their characters are dumb but so was Romeo and Juliet, especially when you consider how fast their relationship moved. 

I still think of Stro when I hear ‘when you’re a Jet’ 

The America number was my fav. It’s my fav tune from the show so all they had to do was mail that one and I’d be satisfied. And that was superb. On the flip side, I felt this Crazy Boy paled in comparison to the original film, even though it was a decent dance fight.

Moderately D00M recommended. Seen on Disney+

[King Bob]

DM wrote:
The America number was my fav. It’s my fav tune from the show so all they had to do was mail that one and I’d be satisfied.

Where did they mail it to?

[Greg]

Stay in your own lane, KB.

I saw the new version again the other day on HBO just to watch the America number again. Very good. I also now know it comes in around the 1 hour and 5 minute mark. Next I need to see the officer Krupke song again.

[Drunk Monk]

DM wrote:
The America number was my fav. It’s my fav tune from the show so all they had to do was mail that one and I’d be satisfied.

Where did they mail it to?

Puerto Rico? 



Now I want to see the original movie again.

[Greg]

I heard the song so often I miss the mean lyrics.

[Greg]

New trailer just dropped.