Steven Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY - News & Discussion Thread- Page 69

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 2:13pm

DeBose is most definitely getting nominated. Dam that woman is just pure FIRE!

She gutted me after the attempted rape. 

“Yo no soy tu hija! Traitor! Tu le das techo a estos puercos?!!?

YO SOY PUERTORRIQUEÑA!!!!

 

[Owen22]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 2:14pm

This is an excellent interview with Spielberg, but but what confuses me is his comment that Sondheim called the Quintet a "Quartet"-- even chastised Steven for referring to it by the known name. But to me there are five people singing: The Sharks, The Jets, Tony, Maria and Anita...

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/steven-spielberg-interview-west-side-story-stephen-sondheim-movie-musicals/

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 2:17pm

ColorTheHours048 said: "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."

Thanks for this! I woke up this morning simultaneously immediately thinking about the movie and thinking I don’t know if I wanted to see it again today.  But after a cup of coffee I decided I did and was going to go see at my usual IMAX theater which is in a mall 30 minutes away but I see on your list that it would be a LieMax (it’s not even listed!), not an IMAX. But again, thanks to your link, I found the closest-to-true IMAX theater in Oklahoma is 10 minutes closer to me and around the same showing time as the other LieMax. So the plan is to see it again this afternoon in a true-as-possible (it’s not bolded) IMAX theater.

I figure I better go now because after Wednesday Spidey moves into town and takes over all the IMAX theaters. I always liked Spidey and thought he was a superhero, but he seems like more of a villain now. Lol  

 

Updated On: 12/12/21 at 02:17 PM

[FosseTharp]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 2:59pm

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?"


As far as nominations go, It will most likely get nominated for: Best Picture, Director, Supporting Actress (Debose), Supporting Actor (Faist), Cinematography, Editing, Sound, Costumes, Adapted Screenplay, and Production Design.  Actress, Supporting Actress (Moreno), and Supporting Actor (Alvarez) could also make it in but I’m betting on Belfast getting the double noms over WSS.  But how wild would it be if there were two double doubles in supporting with WSS and Belfast! 
 

Rachel Zegler could easily get nominated for Actress but that is one of the most competitive Best Actress categories in a LONG time with probably 10 worthy actresses vying for 5 slots.  The Academy loves a young ingenue and the whole “A Star is Born” angle could definitely propel her into the top 5. Kristin Stewart, Nicole Kidman, Jessica Chastain, Olivia Coleman, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Hudson, Penelope Cruz, Alana Haim, Frances McDormand, and Rachel Zegler…. Any one of the 10 could make it in…. I see Rachel or Alana making it but I can’t see both although I hope both will.  I think McDormand, Hudson, and Cruz are the 3 least likely to make the cut with Stewart, Kidman, and Coleman the surest locks. 
 

As far as Wins it’s hard to gauge right now but WSS and The Power of the Dog are the two front runners for many categories, but I’m betting on Jane Campion for Director and Kodi Smit-McPhee for Supporting Actor.  WSS probably for Picture. 
 

 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 3:24pm

Just got out of West Side Story. Overall I highly recommend it -- the new movie manages to be a homage to the Bernstein/Laurents/Robbins/Sondheim original and a reimagining. The ONLY weakness of this film compared to the original is Justin Peck's choreography never overpowers the way Robbins' choreo does. Peck's choreography seems more like filler, compared to Robbins' choreography which grabs the viewer and never lets go. But this film is more of a movie musical and less of a dance symphony than the original.

The acting is in many ways superior to 1961. Rachel Zegler and Ansel Elgort have way more chemistry than Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer (who actually strongly disliked each other). Rita Moreno is incredible and so are Mike Faist, Ariana deBose and David Alvarez. Bernstein's music sounds gorgeous and everyone has a decent singing voice. Go see this film everyone.

Tony Kushner's script actually avoids his usual wordiness/self-righteousness. It does modernize some fo the dialogue but I was surpriesd to see how much he let the big musical numbers shine.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 3:35pm

Right now, Variety's predictions have only 2 acting contenders ranked in the top 5 of their category: Rita Moreno and Ariana DeBose. Rachel Zegler is currently ranked 7th in Best Actress, with Ansel Elgort, David Alvarez, and Mike Faist all ranked in the teens of Actor and Supporting Actor.

Otherwise, they predict nominations for:

Best Picture

Best Director

Best Adapted Screenplay

Best Production Design

Best Cinematography

Best Costume Design

Best Sound

 

 

Updated On: 12/12/21 at 03:35 PM

[temms]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 5:00pm

The Quintet is actually a quartet because Tony and Maria are singing the same part. 5 people/units, 4 lines of music. 
 

