Since we're a big fan of old musicals, we thought we should give the new Spielberg West Side Story (2021) a look. Actually, the old WSS is not one of our faves, but, in this one, at least the Sharks are actually Hispanic (-ish).
It's the old story of the Jets (kids from families who immigrated to New York a few generations ago) and the Sharks (kids from Puerto Rico who recently moved into the neighborhood). They are fighting over the turf which is slated to be torn down to build the Kennedy Center. Tony is Ansel Elgort, an ex-Jet who did time for beating a kid in a rumble. He's trying to keep out of it. He works Rita Moreno, who runs the drugstore that her husband Doc ran in the other movie before he died.
Maria is Rachel Zegler (Colombian on her mother's side). She lives with her hot-blooded mother and fiery tempered father - they speak a nice mix of Spanish (un-subtitled) and English. Her father wants her to date boring Chino, who wants to be a Shark.
Tony and Maria meet at the dance. This is the big scene - a long scene with no cuts and a flying, swooping camera. It reminded me of another Spielberg dance sequence, from 1941. Which is my favorite Spielberg on some days.
Somewhat sadly, that is kind of the peak of directorial splendor in the movie. Especially in the last tragic act, where everyone is getting stabbed, the direction seems to get, well, conventional. Nothing special.
And I have to say, that's kind of where we come down on this movie. Some nice touches - the Spanish language, the closer looks at the social context. What came from the original does well - the dances are still very Jerome Robbins, the music is still that Broadway/classical/jazz mix, and the songs are fine (considering I don't especially love either Robbins, Bernstein, or Sondheim). In the end, only Rita Moreno made much of an impact.
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