Steven Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY - News & Discussion Thread- Page 68

[MagicalMusical]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 4:48am

I saw this last night and it was beautiful. The dancing and singing were amazing. Everyone acted well, but I would say the standouts were Rachel Zegler, Mike Faist, Ansel Elgort, Ariana DeBose, and Rita Moreno. Rachel has a very amazing, slightly operatic, classical voice, and Ansel's voice is rather pretty to me, too. The singing of "One Hand, One Heart" was so beautiful I almost cried. The ending really got me in the feels. Almost any of the characters crying towards the end really touched me, especially Adriana's and Ansel's. If I had to say I had any problems with any of it, it's "I Feel Pretty"'s placement, and that "Somewhere" wasn't sung by Maria and Tony. Oh well. Those changes didn"t ruin a really good, beautiful film.

Updated On: 12/12/21 at 04:48 AM

[lovebwy]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 4:50am

". When Rita Moreno saw Richard Beymer on the set she ran over and threw her arms around him and they both started crying. Spielberg filmed it on his iPhone. What a beautiful story....."

This makes me cry. I know Richard has had bad feelings toward WSS for well over half a century. Hope he's made peace with it 

 

"

 

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 6:17am

I saw this film last night and LOVED it! Best movie musical I've seen since Chicago,as as another poster pointed out. All 4 of the principals,plus Rita Moreno,were excellent. Rachel Zegler was a revelation. I also appreciated the historical context--I looked up the history of Lincoln Center when I got home,and talk about an eye-opener. 

I'm hoping for a lot of Oscar noms for this superb film.

[Theatre Fan3]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 8:54am

mailhandler777 said: "Theatre Fan3 said: "Did anybody see a "Dedicated to Stephen Sondheim" credit at their screening? I sat thru all the end credits until the screen went black and the house lights came up and didn't see one. I was at an IMAX screening. I thought that I had read somewhere that the studio was sending out an updated version of the film that included that after Sondheim passed away."

Yes. It was on right after the leads were listed and before the minor ensemble characters were listed."

Thanks much mailhandler777!!  I'm headed back this afternoon for a 2nd time and will pay special attention now that you've given me a clue as to where to look.  Will be seeing it in IMAX again ... figure I better take advantage of the opportunity while it exists because I'm afraid it will drop off those screen come next Friday.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 9:47am

Couldn’t resist. I’m going back to see it again today. Saw it in Dolby yesterday and IMAX today. I’m interested to see how the experience compares.

Also, for those curious (I went on a mini deep dive myself trying to figure out where my husband should get tickets to Spider-Man next week), not all IMAX screens are true IMAX. Some are just larger than usual screens. There’s a list of venues here (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_IMAX_venues) and the ones in bold are true IMAX. Others are what some cinema folk refer to as LieMAX. But in the absence of a Dolby cinema or other large format screens, any IMAX would be an upgrade from a standard screening.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 10:06am

windowwaving said: "Saw the movie in Dolby at AMC and it is definitely worth the extra money. The film looks and sounds absolutely stunning in it. The orchestrations sounded so lush.

I was actually surprised at Ansel's vocal abilities. I don't think I had low expectations necessarily, but he definitely had moments of "wow that was really good." And I thought they had fabulous chemistry. That first moment they have behind the bleachers at the dance, I was in love with both of them. Rachel's face in "Tonight" is so pure, she does so much acting in her face without even saying a word.

Also was Ariana singing live in "A Boy Like That"? If so, I thought it was so powerful compared to the rest of the pre-recorded vocals because of the raw intensity of the scene.

Clearly, loved the film. I agree with others that it's up there with "Chicago." Beautiful from start to finish. It's what I wish all modern-day musicals would look like now. It answers my question of "what would a golden age musical movie look like if it was shot today?" While I enjoyed "In The Heights" for its energy, it felt like a very long music video. WSS is a film in its absolute best form."

 

I understand Ansel insisted on singing "One Hand. One Heart" and most of "Maria" live.

 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 10:11am

lovebwy said: First off, my humble apologies to Miss Natalie Wood. One of my standard lines about the notion of a remake was that the 1961 original was a flawed masterpiece and that two of the main flaws were the leads. And while I still believe Richard Beymer's Tony left something to be desired, I now realize that Natalie Wood's Maria was quite good. Rachel Zegler was, for me, serviceable. Lovely voice, for sure. The thing is, I've seen the 1961 WSS at least a dozen times, and every time, the final scene makes me tear up. Tonight, when Zegler did it, I wasn't even close. There wasn't a wet eye in the house. Plus, Wood just had an undeniable star quality that Zegler lacks.

Rachel Zegler's "Maria" is pretty, witty, bright, and feisty for sure, but when it came to playing that final scene it was such a letdown! She showed way more passion in the "A Boy Like That/I Have A Love" sequence, but then again she was singing that and not acting it.