One of the handful of times I got to be in the room with Sondheim he talked about it since he was working on the Laurents revival at the time, and he referred to it as “the quintet, that’s actually really a quartet” which was the first time I’d ever heard that. He also talked about how he hated the I Feel Pretty lyrics and was thrilled he was getting to see a production where he didn’t have to listen to them (as they were in Spanish.) 

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 5:14pm

I have nothing more to add other than to repeat what’s already been said. 

THIS is how you do a movie musical. Not a single part of the film needs changed. No character needs recast. Perfection in every single way. 

Rita Moreno absolutely broke my heart. I feel like she was represented us, the audience, in the movie, as in love with these two characters as we are and just as equally devastated when their promising future is snatched away from them. 

Of course it’ll be nominated for many, many awards which will be nice but I hope this film gets the audience recognition it deserves and, hopefully with better adaptions, that movie musicals are respected more.

Updated On: 12/12/21 at 05:14 PM

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 6:24pm

ok...i saw W W S a second time today, not in IMAX...the quality of the print was not as sharp and the sound was not the quality of IMAX theatres as well...BUT...I still wept in all the same places...BRAVO TO ALL INVOLVED...

in regards to the choreography, i will say on 2nd viewing, i wish Justin Peck had done more with the Sharks in the opening sequence...but i really liked all the dancing and the GYM DANCE sequence is magnificent...

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 6:27pm

I actually wrote up a longer review on my blog:

https://humbledandoverwhelmed.blogspot.com/2021/12/west-side-story.html

[Musical Master]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 7:31pm

David Newman should do more music arrangements/supervision for future movie musicals. This track is undeniable proof of it. God I'm getting teary-eyed again just by listening to it.

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 8:44pm

CarlosAlberto said: "DeBose is most definitely getting nominated. Dam that woman is just pure FIRE!

She gutted me after the attempted rape.

“Yo no soy tu hija! Traitor! Tu le das techo a estos puercos?!!?

YO SOY PUERTORRIQUEÑA!!!!

"

 

This is where I felt DeBose was a little flat and the new script cut her short. In the original, you felt Moreno's pain in this scene and it was drawn out long enough to also see the Jets embarrassment. For the 2021 version, just felt like this was Spielberg's weakest scene.

 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 8:50pm

Got home a little while ago from seeing WSS again, this time on an IMAX screen. What a difference a new theatre with a better screen and sound system makes. But really the biggest differences were getting out of my head more compared to yesterday’s viewing and being reminded of certain plot points from yesterday’s plot points, I was able to free myself up to then attend to things I missed yesterday (both small moments as well as foreshadowing). I also found my most emotional points were not necessarily the same as yesterday. I got more emotional during Somewhere and whereas I felt emotional during the ending yesterday, I full-on sobbed today. I really, really liked this yesterday. Today I loved it. I’d like to see this again before it leaves IMAX, but I doubt I’ll make it back before Spidey hits town this week & kicks this off of all the IMAX screens. Might try to make it back though with a friend to see it on another screen before it leaves theaters. 

I have not likely seen any of the other performances (from other movies) likely to nominated for best supporting actress, but Ariana DeBose has my vote. Flawless. Similarly, my appreciation for the performance of Iris Menas (Anybody) deepened even further. And also noticed even more subtleties in the performance of Josh Andrés Rivera (Chino). His Chino broke my heart. 

As this was an IMAX theater, it was much bigger than where I saw the movie yesterday. But still there were probably only about the same number of people which was 20 or less in attendance. Here’s hoping great reviews, good word-of-mouth, repeat business, award nominations, counter programming against Spidey and Neo (i have to admit The Matrix movie looks amazing though), and family holiday viewing helps its box office. As this is the only movie in a theater I’ve seen since the beginning of the pandemic, I’m not sure how much of these largely empty theaters is largely a function of pandemic-hesitancy, how much is lack of interest in this movie, and how much may just be that people have gotten used to streaming these movies at home (I can relate). I’m guessing all of the above? But wow, this deserves to be seen on a big screen. 

Updated On: 12/12/21 at 08:50 PM

[bear88]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 9:01pm

Miles2Go2 said: "Also, while I loved Spielberg’s and Kushner’s changes, I do feel this (as opposed to the 1961 version) is so much grittier and grounded in reality that the more “fairy tale” elements of the plot (some of which date back as far back as Romeo and Juliet) stand out more as unlikely."

