Steven Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY - News & Discussion Thread- Page 40

[SpiritualGangster]

Posted: 10/3/21 at 10:05am

This new version of the story has prompted me to do a "deep dive" into the history of what was then known as San Juan Hill, a neighborhood that was completely erased. The first phase of gentrification came in 1947 when over 1,100 families mostly black and Puerto Rican were evicted from their homes to make way for the Amsterdam Houses. 

The second phase of gentrification happened with the then-proposed Lincoln Center project spearheaded by Robert Moses beginning in 1955. Groundbreaking took place in 1959. 17,000 residents were displaced/forced to leave. There were protests and a case that went to the Supreme Court.

It's going to be fascinating to see how Kushner works all of this into the fabric of the story. 

How Lincoln Center Was Built (It Wasn't Pretty)

San Juan Hill: The Upper West Side's Lost Neighborhood

Weekend History: San Juan Hill

Manhattan's Long Gone San Juan Hill

Remembering the Ramifications of Robert Moses' Lincoln Center Renewal Project

[Globefan]

Posted: 10/3/21 at 11:29am

SpiritualGangster said: "This new version of the story has prompted me to do a "deep dive" into the history of what was then known as San Juan Hill, a neighborhood that was completely erased. The first phase of gentrification came in 1947 when over 1,100 families mostly black and Puerto Rican were evicted from their homes to make way for the Amsterdam Houses.

The second phase of gentrification happened with the then-proposed Lincoln Center project spearheaded by Robert Moses beginning in 1955. Groundbreaking took place in 1959. 17,000 residents were displaced/forced to leave. There were protests and a case that went to the Supreme Court.

It's going to be fascinating to see how Kushner works all of this into the fabric of the story.

How Lincoln Center Was Built (It Wasn't Pretty)

San Juan Hill: The Upper West Side's Lost Neighborhood

Weekend History: San Juan Hill

Manhattan's Long Gone San Juan Hill

Remembering the Ramifications of Robert Moses' Lincoln Center Renewal Project"

I had no idea Lincoln Center was so problematic 

[SpiritualGangster]

Posted: 10/3/21 at 12:09pm

Globefan said: 
"I had no idea Lincoln Center was so problematic"

It truly was. It was blatant racism under the guise of urban renewal. 

Lincoln Center itself has acknowledged this fact by recently stating: “The displacement of Indigenous, Black, and Latinx families that took place prior to the construction of our campus is abhorrent. We may never know its full impact on those dispossessed of the land on which Lincoln Center sits. But only by acknowledging this history can we begin to confront the racism from which our institution has benefited.”

[SpiritualGangster]

Posted: 10/3/21 at 12:26pm

As fascinated as I am by all of this, I can't help but think that going back to the original version there was not one person of color on that creative team. The book writer was Arthur Laurents, is it any wonder the dialogue was stilted? 

There's a line in the show uttered by a Jet that goes: "I'm drowning in tamale" - A tamale or tamales are a Mexican and not a Puerto Rican dish - this is indicative and just one of the many glaring inauthenticities in the original show's book. But again, it was written by white men who didn't know any better and lumped all Hispanics and their very unique and individual cultures as one and the same.

This new West Side Story is again crafted by white men: Spielberg and Kushner, so forgive me if I am a little leery about the outcome.

To their credit, they did go out of their way to visit Puerto Rico and conducted a panel discussion at the University of Puerto Rico with university scholars to discuss the problematic history Puerto Ricans have with the show and employed a diverse team behind the scenes to ensure authenticity, so that's definitely a step in the right direction.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 10/3/21 at 1:10pm

Seb28 said: "And this might actually be the first modern movie musical that will stand the test of time because of that."

I hope so, I'll be crossing my fingers when December rolls around.

 

[jpbran]

Posted: 10/3/21 at 5:03pm

“There's a line in the show uttered by a Jet that goes: "I'm drowning in tamale" - A tamale or tamales are a Mexican and not a Puerto Rican dish - this is indicative and just one of the many glaring inauthenticities in the original show's book…”

Is it not supposed to maybe show the Jet’s racism AND ignorant stereotyping?

[SpiritualGangster]

Posted: 10/3/21 at 5:47pm

jpbran said: "“There's a line in the show uttered by a Jet that goes: "I'm drowning in tamale" - A tamale or tamales are a Mexican and not a Puerto Rican dish - this is indicative and just one of the many glaring inauthenticities in the original show's book…”

Is it not supposed to maybe show the Jet’s racism AND ignorant stereotyping?"

Possibly...

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 10/3/21 at 6:05pm

"To their credit, they did go out of their way to visit Puerto Rico and conducted a panel discussion at the University of Puerto Rico with university scholars to discuss the problematic history Puerto Ricans have with the show and employed a diverse team behind the scenes to ensure authenticity, so that's definitely a step in the right direction"

Also, Rita Moreno is an Executive Producer, so presumably she had input into how it depicts Puerto Rican lives.

[Globefan]

Posted: 10/3/21 at 9:31pm

I was reading everything online I could find about San Juan Hill this afternoon 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 10:58am

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "What a gift to have them both. What a wonderful gift and a fun binge watch weekend someday"

Amen to that. Just like Suspiria and it's vastly underrated 2018 remake, I'm glad that both those movies exist so that both their strengths and weaknesses can be discussed. Hopefully West Side Story does the same.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 11:32am

Can’t wait for this film’s release and the overwhelming posts on how disappointed all these backstory details didn’t get extensively covered in the new film. Everyone is TRULY dissecting every little inch of each trailer released and every single location photo and every single spoken word from the film. It’s hilarious. The assumptions will disappoint so many when they film comes out and it’s basically the same WEST SIDE STORY we know with a little peppering up of the dialogue and musical numbers and nothing more. Hahaha.