 

Updated On: 12/12/21 at 10:11 AM

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 10:27am

Very important question:

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME(S) TO PEE???

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 10:36am

everythingtaboo said: "Very important question:

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME(S) TO PEE???"

This made me LOL. I went during Maria and I Feel Pretty. I didn't want to miss Anybodys main scenes(which there were 2).

My local theater was so dang cold and we have reclining seats which relaxed me and I have to pee when that happens. 

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 10:44am

Echo the raves.  

Not sure this has been said before but I loved "Cool"'s new plot-driven slot: Tony tries to get Riff to call off the rumble.  It is almost hard to believe that the song wasn't written for this moment.  It's a great number in the show. In the original movie it was great as a stand alone but dragged the plot (IMHO).  This new take is a dramatic plus. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 10:52am

Saw it yesterday, and loved it.  Did it have faults?  Absolutely, but it’s safe to save this new version stands on its own.  The 1961 fully captures the stylized interpretation, costume designs, set designs, and choreography of the original 1957 Broadway production, so for that alone, it is irreplaceable.

The Jets/Sharks choreography by Justin Peck was hard to swallow for me.  Loved that Spielberg expanded on the Prologue visually, showing how the Jets run the neighborhood, etc.  “Cool”‘ was uncomfortably awkward with Peck trying to blend realism with dance kick vocabulary.  It was so cheesy and just didn’t translate on film for me.  Peck’s Dance at the Gym is beyond fantastic and giving DeBose more to do than just the mambo, was electrifying.  Wow!

”Gee, Officer Krupke” and “I Feel Pretty”?  Ouch.  The film was keeping a realistic tone then wham, here we get 2 traditional musical numbers DONE as traditional musical numbers.  Those were painful to watch.  The scenes they were in were great (the Gwen Verdon-ish hooker in the precinct was delicious!), then wham, we get a cheesy musical theater number.

The Spanish inclusion was perfection and had me laughing quite a bit (especially Maria’s “sangano&rdquo.  Mike Faist.  Wow!  Elgort’s Tony could not have been better.  His voice suited the Tony songs perfectly.  Great debut for Zegler. 

Now, Rita Moreno’s Valentina was such a great addition. But less is more, guys.  Her early scenes with Tony were adorably beautiful.  Then she kept popping up.  The spark of her character faded quickly.  Having her sing “Somewhere” out of context, made NO sense. The lyrics make sense when Tony and Maria sing it, but zooming in on an old photo of a young Valentina and Doc didn’t dictate the lyrics she was singing were to Doc.  They exhausted her character for me.  Less is more, guys. Shoulda given us just enough, not the whole meal.  Get a life, Valentina.  Hahaha.  

Now, many are mentioning the ending.  My beef is: okay, 2 gunshots in a neighborhood and zero people acknowledge it or come out onto the street, etc?  In the stage version and the 1961 film Tony is shot in a vacant schoolyard basketball court.  No one being around was justifiable.  In this new one, apparently Doc’s Drugstore is open 24/7 and is in a ghost town.  Yes, buildings are half demolished across the street, etc but not on the street the drugstore is on.  Having people reacting to the gunshots, coming out of the buildings and onto the street would have made such an impact with the community being brought into a realistic moment.  Then when Maria loses her s**t, having everyone stand back.  No one interferes and just watches.  Having the crowds stand back and watch as the Jets carry off Tony and Maria walking behind them as the camera pans out would have been impactful.  What we get here is the camera panning up and Valentina and Chino walking behind Maria/Jets/Tony in a deserted COVID-ish nuclear war zone.  Um, no.  Sorry, Spielberg.  No years from me.  The image that punched me in the gut and broke me was when Riff turns and looks into Tony’s eyes right after being stabbed.  That alone will earn Faist an Oscar nomination.  

[Huss417]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 11:05am

everythingtaboo said: "Very important question:

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME(S) TO PEE???"

Its funny you mention this. As we were waiting for the movie to start I said if I had to pee I  would wait for either Gee, Officer Krupke. or I Feel Pretty. :)

It was so cold in the movie theater I didn't have to. :)

Updated On: 12/12/21 at 11:05 AM

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 11:15am

everythingtaboo said: "Very important question:

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME(S) TO PEE???"

I went during "Gee, Officer Krupke," which is just about at the halfway point. I tried to hold it, but I knew I would be suffering through the end of the movie if I did.

Updated On: 12/12/21 at 11:15 AM

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 11:30am

I’m gonna defend Rachel about the end. I think it’s more Spielberg’s fault that scene is not effective. It was too bright, it didn’t feel climactically set up. The darkness of the vacant basketball court in the original is so much more foreboding. 

It just wasn’t done well. And like I said before- he put Bernstein’s score under Maria’s moment. That never ever ever happens in the show. That music goes silent for her gun moment and it’s why it works. All musical trappings fall away for this very real moment where she might start shooting. That scene should make you wonder WOULD Maria? 

but also guys, it’s just such an iconic perfect scene in the original. No matter what they did it would still have a big hill to climb.