I was trying to articulate this issue to my spouse last night after seeing the film. You did a better job. The realism was interesting and a perfectly legitimate approach, but by making me think about how unlikely Maria’s actions are, it removes some of their power.

I thought Rita Moreno’s “Somewhere” was a misstep, a meta moment that look me out of the film. Likewise, Kushner in several places writes dialogue that hammers the point home in language that doesn’t sound remotely realistic. Valentina’s remarks to the Jets was the worst example for me. Moreno gave a good performance but was ill-served by those choices.

I was very impressed by David Alvarez’s performance as Bernardo. Faist makes the dynamic between Riff and Tony work, and Elgort holds up his end. (After expecting not much, I thought Elgort was fine.)

Without getting into specifics, I didn’t care for the ending, and the movie kind of peters out. I was surprised by that. It made me appreciate just how well-acted and directed the original film was. I also didn’t care for the comparatively lugubrious pacing of “Dear Officer Krupke.”

But there was a lot to like. The performances are all excellent, many of the changes are interesting - even to classics like “America.” The new dialogue, while occasionally too talky, paints a richer and more nuanced picture of the neighborhood and the antagonists.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 9:03pm

I have to add to all the accolades and let me openly wish that WSS wins Best Picture and Best Director.  But my fingers, toes and eyes are crossed wishing that Ariana wins her first Oscar. As CarlosAlberto stated Dam that woman is just pure FIRE!  

The last Tony that I saw was Matt Cavenaugh so I was gratefully surprised by Ansel and thought he and Rachel had potent chemistry with a capital P.  Speaking of p, I personally really enjoyed I Feel Pretty which is not a favorite number but I just loved all the PINKS. Perhaps I was nostalgic for Gimbels too.  And I loved Andrea Burns showing up.  I don't think this should be a restroom break.  

I was also very glad that we watched David Alvarez in American Rust on Showtime over the past few months and were excited to see him act in a completely different style. He is very good in both. 

I felt so weird because I wanted to clap in more than a few spots but no one else seemed alive in the 20% filled theater that I went to.  Did the audience clap at your theater? I will be visiting family in Michigan for Christmas and already looked up the Imax theaters out there so I can see it again.  This was worth the long wait. 

I also received an email from my alma mater promoting a Spielberg conversation about West Side Story. I found it enjoyable and liked hearing some of the backstory. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 9:15pm

Melissa25 said: "I will be visiting family in Michigan for Christmas and already looked up the Imax theaters out there so I can see it again."

Will it really be playing at IMAX at Christmas-time? I figure between the Matrix movie and Spider-Man, it won’t be playing on IMAX theaters anywhere but I would be glad to know that’s not true. 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 9:36pm

ACL2006 said: "CarlosAlberto said: "DeBose is most definitely getting nominated. Dam that woman is just pure FIRE!

She gutted me after the attempted rape.

“Yo no soy tu hija! Traitor! Tu le das techo a estos puercos?!!?

YO SOY PUERTORRIQUEÑA!!!!

"



This is where I felt DeBose was a little flat and the new script cut her short. In the original, you felt Moreno's pain in this scene and it was drawn out long enough to also see the Jets embarrassment. For the 2021 version, just felt like this was Spielberg's weakest scene.

"

I respectfully disagree, she completely broke my heart in this scene. Her dreams for a better life in America were shattered. Everything she expressed in the song “America” went down the drain. 


I felt her pain. 

Updated On: 12/12/21 at 09:36 PM

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 9:42pm

I think people are giving Rachel Zegler so much credit that is a bit premature? She’s only just starting out and people are predicting awards, hosting SNL, doing so much-give her time. She’s 20. So much can happen for her, like chill. 
 

 

*Also, don’t you dare say “no one on here is saying that*. This is my stance that I’m allowed to have thanks. And don’t make some snarky remark about the tone of my comments 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 9:56pm

bear88 said: "Miles2Go2 said: "Also, while I loved Spielberg’s and Kushner’s changes, I do feel this (as opposed to the 1961 version) is so much grittier and grounded in reality that the more “fairy tale” elements of the plot (some of which date back as far back as Romeo and Juliet) stand out more as unlikely."

I was trying to articulate this issue to my spouse last night after seeing the film. You did a better job. The realism was interesting and a perfectly legitimate approach, but by making me think about how unlikely Maria’s actions are, it removes some of their power.

I thought Rita Moreno’s “Somewhere” was a misstep, a meta moment that look me out of the film. Likewise, Kushner in several places writes dialogue that hammers the point home in language that doesn’t sound remotely realistic. Valentina’s remarks to the Jets was the worst example for me. Moreno gave a good performance but was ill-served by those choices.

