There are projects that immediately arouse skepticism. The announcement in 2018 of a new version of West Side Story tasted like sacrilege: difficult to legitimize a remake of the classic musical created in 1957 by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim e Arthur Laurents. Especially if the first film adaptation of Robert Wise e Jerome Robbins it has won no less than ten Oscars, becoming a work of worship. Yet the vision of Steven Spielberg and the talent of the screenwriter Tony Kushner (Angels in America) deliver grand, modern storytelling in the purest tradition of Hollywood entertainment.
Broadway landmark, West Side Story transposes the story of Romeo and Juliet in New York in 1960. Two gangs clash: the Jets, of Polish, Irish and Italian origin, and the Sharks, descendants of Puerto Rican immigrants. Behind the tragedy, a bit of American history combined with a cursed love story. Maria, sister of the leader of the Sharks, falls in love with Tony, who belongs to the opposing gang. Ignoring rivalries and racism, they fall in love, dream of marriage and eternal love. All this while declaring their love in Tonight or with Maria.
What is immediately striking in this new adaptation is perpetual motion. If Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins’ film at times looked like a filmed theater, Spielberg’s camera is in constant motion. Sweep this up West Side from top to bottom, giving life to its people and businesses. The war for the territory materializes more and more in this sparkling environment where everyone is fighting for a piece of asphalt with a running step. The director thus remains faithful to the original work, while indulging in some brilliant directing ideas, sublimated by the photography of his long-time partner, Janusz Kamiński. Like the scene of the meeting between Maria and Tony, in which the two lovers face off in a suspended moment. Here and there, we are seduced by the reinvention of the choreography of America, an aerial shot on a block of policemen, or the prominent place given to the character of Valentina, to the point of forgetting some telephone conversations.
But what does it mean West Side Story in 2021? The story was envisioned 50 years ago, but it still echoes the dissent of the time. Steven Spielberg tries not so much to relate it to our problems as to correct some of the mistakes made in the past. For example, he chose to cast Latin American actors, while the previous film ignored this representation problem. A committed decision that has paid off. Rachel Zegler lives up to her first film role, while Ariana DeBose (Anita) and David alvarez (Bernard) are true revelations. On the side of the Jets, Mike Faist (Riff) is in the running for an Oscar as a supporting actor from the start, against a blank stare of Ansel Elgort (Tony). The actor’s average interpretation prevents us from being totally transported by the love story, unlike the couple formed by Roberto and Anita. Which minimizes the importance of the final act, especially since the emotional heart of the film lies in the fate of its supporting characters. However, it comes out of West Side Story with a furious desire to live and dance, with wild images in the head.
West Side Story by Steven Spielberg, in theaters December 23.
Content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