I also didn’t feel the moment of Sharks and Jets thinking before working together to take the body. That’s so pivotal. 

 

[babyjunegem]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 12:30pm

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "I’m gonna defend Rachel about the end. I think it’s more Spielberg’s fault that scene is not effective. It was too bright, it didn’t feel climactically set up. The darkness of the vacant basketball court in the original is so much more foreboding.

It just wasn’t done well. And like I said before- he put Bernstein’s score under Maria’s moment. That never ever ever happens in the show. That music goes silent for her gun moment and it’s why it works. All musical trappings fall away for this very real moment where she might start shooting. That scene should make you wonder WOULD Maria?

but also guys, it’s just such an iconic perfect scene in the original. No matter what they did it would still have a big hill to climb.

I also didn’t feel the moment of Sharks and Jets thinking before working together to take the body. That’s so pivotal.

"

Agreed. It feels like they ran out of time to shoot that scene (especially since it would have been a long take) and they were unable to reshoot because of the pandemic. There's no way that Spielberg & Co. didn't notice how rushed it was in the editing room.

This might just be me, but I've always wanted WSS to go full blown Romeo & Juliet and let Maria die too. That would've been truly shocking.

[Owen22]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 12:36pm

Has it yet been mentioned that Kushner and Spielberg's version of the final scene is the only scene using Laurent's dialogue almost in its entirety?

[Globefan]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 12:39pm

Fun fact: Maria's birthday is March 18, 1939 according to Tony Kushner's backstory. Rachel tweeted that. 

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

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

Regarding the weekend Box Office figures of an estimated $10.5 million...this movie will hang on for the next few weeks because of the Christmas and New Years holidays...while $10.5 million is very disappointing, there is still chances to make more box office...the word of mouth on the film is stupendous...the audience ratings on Rotten Tomatoes are higher at 94% than the critics...so word of mouth will help...this movie is a movie MASTERPIECE!

Updated On: 12/12/21 at 12:40 PM

[Musical Master]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 1:25pm

Also, not to mention the additional money it could make once it arrives on Blu-ray/DVD as well. Count me in on the raves that this movie musical is beyond fantastic and is not only my favorite movie musical of the 21st century but also a version of West Side Story that I think is even better than the 1961 original. Great directing, writing, acting, cinematography, production/costume design, and musical numbers that felt fresh and alive under Justin Peck's wonderful choreography and Steven Spielberg's masterful direction.

Now while I will admit the ending is slightly rushed, I don't agree that it wasn't impactful in the slightest. Rachel acted the hell out of that scene and David Newman's lush arrangements of "Tonight" and "I Have a Love" under it was so moving, I actually had tears running down my face during a moment that I must admit I never felt anything for in the original musical or the 1961 film version. Once those lush violins hit, it made me think that David did that as a tribute to his father, the legendary Alfred Newman who did musical underscores like that whenever he did score adaptations like: Carousel, The King and I, South Pacific, Camelot etc. So, the ending is still handled with care and love despite being a tiny bit rushed.

All in all, I hope that this film will be taught in film schools on how to do a movie musical adaptation someday, for it was a beautiful film that I can't wait to watch over and over and over again. 9.5 out of 10.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 1:37pm

TaffyDavenport said: "everythingtaboo said: "Very important question:

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME(S) TO PEE???"

I went during "Gee, Officer Krupke," which is just about at the halfway point. I tried to hold it, but I knew I would be suffering through the end of the movie if I did."

 

I knew it would be a longish film so had any early lunch (my ticket was for the 11:30 am showing) but didn't have anything to drink. Got through the movie w/o a pee break.

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 1:40pm

What Academy Awards, if any, does this have a chance at getting? Probably one of Rita? Best Director? Best Picture? Could Rachel nab a nomination?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 1:41pm

I Feel Pretty and right after Dance at the Gym are good bathroom breaks.

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 1:42pm

peeing right before the movie starts is the best time to pee...i hate missing anything when i step out to relieve myself...lol...with previews and all the run time is just over 2 hours and 45 minutes...

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 2:02pm

broadwaybabywannabe2 said: "peeing right before the movie starts is the best time to pee...i hate missing anything when i step out to relieve myself...lol...with previews and all the run time is just over 2 hours and 45 minutes..."

 

We had quadruple the normal amount of previews and promos because there were technical problems and the staff kept showing us one promo after another until the situation was remedied.

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 2:07pm

Call_me_jorge said: "What Academy Awards, if any, does this have a chance at getting? Probably one of Rita? Best Director? Best Picture? Could Rachel nab a nomination?"

Here is my take on Oscar possible nominations:

Picture, Director, Actress, Sup Actress (2), Adapt. Screenplay, Cinematography, Production Design, Editing, Sound Editing, Costumes...possible 11...

 

Updated On: 12/12/21 at 02:07 PM