Without getting into specifics, I didn’t care for the ending, and the movie kind of peters out. I was surprised by that. It made me appreciate just how well-acted and directed the original film was."

If you see my review from seeing it again today, you’ll see that a lot of my reservations from yesterday disappeared today. And in fact two parts of the film that you say worked the least well for you are the two that I connected with the most today. 

If you think about these two young people being so damaged and traumatized by various societal pressures and life experiences (racial discrimination, sexism, poverty, gang involvement, almost killing somebody, prison, etc) that they’re just looking for an escape. Their basically “love at first sight” is that escape. Look at Tony’s excitement toward the end of the film as he packs for his escape with Maria. His best friend has just been murdered. He just killed someone. It’s pretty clear from the previous script that he’s not a sociopath. He is capable of experiencing guilt. He loved Riff. Earlier, he’s traumatized that he almost killed that member of The Egyptian Kings. He has a conscience. Yet he’s almost manically ecstatic. But as he tells Maria on their date at The Cloisters, he felt like he was falling until he met her. They represent something symbolic of escape (from all these traumatizing experiences and their current lives) to one another. When I also think about my own past tendency to fall in love both hard and fast, this makes sense. As Grace Jones once sang, Love is The Drug. When I think about it that way then the things that didn’t make sense to me yesterday in this much more realistic adaptation make much more sense to me. It even maybe partially explains why Anita initially agrees to help Maria run away with Tony. She has been perhaps now deprived of her “escape.”  She doesn’t want Maria to be, also. Maybe that works for you. Maybe it doesn’t. If you decide to see it again, I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Also, on a somewhat more comical note, I’m watching 90 Day Fiancé right now. Talk about people looking for “escape.”  

Updated On: 12/12/21 at 09:56 PM

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 10:18pm

CarlosAlberto said: "DeBose is most definitely getting nominated. Dam that woman is just pure FIRE!

She gutted me after the attempted rape.

“Yo no soy tu hija! Traitor! Tu le das techo a estos puercos?!!?

YO SOY PUERTORRIQUEÑA!!!!"

Carlos (or any one else who wants), I’m going to ask a question in the spoiler box. I hope that’s okay. My two years of Spanish in junior high/high school 40+ years ago are failing me. If it’s okay, could you reply or send me a PM? Thanks!
 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

What is it that Chino whispers to Bernardo’s dead body. It looked like he wanted to kiss him. It sounded similar to what Tony says in Spanish to Maria at The Cloisters (“I Want To Live With You Forever” - I may be paraphrasing - except I didn’t hear Siempre). Am I wrong?  It certainly made Chino’s journey all that more heartbreaking.  

As someone who is not exactly the West Side Story scholar or even the Romeo and Juliet scholar others are, I didn’t pick up on this possible homoerotic element of their relationship until my second viewing today. 

Thanks! 

 

Updated On: 12/12/21 at 10:18 PM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 10:35pm

It has a weak weekend at the box office. From Box Office Mojo. 
 

“Spielbergs remake of the 1961 classic that won 10 Oscars did take the top spot this weekend, but only by just a bit more than a million dollars. West Side Story took in $10.5 million, which is the lowest #1 opening since the weekend of May 14-16 when Spiral: From the Book of Saw took in $8.75 million. West Side Story, however, didn’t play simultaneously on any streaming service like Spiral did on HBO Max. In terms of musicals, its total was more than Dear Evan Hansenstarted with in September ($7.44 million), but it was less than June’s In the Heights ($11.5 million), which also streamed on HBO Max on day one and was labeled a disappointment by many.”

I guess a lot of folks aren’t ready to return to the cinemas. 

[imeldasturn]

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

Miles2Go2 said: "CarlosAlberto said: "DeBose is most definitely getting nominated. Dam that woman is just pure FIRE!

She gutted me after the attempted rape.

“Yo no soy tu hija! Traitor! Tu le das techo a estos puercos?!!?

YO SOY PUERTORRIQUEÑA!!!!"

Carlos (or any one else who wants), I’m going to ask a question in the spoiler box. I hope that’s okay. My two years of Spanish in junior high/high school 40+ years ago are failing me. If it’s okay, could you reply or send me a PM? Thanks!

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

What is it that Chino whispers to Bernardo’s dead body. It looked like he wanted to kiss him. It sounded similar to what Tony says in Spanish to Maria at The Cloisters (“I Want To Live With You Forever” - I may be paraphrasing - except I didn’t hear Siempre). Am I wrong? It certainly made Chino’s journey all that more heartbreaking.

