Posted: 12/13/21 at 2:39am
I watched the film twice — once on Saturday in IMAX and again on Sunday in Dolby Cinema. Both were amazing experiences; however, Dolby was a better experience at my theater.
I LOVED this movie! I knew I would like it, but it was beautiful, heartbreaking and a masterpiece! I’ve always wanted to see a classic golden age musical get the 21st century filmmaking treatment. I lowkey want this same team to take on My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music, just to see the same story told but using modern filming, writing, and acting techniques.
All props go to Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner! This is how you retell a story for a new generation! I loved the improvements and updates in the script. For example, I love that Anybodys and the Jet Girls help Anita during the assault scene. I HATED how Anybodys joined in on the taunting in the 1961 film. Now, we see women helping women, and I loved it! I loved all the things and nuisances they added. I gasped when I saw the scene at the morgue. Dark af! Did anyone else think this version was more depressing than the 1961 version?
I loved the Transition to Scherzo/Scherzo scene with Maria waking up after her rendezvous. To me it felt like an entr’acte. I kind of wish there was an intermission. The movie faded to black after Tonight and Tonight Quintet. Both felt like act breaks.
For those who think I Feel Pretty’s placement didn’t work, where do you think it should’ve been sung? I like where it is, but I can also see it happening right after Quintet but right before the rumble.
The final season was a little rushed, but I definitely teared up the first time I saw it and full on cried the second viewing. In this version, I truly believed Maria when she said she now has hate. I love that she reprises Tonight and wish it was on the soundtrack.
Everything was top-notch — cinematography, music, sound, costumes, editing, etc. Speaking of costumes, Maria’s final dress/look has been living rent-free in my head all weekend. She looked gorgeous!
Everyone did an amazing job. No one was weak. Even Ansel was incredible!! Iris Menas as Anybodys was a revelation!
In terms of what I didn’t like, there wasn’t much! My only negative has been echoed by others. This movie was so realistic and made in this cynical period we live in that I couldn’t believe Tony and Maria would risk it all after one day of knowing each other. I was under the impression this version would take place in the span of days, but it was literally 24 hours. The love at first sight thing worked better in the 1961 film with the dreamy Dance at the Gym sequence. In this version, it felt odd and out of place. I just don’t see what was so special about either Maria and Tony that warranted either of them to make the decisions they made. Why would Maria want a weed smoking ex-con who admitted to beating another boy to near death and also killed her brother? Why would Tony want to runaway with this girl after one dance with her? Maria jumping in to kiss Tony upon their first meeting was odd. It’s also glaring that Maria would forgive Tony that quickly for killing her brother. Also odd that Anita would choose to help Maria by going to the store and sending a message to her boyfriend’s murderer. While I loved Valentina singing Somewhere, Tony and Maria needed to sing that song to justify both of their actions/choices. I did like that they go on an actual date. I wish they didn’t do the faux marriage vows though.
I have a few comments and questions —
1. In terms of bathroom breaks, go before the movie! If you absolutely have to go, I think the best spot is the scene where Valentina is teaching Tony some words and phrases in Spanish. I had to use the bathroom badly during my second viewing, but I held it. If I had gone, it probably would’ve been that scene.
2. Was Valentina passing as white? Was it a situation where the whites thought she was white because she married a gringo but the Puerto Ricans and some whites (like Tony) knew the truth? I mean it would make sense. I don’t see the Jets hanging out in a store owned by a Puerto Rican woman. I only picked up on this during my second viewing. I also picked up on Anita calling Valentina a traitor and I wondered why else she’d call her that if she wasn’t passing?
3. Was Maria and Bernardo’s mom dead or alive? Also, did Maria and Bernardo leave their dad in Puerto Rico or is he dead too? Wasn’t sure what Maria meant by “I’ve been taking care of papi since I was 6,” or something like that.
4. For the person saying it’s too much that Rachel Zegler is getting all this praise, it’s not that impossible for her to get so much hype and Oscar buzz. I imagine this is what it felt like for Julie Andrews back when Mary Poppins was first released.
5. For those who followed the production of the movie closely, did you notice that some alternate scenes were shot? For instance, I remember seeing a video of Ansel singing Maria in front of a church and passed by an old married couple. Moreover, I saw a video where the beginning of America was being sung and shot on the stoop of Maria’a apartment with Ariana DeBose and the girls that play Rosalia and Lutz.
