Steven Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY - News & Discussion Thread- Page 12

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 4/8/21 at 10:55am

NameGreg said: "Anyway, I also really hope we see some kind of trailer soon. I know Spielberg is a big in person cinema guy, so I’m guessing he doesn’t want to put out anything with a release date before he knows for sure that the movie can actually come out in theaters and succeed at that time. And since he’s one of the most powerful men to ever work in the entertainment industry, I’m guessing he has final say so on such matters. Luckily though, I don’t see it getting pushed back, or at least not pushed back far. He’s got that autobiographical picture coming out next year, and I can’t see him wanting these two to release close to each other, or him wanting to push back two films at the same time."

Then again, Spielberg did have two feature films he directed (The Adventures of Tintin and War Horse) released in the same week back in 2011.

 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 4/8/21 at 11:14am

War Horse is kind of underrated, I think Spielberg did a really good job adapting it for film which was part of the reason why that I was glad he chose West Side Story. The flair and effort he used for War Horse can easily work for the musical film genre; I know some people don't care about that movie (especially the ending where it seemed to remind people of Gone With The Wind) but I personally really like it.

Plus I hope this version keeps the "Gee Officer Krupke/Cool" placement as it was onstage originally. I did appreciate the bit of light in the dark second act that gives the show a moment to breathe.

[Globefan]

Posted: 4/8/21 at 2:27pm

I hope I Feel Pretty is kept in the second half of the film after the rumble 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 4/8/21 at 11:22pm

It would prevent the first act from being slightly more overloaded with songs in the same way the 1961 film was.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 2:43am

Yes! I’ve been watching various productions of WSS in preparation for this movie because I only know the 1961 version, but not really the stage show. I’m always surprised how the piece doesn’t really have many songs like the standard Broadway musical. There are barely any reprises. On stage, Bernardo only sings once and it’s during the Quintet. Also, the second act only has 4 full songs plus the very short Somewhere reprise at the end. The 1961 film at least moved I Feel Pretty, One Hand, One Heart, and Tonight Quintet to the second act, and had both acts basically be even with the number of songs. We’ll see with this film.
 

Also curious what the running time will end up being. Spielberg’s films tend to be on the long side. The original film also started with an overture and a dance prologue. The first real spoken word of the film doesn’t happen until about 15-20 minutes in. I doubt this new movie will have an overture, but are 2021 audiences able to sit through a movie with only dancing for the first 10 minutes? We’ll see!

[Globefan]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 10:20am

Musical Master said: "It would prevent the first act from being slightly more overloaded with songs in the same way the 1961 film was."

And it would give Maria more screen time in the second half

[FosseTharp]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 5:11pm

Regarding the placement of I Feel Pretty after the rumble— I was thinking it could be fascinating and pretty effective if the film somehow split back and forth between the two since they take place simultaneously. The juxtaposition between Maria and the Shark girls and the rumble happening unbeknownst to them could be powerful.

 

Also, with the placement of Cool/Krupke; I’ve always been in the camp that prefers the placement of the stage show. Back in the mid aughts I was in a production of WSS in Chicago, directed by David Cromer and the way it was played in our production was not for comedic effect. We were angry. It showed our bigotry, and racism, and homophobia through the lyrics in the song. Most of the choreography in the number was scrapped and we were still seething with anger and violence and on the verge of taking it out on each other... which then led to us taking it out on Anita at Doc’s.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 5:48pm

Hmm. The Jets being so angry that they express it in "Gee Officer Krupke" after the rumble and portraying far less comedy would be a neat idea. Hopefully someone on the film crew thought about it, if it's sticking to the original stage placement.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 6:49pm

I agree. It's actually a great idea presenting Krupe like that if they follow the stage song order. I could totally picture it in my head. Minimal choreography and with a lot of anger. 

I don't know why, but I feel the below pics are I Feel Pretty or Maria's part in the Quintet. 

[NameGreg]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 8:00pm

Personally I don’t see how I Feel Pretty would be juxtaposed well with the Rumble, as the music is very different for both. I can’t see that syncing well, and I think it would detract from both sides.

