West Side Story (2021)

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⭐ 7.0/10

(Originally written by Joseph)

West Side Story is a movie where they found the twenty sexiest men on earth, put them in a movie, then found the ugliest man on earth and put him as the main character. I've never liked Ansel Elgort and haven't been able to put my finger on why, but now he's been cancelled so I guess I win this round by default.

Honestly, the romance kinda dulled this movie for me. I don't care about love at first sight, because that's the kind of magic musicals are all about. But it's what happens later in the movie that made me really scoff at a romance I never really dug. It's at the heart of the movie, and so it's kinda big deal, and I really thought the slow songs between them were boring because I was not invested.

BUT! Besides that, I thought this movie was awesome. Lots of classic Spielberg tricks with the wide shots and extended oners. It's impressive that this is his first musical, but really I feel like the guy was made to do them. All of his movies have the qualities of musicals in a way, choreographing a million things on a grand stage and having action played out with a terrific sense of rhythm. He should do more!

The cast was awesome with breakout performances by a bunch of people not in a ton of stuff, though I should proudly mention I recognized Riff from when I saw him live in Newsies! I can't say much of the music stood out to me, though musicals never really do the first time. Even still, Maria has the voice of a goddess and I was pretty blown away that she was born in the 2000s.

Good movie, and I didn't even mention the cool way they incorporated tribalism and racism into a Romeo and Juliet story, nor my love of the 50s New York aesthetic. Lots of great aspects, and definitely worth the watch. Just replace Elgort with a young Christian Bale and we're golden! Jot that one down for the next remake.

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