Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

‘West Side Story’ First Reactions: ‘Top-Tier Spielberg,’ Rachel Zegler’s Star Shines Bright
IndieWire ^ | Nov 29, 2021 | Ryan Lattanzio and Chris Lindahl

Posted on 11/30/2021 12:56:48 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege

Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the beloved musical “West Side Story” finally began to screen for awards voters over the weekend ahead of its Christmas Day release. First reactions are pouring out as the film’s official premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles gets underway. Early reactions are offering praise for Spielberg’s direction and high marks for Rachel Zegler as Maria in her film debut.

The musical premiered mere days after the death of Stephen Sondheim (who wrote the lyrics for the original production, with a book by Arthur Laurents and score by Leonard Bernstein) at the age of 91. Highest praise for the new film version came from the composer himself, who back in September dropped by “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” to talk about the most recent stage production of “Company” and, of course, Spielberg’s movie.

“It’s really terrific,” Sondheim said of the film. “Everybody go. You’ll really have a good time. And for those of you who know the show, there’s going to be some real surprises.”

Sondheim said that’s because of Pulitzer Prize-winner Tony Kushner, who has received two screenplay Oscar nominations for adapting the Spielberg films “Munich” and “Lincoln.”

Sondheim said Kushner “has done some really imaginative and surprising things with the way the songs are used in the story, and the whole thing has real sparkle to it and real energy, and it feels fresh. It’s really first-grade, and movie musicals are hard to do and this one, Spielberg and Kushner really, really nailed it.”

In addition to Zegler, this new version stars Ansel Elgort as Tony, Ariana DeBose as Anita, and David Alvarez as Bernardo. Rita Moreno, Best Supporting Actess Oscar winner for the original Best Picture-winning film, also makes a cameo appearance as Valentina.

(Excerpt) Read more at indiewire.com ...


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Music/Entertainment; Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: arthurlaurents; broadway; hollywood; leonardbernstein; musicals; rachelzegler; sondheim; spielberg; stephensondheim; stevenspielberg; westsidestory
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-71 next last
To: hellinahandcart

But were they married to each other?

As soon as one man calls another man his “husband,” I’m out.


21 posted on 11/30/2021 1:12:28 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum ("Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy." ― Mao Zedong)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Veggie Todd

The end credits would include a mashup of Joe Walsh and some 50’s style music.


22 posted on 11/30/2021 1:13:04 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Florida: America's new free zone.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: CondoleezzaProtege
No one. No one could replace Natalie Wood.

They can shove their remake.

23 posted on 11/30/2021 1:14:38 PM PST by Seruzawa ("The Political left is the Garden of Eden of incompetence" - Marx the Smarter (Groucho))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CondoleezzaProtege

Zzzzzz......


24 posted on 11/30/2021 1:14:39 PM PST by Wilderness Conservative (Nature is the ultimate conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: scottinoc
Maria, I just met a gender-nonbinary person named Maria...

That is really funny. How times have changed

25 posted on 11/30/2021 1:16:09 PM PST by FatherofFive (We support Trump. Not the GOP)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: CondoleezzaProtege
It's going to be VERY interesting to compare this movie version against the original 1961 movie version. Especially the claims the new movie version is closer to the original Broadway play.
26 posted on 11/30/2021 1:18:21 PM PST by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's Economic Cure)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CondoleezzaProtege

A real gamble here. I’m guessing fans of the original will say it doesn’t measure up, and newer generations will say it isn’t “woke” enough.


27 posted on 11/30/2021 1:23:41 PM PST by JennysCool ("It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled." - Mark Twain)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

If the Jets and Sharks have a fight with blasters or light sabers, I may be interested.


28 posted on 11/30/2021 1:25:33 PM PST by MplsSteve
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Veggie Todd
How about doing a mash-up movie of West Side Story and The Warriors? I’d go see that one.

LOL.

29 posted on 11/30/2021 1:31:12 PM PST by Captain Walker ("The side that has Truth gets Humor as a bonus.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: MplsSteve

Wait, never mind. That was George Lucas.


30 posted on 11/30/2021 1:31:41 PM PST by MplsSteve
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: scottinoc

“Maria, I just met a gender-nonbinary person named Maria...”

That made me chuckle.


31 posted on 11/30/2021 1:32:17 PM PST by EQAndyBuzz (If you are vaccinated, you cannot get COVID from someone who is not vaccinated. Lighted up Karen!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: CondoleezzaProtege
I suspect this movie is woke nonsense. Saw this in a different article (Daily Mail):

#WestSideStory is Steven Spielberg’s attempt at his own La La Land wonder. The film acts as an eraser for all the wrongdoing of the one that came before it. Some things felt genuine while others felt tied with a bow'.

It's a tweet, apparently from a movie critic, but who knows.

32 posted on 11/30/2021 1:37:42 PM PST by fruser1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
Dollars to doughnuts Spielberg inserted gender-deranged characters into it.

That was my first thought when I saw the movie poster advertising it. It will probably also include profanity, nude scenes and sex scenes.

33 posted on 11/30/2021 1:40:05 PM PST by Fiji Hill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Fiji Hill

It’s already been done to perfection.
Why watch wannabes?

Another example of the barren wasteland of Hollywierd creativity !


34 posted on 11/30/2021 1:41:51 PM PST by Reily
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: CondoleezzaProtege

Will Tony still be a Polack? Oh, wait!


35 posted on 11/30/2021 1:43:08 PM PST by Dr. Ursus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dilbert San Diego
Somebody is a homosexual?

No gaes here:


36 posted on 11/30/2021 1:43:29 PM PST by Sirius Lee (They intend to murder us. Prep if you want to live and live like you are prepping for eternal life)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: hellinahandcart

In this one, Anybody’s will reeeeeaaaaalllly be anybody’s?


37 posted on 11/30/2021 1:46:44 PM PST by jagusafr ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Yo-Yo

If you’re a Jet - you beg your agent to get you traded.


38 posted on 11/30/2021 1:47:50 PM PST by CTyank
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: DoodleDawg
Some movies just shouldn’t be remade.

I wouldn't watch a remake of "It Happened One Night," "Hollywood Hotel," "Gone with the Wind" or "Star Wars I" no matter how good they were.

39 posted on 11/30/2021 1:48:14 PM PST by Fiji Hill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: FatherofFive

People find ways to express their dismay about life and their own lives using different philosophies and style...but it’s the same ol’ dismay of a hopeful, yet imperfect, person in a corrupt, unraveling world.
IMHO


40 posted on 11/30/2021 1:48:49 PM PST by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and diamonds, and harder to find.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-71 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson