When Steven Spielberg announced that he was directing a remake of the iconic Broadway musical-to-film adaptation, West Side Story, several confused thoughts arise: Why remake one of the most beloved musicals of all time? The answer is shown in its work, as there was still more to the story that needed to be shown.
Based on Shakespeare's classic play Romeo and Juliet, the musical takes place in 1950s New York City, featuring two star-crossed lovers and the rivalry of two gangs that lead to violence and heartbreak. It’s a story as old as time, but it’s proven over and over again that it never seems to get old.
Several believe that there is no need for a remake, but there are plenty of improvements that needed to be done. The original obtained loads of backlash since most of the Puerto Rican characters were not played by Puerto Ricans. It had been looked back on as insulting especially since they made these predominantly white actors wear brown makeup to make them look more fitting for the role.
Thankfully, the new remake exhibits the correct and diverse representation of the characters with its casting. Within the correct representation was the inclusion of the Puerto Rican characters speaking Spanish consistently throughout the remake. The original lacked representation of Puerto Rican culture, and the remake makes sure to fully adapt it into its storyline to present a more genuine film.
There were other added details that improved the overall storyline. Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the original film, plays the storekeeper that looks after Tony. Her role is a great addition to the film, honoring her role in the original.
Other characters were given more of a background as well, contributing to the storyline further. Tony, played by Baby Driver’s Ansel Elgort, has more depth to his character, now having been to jail due to a previous encounter with violence. It provides more engagement in his character, and it establishes Tony’s motivation to disrupt the frequent violence.
The soundtrack remains brilliant, just like its precursor. With all actors contributing to their own vocals (unlike the original), it is an authentic and necessary improvement. Some lyrics, originally created by the late Stephen Sondheim, were changed in the new soundtrack. It’s not a major change; only hardcore fans of the musical would probably notice a change in the lyrics.
Several of the dance sequences are more exciting than the original, considering its more fast-paced and consistent editing. The choreography is flawless, living up to the phenomenal dancing of the original. Musical numbers like “Gee, Officer Krupke,” “America” and “Cool” contain some of the most enthralling dance sequences in musical-to-film adaptations.
Rachel Zegler has an outstanding performance in her breakout role as Maria. At 19 years old, she presents such amazing talent that will undeniably make her a household name. She’s not the only great talent that comes out of the remake. The film includes several other brilliant talents destined for greatness.
Another outstanding performance exists from Mike Faist, who plays Riff, the leader of the Jets. Indisputably a key character to the film, he portrays the role so perfectly, and it’s hard not to enjoy his time on screen.
Ariana DeBose, who portrays Anita, is an absolute scene stealer. In every scene, you can’t help but keep your eyes on her. Her elegant presence in the film is unmatched and her luminous talent deserves her much more recognition.
Elgort’s role as Tony isn’t as outstanding as his predecessors, only being somewhat remarkable in his vocal performance. He is one of the only members in the cast that hasn’t had musical theater experience, which is easily recognizable in his performance.
The film doesn’t try extremely hard to feel modernized. It instead tries to relay back to the similar camera work and cinematography of its origin. It was shot on film and filmed in Technicolor to make it look more authentic to the time period. It doesn’t look like an exact copy, but there are several aspects that honestly feel like a homage to the original.
Perhaps one of the best musical adaptations released this year, the remake is definitely a must-see. As it deserves all the attention it’s getting, it also deserves several Oscar nominations, just like the original.
Although it’s his first musical film, Spielberg manages to turn the impossible into a reality by taking one of the most popular musicals out there and revamping it to become even better than the original. While the original will always remain a classic, the new remake is a worthy upgrade.