As someone who is not exactly the West Side Story scholar or even the Romeo and Juliet scholar others are, I didn’t pick up on this possible homoerotic element of their relationship until my second viewing today.

Thanks!

"

No Chino simply says "god bless you"

[ArtMan]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 10:37pm

Miles2Go2 said: "Melissa25 said: "I will be visiting family in Michigan for Christmas and already looked up the Imax theaters out there so I can see it again."

Will it really be playing at IMAX at Christmas-time? I figure between the Matrix movie and Spider-Man, it won’t be playing on IMAX theaters anywhere but I would be glad to know that’s not true."

As far as AMC's IMAX theaters, Spiderman is going into it.  Their Friday schedule is already posted online.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 10:40pm

Aw, okay. So was that whole homoerotic subtext totally and solely in my head? Lol

[bear88]

Posted: 12/12/21 at 11:13pm

Miles2Go2 said: "bear88 said: "Miles2Go2 said: "Also, while I loved Spielberg’s and Kushner’s changes, I do feel this (as opposed to the 1961 version) is so much grittier and grounded in reality that the more “fairy tale” elements of the plot (some of which date back as far back as Romeo and Juliet) stand out more as unlikely."

I was trying to articulate this issue to my spouse last night after seeing the film. You did a better job. The realism was interesting and a perfectly legitimate approach, but by making me think about how unlikely Maria’s actions are, it removes some of their power.

I thought Rita Moreno’s “Somewhere” was a misstep, a meta moment that look me out of the film. Likewise, Kushner in several places writes dialogue that hammers the point home in language that doesn’t sound remotely realistic. Valentina’s remarks to the Jets was the worst example for me. Moreno gave a good performance but was ill-served by those choices.

Without getting into specifics, I didn’t care for the ending, and the movie kind of peters out. I was surprised by that. It made me appreciate just how well-acted and directed the original film was."

If you see my review from seeing it again today, you’ll see that a lot of my reservations from yesterday disappeared today. And in fact two parts of the film that you say worked the least well for you are the two that I connected with the most today.

If you think about these two young people being so damaged and traumatized by various societal pressures and life experiences (racial discrimination, sexism, poverty, gang involvement, almost killing somebody, prison, etc) that they’re just looking for an escape. Their basically “love at first sight” is that escape. Look at Tony’s excitement toward the end of the film as he packs for his escape with Maria. His best friend has just been murdered. He just killed someone. It’s pretty clear from the previous script that he’s not a sociopath. He is capable of experiencing guilt. He loved Riff. Earlier, he’s traumatized that he almost killed that member of The Egyptian Kings. He has a conscience. Yet he’s almost manically ecstatic.But as he tells Maria on their date at The Cloisters, he felt like he was falling until he met her. They represent something symbolic of escape (from all these traumatizing experiences and their current lives) to one another. When I also think about my own past tendency to fall in love both hard and fast, this makes sense.As Grace Jones once sang, Love is The Drug. When I think about it that way then the things that didn’t make sense to me yesterday in this much more realistic adaptation make much more sense to me. It even maybe partially explains why Anita initially agrees to help Maria run away with Tony. She has been perhaps now deprived of her “escape.” She doesn’t want Maria to be, also. Maybe that works for you. Maybe it doesn’t. If you decide to see it again, I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Also, on a somewhat more comical note, I’m watching 90 Day Fiancé right now. Talk about people looking for “escape.” "

I am almost certain to see it again in a theater, so I suspect I will have different reactions the second time. Tony’s desire to escape with Maria always was always easier to fathom, and Kushner’s script does an excellent job expanding on his motivations. (It’s arguably his biggest upgrade, because some of his other improvements were easy decisions.) Maria has the tougher acting task because she is an innocent without the same scars. In both films, she gets over Bernardo’s death very quickly. Given the greater attempts at realism in this one, I thought there would be more done there. It’s left to the most impressive song in the new film - “A Boy Like That/I Have a Love” - to do that. I thought Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose rose to the moment. I had never heard the full songs, and the entire thing made me think of Stephen Sondheim, who wrote a fair number of songs with overlapping lyrics in his own musicals. I still wasn’t sure if it was enough to satisfy me, but that’s not an issue unique to this adaptation.

I may change my mind about “Somewhere.” I doubt I will change my thoughts on the conclusion. It wasn’t a disaster, just a disappointment.

One thing I neglected to mention: The direction and cinematography are just gorgeous. The puddle, the rumble location, the physical destruction everywhere, the decision to have Chino and Tony arrive at the same time, the entire “America” sequence, the two shots of Tony and Riff locking eyes.