REVIEW: West Side Story

While quirky and silly at times—many musicals are, particularly those from the mid-century era—this Steven Spielberg remake of the 1960s classic is as full of heart and emotion as the original.

This movie features great performances all around, particularly from Ansel Elgort as Tony and Rachel Zegler as Maria. Zegler in particular gave a beautiful, emotional showing highlighted by heart-wrenching third-act moments where both her acting and her singing skills are put on full display.

The choreography was as great as I’ve ever seen in a film. However, for as strong of a musical genre film as it is, Spielberg’s West Side Story is—in my opinion—at its best when it’s focusing on the characters and their stories, versus the musical numbers, which sometimes felt clunky and out-of-place compared to the tone of the surrounding scenes.

Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the original, is also an amazing addition to the—bringing both nostalgia and talent to an already stacked team.

This isn’t my movie of the year, but it’s absolutely in my Top 10. And it improves on the follies of the original production while not deviating too far in its intent and tone.

All that being said, it was quite enjoyable to snap my fingers and walk backwards through the Castleton Square Mall today with Malia, poking fun at the over-the-top nature of the Sharks and the Jets in their clashes and musical numbers. *snap, snap, snap*

The bottom line: An all-around strong and endearing film that not only lives up to, but surpasses, the original. 9/10