Movie Breakdown: West Side Story

Pre-Screening Stance:

It’s Steven Spielberg, and apparently a remake of West Side Story has been a dream of his for quite some time. That’s easy to get behind. Also, it’s been so long since I’ve seen the original West Side Story that I’m no longer sure I’ve actually seen it, so I’m definitely not in the group of folks who think a remake is unnecessary.

Post-Screening Ramble:

I sure loved Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. Even at two and a half hours, it moves surprisingly quick and feels pretty lean. As I went into it I did wonder if Spielberg would fall into the trap of letting this passion project of his get too big, too bloated, but he keeps everything high and tight. There’s also a palpable energy throughout the film. When it comes to musicals, my attention span can often drift as the numbers stretch on and/or if a song doesn’t quite land for me, but this film couldn’t be more attention-commanding. And sure, it’s Spielberg, so the spectacle side of West Side Story is likely not surprising to anyone, but it’s also a calculated, detail-heavy film that aims to interest you as much as it does to dazzle. On the performance front, Ansel Elgort (as Tony), Rachel Zegler (as Maria) and others are very good, but the person that stands above them all is Ariana DeBose (as Anita), who is absolutely radiant every moment she’s on the screen. Just wait until you see her electric work during the performance of America. I can’t wait to see that part again. Or well, actually, I can’t wait to see all of West Side Story again. Get out for the masterfully crafted and wonderfully grand musical as soon as you can – it will hit theaters this Friday, December 10.

One Last Thought:

It’s absolutely wild to me that Ariana DeBose was in The Prom (on Netflix) just a year ago. Talk about going from girl to WOMAN in the blink of an eye. She’s going to be a star.

One More Last Thought: