Steven Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY - News & Discussion Thread — Page 17

It wouldn't hurt to give Maria at least a couple additional invented scenes. Her role is way too small in the original film. It felt like she disappeared for good stretches of time. They don't need to stick exactly to her role in the original. They can give her some additional scenes and balance it out.

I think Ariana said in one interview that Anita's role is beefed up too

dramamama611 said: "What a ridiculous statement to make - sight unseen. It's not supposed to be about the role as written, but about the performance.

There is nothing ridiculous about it. What's wrong with a little harmless speculation or wish.

(That being said, I'm sure the Oscars are the reason for the delay of a full year...for more Oscar consideration. )"

The reason for the delay is to make sure theatres are open. Also, perhaps they don't want to compete with or be compared to ITH.

BwayLB said: "^ If you say is true, I say Ariana has got a sure fire Oscar nomination next year."

I still have my doubts about the new West Side Story being much of a major awards contender. Despite a couple of recent retellings like A Star is Born and Little Women receiving Best Picture nominations, they were still punished a bit by the industry because they were stories people have seen on film countless times before. With West Side Story in particular, the 1961 version not only swept the Oscars, but it’s still considered an all time classic to this day. You also have a number of people questioning whether or not a reboot even feels necessary. Plus, if Emily Blunt couldn’t get nominated for taking on a character that previously won Julie Andrews an Oscar, I doubt Ariana DeBose is going to do so following in the footsteps of Rita Moreno no matter how good she’ll end up being.

^What makes you so sure? The point I was trying to make is that Academy members can be SNOBS when it comes to remaking/rebooting/continuing properties that already did so well at the Oscars before.

Although like West Side Story, the first trailer for Mary Poppins Returns debuted during commercials for the 2017 Oscars. The latter movie was Disney's biggest release during the 2018 holiday season. Commercially, it ended up making more money in its second weekend like The Greatest Showman the year before. Mary Poppins Returns was even recognized by the AFI, Critics' Choice, Golden Globes, and National Board of Review as one of the best films of that year. I even remember hearing how through the roof the first reactions to that film were when it started screening. Yet, as more people started to see it, the overall consensus ended up being "Good, but not great". So when it came to the industry awards, Mary Poppins Returns pretty much lost momentum by that point.

Well I guess we'll wait and see, but I'm hoping for the best case scenario. Where this movie is actually an amazing musical film that Spielberg's passion and love is obvious from the first frame to the last. Critical raves and awards love would be a wonderful bonus of course.

Musical Master said: "Well I guess we'll wait and see, but I'm hoping for the best case scenario. Where this movie is actually an amazing musical film that Spielberg's passion and love is obvious from the first frame to the last. Critical raves and awards love would be a wonderful bonus of course."

And also that without Spielberg, this film wouldn't have even been made. This is his baby 100%

But don't you think that if the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, that the movie itself should be left alone warts and all?