As for Krupke, playing up the anger could be interesting, but the song is still written in a very comedic way so I don’t know how well it would truly work. And if it’s no played comedically, then I feel like having Cool there instead is more appropriate, as I find it better to have a dark song in a dark moment rather than changing a light song to make a dark moment.

[Globefan]

Posted: 4/10/21 at 4:34pm

I don't know where I Feel Pretty will be set, in Maria's bedroom or in the bridal shop like it was in the 1961 film 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 4/10/21 at 4:42pm

I guess we'll never know until the studio allows the cast and crew to do interviews, hoping we get some more info out of them. But the answer to the songs and their placements may come when the soundtrack listing is revealed.

[Globefan]

Posted: 4/10/21 at 5:52pm

I hope that Maria has more screen time in total in the new film than she had in the original show and in the original film. 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 4/10/21 at 7:17pm

^ That would be nice. Since she’s the protagonist and Tony is the deutagonist

[NameGreg]

Posted: 4/10/21 at 7:45pm

BwayLB said: "^ That would be nice. Since she’s the protagonist and Tony is the deutagonist"

I wouldn’t say that. Tony has more to do throughout compared to Maria. With that said I wouldn’t say there’s any single protagonist, as both are given equal prominence and importance, and it’s really more about the conflict between the Sharks and Jets than anything else. But if I had to throw around the words protagonist and deuteragonist, I’d definitely say Tony is the former and Maria is the latter.

[BwayLB]

Posted: 4/10/21 at 7:51pm

^ Just stating my perspective

[NameGreg]

Posted: 4/10/21 at 7:54pm

BwayLB said: "^ Just stating my perspective"

Well can you at least say why the second largest role is the protagonist and not the largest role? 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 4/10/21 at 8:05pm

Okay then ^

[NameGreg]

Posted: 4/10/21 at 8:18pm

I was asking a legitimate question I want to hear why you think that.

[Globefan]

Posted: 4/12/21 at 2:40pm

Rita Moreno will be presenting at the Oscars. Maybe the trailer will launch around the Oscars. 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 4/12/21 at 2:43pm

^Even if we do get a trailer then, I doubt that's what Rita will be doing on the Oscar telecast. I have yet to see presenters at the Oscars showing up to introduce new movie trailers.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/12/21 at 2:51pm

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "^Even if we do get a trailer then, I doubt that's what Rita will be doing on the Oscar telecast. I have yet to see presenters at the Oscars showing up to introduce new movie trailers."

They were implying during the commercials, not on the actual Oscars presentation.  Countless new trailers have premiered during the commercials.  It could air after she presents.  

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 4/12/21 at 3:04pm

^That I can definitely see happening.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 4/12/21 at 3:12pm

Globefan said: "Rita Moreno will be presenting at the Oscars. Maybe the trailer will launch around the Oscars."

That would be great if the first trailer will be revealed during commercials. If not, then we can assume it will be shown around the time In The Heights comes out.

EDIT: What's funny is that if you asked me about how I feel about the choosing of Justin Peck for the film's choreography back in 2018, I would have severe doubts. Because I didn't know a lot about him at all and before seeing the Carousel revival in full, I didn't think he had the skills to do this musical justice. However after looking at what he did for Carousel 2018 and his even more amazing NYC Ballet work, honestly he's one reason why I'm excited and happy that he was picked for the job for he is a very talented person.

Plus, Justin Peck doing new choreography that should honor Jerome Robbins intent and character should be better than what was attempted back in 2009. I mean what was Arthur Laurents thinking????

[Musical Master]

Posted: 4/15/21 at 8:00pm

NameGreg said: "As for Krupke, playing up the anger could be interesting, but the song is still written in a very comedic way so I don’t know how well it would truly work. And if it’s no played comedically, then I feel like having Cool there instead is more appropriate, as I find it better to have a dark song in a dark moment rather than changing a light song to make a dark moment."

You actually reminded me that playing Krupke as a dark moment in Act 2 is what the 2009 revival did and it didn't work there (I can't believe I almost forgot about that disappointing revival). But I still hope the songs are done the same way as the original stage show; it could give the darker second act a moment to breathe tonally.