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 3:25pm

I too cannot wait for this film to be released...and reading this forum about WSS just makes me laugh...Broadway Queens will be Queens after all...and i consider myself one so don't hate me for saying that...but have an open mind and at least wait for the film to open to make assumptions...

i for one will be there first day first screening to see what Spielberg/Kushner have done...and i will remain very excited with anticipation none-the-less...

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 3:28pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Can’t wait for this film’s release and the overwhelming posts on how disappointed all these backstory details didn’t get extensively covered in the new film. Everyone is TRULY dissecting every little inch of each trailer released and every single location photo and every single spoken word from the film. It’s hilarious. The assumptions will disappoint so many when they film comes out and it’s basically the same WEST SIDE STORY we know with a little peppering up of the dialogue and musical numbers and nothing more. Hahaha."

Gurl, you are MISERABLE. go have a coke, sit the F down and shut ya hole

[degrassifan]

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

BrodyFosse123 said: "Can’t wait for this film’s release and the overwhelming posts on how disappointed all these backstory details didn’t get extensively covered in the new film. Everyone is TRULY dissecting every little inch of each trailer released and every single location photo and every single spoken word from the film. It’s hilarious. The assumptions will disappoint so many when they film comes out and it’s basically the same WEST SIDE STORY we know with a little peppering up of the dialogue and musical numbers and nothing more. Hahaha."

Awww. Well, I think people, myself included, are just so excited for it. It's fun to discuss and dissect everything because that's what a forum is for...? I mean why else are we here? This is why I miss the IMDb message boards. Everyone would discuss and dissect everything and it was fun. Used to get good tea on there. Too bad it got way too toxic and they shut it down. I still haven't found a good replacement yet. Reddit sucks, and people here apparently get mad when you discuss a film you're excited about. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 5:25pm

I know I’ll have an unpopular opinion…it just seems ridiculous to say “Tony award winner Rachel Zegler” when no one has even seen the movie yet. All this praise seems incredibly premature.

[Globefan]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 5:53pm

degrassifan said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "Can’t wait for this film’s release and the overwhelming posts on how disappointed all these backstory details didn’t get extensively covered in the new film. Everyone is TRULY dissecting every little inch of each trailer released and every single location photo and every single spoken word from the film. It’s hilarious. The assumptions will disappoint so many when they film comes out and it’s basically the same WEST SIDE STORY we know with a little peppering up of the dialogue and musical numbers and nothing more. Hahaha."

Awww. Well, I think people, myself included, are just so excited for it. It's fun to discuss and dissect everything because that's what a forum is for...? I mean why else are we here? This is why I miss the IMDb message boards. Everyone would discuss and dissect everything and it was fun. Used to get good tea on there. Too bad it got way too toxic and they shut it down. I still haven't found a good replacement yet. Reddit sucks, and people here apparently get mad when you discuss a film you're excited about."

I've been ready for this film from the moment I first heard about it 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 6:12pm

hearthemsing22 said: "I know I’ll have an unpopular opinion…it just seems ridiculous to say “Tony award winner Rachel Zegler” when no one has even seen the movie yet. All this praise seems incredibly premature.”

I would love to see Zegler win a Tony Award for this.  Especially as film performances can’t be nominated for Tony Awards.  This would truly EXPLODE the entertainment world.  Hahaha.  

[FosseTharp]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 6:25pm

hearthemsing22 said: "I know I’ll have an unpopular opinion…it just seems ridiculous to say “Tony award winner Rachel Zegler” when no one has even seen the movie yet. All this praise seems incredibly premature. "
 

LOL This made me laugh.  What?? And, yes there is a chance Rachel could be nominated for an Oscar but this season will be one of the most competitive Best Actress races in a long time.  Jessica Chastain, Kristin Stewart, Lady Gaga, Olivia Coleman, Frances McDormand (If Lady M goes Lead over Supporting), Jennifer Hudson, Penelope Cruz, Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Jodie Comer…. Marion Cotillard, Jennifer Lawrence, and Rachel Ziegler. 

 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 6:46pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "hearthemsing22 said: "I know I’ll have an unpopular opinion…it just seems ridiculous to say “Tony award winner Rachel Zegler” when no one has even seen the movie yet. All this praise seems incredibly premature.”

I would love to see Zegler win a Tony Award for this. Especially as film performancescan’t be nominated for Tony Awards. This would truly EXPLODE the entertainment world. Hahaha. "

Oh my god I can’t believe I wrote that hahahaa I was distracted. I meant an Oscar. It’s way too early to say Academy Award winner. 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 10/6/21 at 11:21am

I saw the Rita Moreno documentary on PBS last night, it was really good and the brief moment of her working with Spielberg on set was delightful.

[Globefan]

Posted: 10/8/21 at 3:34pm

How long do you think the runtime of the film is gonna be? 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 10/8/21 at 4:07pm

Possibly 2 hours and 30 minutes long.

[Globefan]

Posted: 10/8/21 at 5:14pm

I don't think the new film will have the overture from the 1961 film. The prologue will probably be the length it was in the original film. 

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 10/8/21 at 5:16pm

Musical Master said: "Possibly 2 hours and 30 minuteslong."

Yeah that's what I would bet too.

1. cause Spielberg like a healthy lengthed epic 

2. The fact that West Side Story is equal parts necessary plot AND lengthy dance breaks.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 10/9/21 at 12:21am

The way the moderator at the Tony Kushner zoom kept emphasizing the movie was long makes me think it might even be longer than 150 minutes. But who knows? People with short attention spans even thought live-action Beauty and the Beast was long at 129 minutes… Lincoln was 150 minutes and Munich was 163 minutes (both Spielberg/Kushner films), so I feel like WSS will be around there somewhere.