'West Side Story' Review
PG-13: Some strong violence, strong language, thematic content, suggestive material, and brief smoking
Runtime: 2 Hrs and 36 Minutes
Production Companies: Amblin Entertainment, TSG Entertainment
Distributor: 20th Century Studios
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Tony Kushner
Cast: Rachel Zegler, Ansel Elgort, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Rita Moreno
Release Date: December 10, 2021
In Theaters Only
Tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love in 1957 New York City.
At the ripe age of 74, legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg keeps finding new methods to expand his reach. West Side Story is the first musical feature he’s ever helmed in his extensive filmography, but it’s no surprise that he knocks it out of the park. Spielberg reminds you that he is still, to this day, 100% “that bitch” whose style cannot be duplicated. From the opening prologue sequence, you are transported to the ‘50s as he brings the old Upper West Side to life. Very early on, the film exudes major Indiana Jones energy with the level of practical effects and shot composition for a chase scene involving the Sharks and the Jets.
Despite this being his first venture to the musical genre, Spielberg delivers like a pro. Each number from Bernstein and Sondheim’s classic is given a sweeping larger-than-life translation. Within the sets that are either shot on location or built from the ground up, there’s plenty of ample space for the members of both the Jets and Sharks to share as they dance, battle, or dance battle in. Unlike other musicals that came out this year, Spielberg makes sure you see the ensemble of performers moving gracefully without relying on too many cuts in a short time period. If anything, he emphasizes wide shots and oners to keep the scene full of exuberant energy. There’s a natural tension between the opposing sides and the timing of the camera matches the extravagant choreography by Justin Peck.
As lovely as the direction is, West Side Story wouldn’t be West Side Story without the supporting cast of characters who eat down their roles. This iteration is a prime example of a supporting cast running the gamut of the film, for Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, and Mike Faist deliver exceptional performances that match — if not elevate — the film’s entertainment value. Faist is Riff, the leader of the Jets, who are the queerest, most flamboyant proud boys you could ever meet. He brings such an old-school style of aggression and flamboyance that’s always at a 10 without feeling over-the-top. He steals every scene with his presence, charisma, swagger, and voice. The same sentiment is also applied to David Alvarez as the short-tempered boxer Bernardo. His hard-boiled attitude mixed with graceful movement and charm immerses you into the plight of the Sharks. Ariana DeBose is friggin’ phenomenal as Bernado’s girlfriend Anita. She has to carry the stress and weight of her man’s actions while being her own individual. When the film reaches the latter half (you know exactly what happens), DeBose expresses so much heavy emotion that draws tears. It’s funny how last year she portrayed a teenager in Ryan Murphy’s The Prom and in WSS she’s a woman full of dimension, individualism, and character. Her dancing and singing are unlike anything I’ve seen in a musical film in eons. All of the aforementioned performers are veterans of the stage and their transition to film is as seamless as their magnetic dancing.
Newcomer Rachel Zegler is absolutely breathtaking as Maria. She enters the film with wide-eyed optimism and naivety about this new world she inhabits and Zegler brings so much confidence and sweetness to her approach. She carries her co-star Ansel Elgort and at times runs circles around him. And she’s a newcomer! Once you hear her vocal range, especially in an IMAX theater, you get unfathomable chills. Seriously, this is a once-in-a-lifetime breakthrough performance and she’s amazing.
Considering that we’re in 2021 and West Side Story was in need of an overhaul, Tony Kushner’s script is a grand update of the source material that expands and fleshes out some characters for a contemporary crowd in subtle ways. There’s a shifting of numbers and plot elements that work better for an organic tonal shift in the story that never detracts from anything in the first iteration. One of the most notable elements is a surprising LGBT inclusion arc given to the character Anybodys (actor Iris Menas), a trans man who wants to be in with the Jets, and while it's such a minor subplot, it’s developed in an amazingly fluent manner. I think it might even be better than the main plot romance between Tony and Maria. I also love how the film doesn’t feature subtitles for the Spanish dialogue to match the context of the film itself. It doesn’t alienate the Latinx community coming to see the film.
West Side Story is a prime example that supporting actors can run the gamut of a film because one of the leads just ain’t pulling their weight whatsoever. Ansel Elgort is a black vortex that vacuums the life and energy out of the movie. Despite being the lead, Elgort is stiff and doesn’t have the right vocals to stay on the same wavelength as any of his co-stars. While he’s proven to be a decent singer and dancer in previous endeavors, the man is at a 4 while the rest of the ensemble is at a 10. Just like in Baby Driver, this is another performance where Elgort has laps being run around him. Even if you forget his controversial actions that were brought to light in 2020, the age gap between Tony and Maria can still make you uncomfortable. Plus, he has the same amount of charisma as a brick wall. The best number he has is “Cool” and part of that is because he’s joined by the effervescent Mike Faist. He can’t hit those riffs (hehe), especially when he joins Zegler for duets. Rachel hits those high notes and he can never for a second match or bring enough contrast to her phenomenal voice. Because of him, it’s difficult to buy into the fast-paced relationship between Tony and Maria. Hell, if it wasn’t for him, this could've been a 4.5/5 movie but he drags it down and affects the story itself.
West Side Story is a beautifully dazzling and surprisingly gritty update that once again proves Steven Spielberg is still and always will be 100% that bitch! Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, and Mike Faist are all so unbelievable and they make this movie come to life. This is a colorful, energetic, and riveting iteration of a classic story that needs to be seen in IMAX to witness the awe-inspiring craft of the production that only Spielberg can accomplish.
