A CITY DIVIDED. THEIR LOVE WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING.
On Manhattan’s West Side, two teenagers (Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler) who belong to opposite ethnic gangs fall in love.
This take on the classic Broadway musical is closer to the original than the gorgeous 1961 screen adaptation, but it doesn’t really add or subtract anything; the differences are subtle. The themes of the story, depicting racial strife in a sweaty urban milieu, are timeless and the music still packs a punch; the beauty of the numbers are boosted by Janusz Kaminski’s shimmery lensing.
Very good cast, including Zegler (a real find in her first film), Mike Faist as the cocky leader of the Jets, and Rita Moreno in a specially written part as a Puerto Rican store owner.
2021-U.S. 156 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Screenplay: Tony Kushner. Book: Arthur Laurents. Cinematography: Janusz Kaminski. Music: Leonard Bernstein. Songs: Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim (”Maria”, ”Jet Song”, ”America”, ”Tonight”, ”I Feel Pretty”, ”Somewhere”). Cast: Ansel Elgort (Tony), Rachel Zegler (Maria), Ariana DeBose (Anita), David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Rita Moreno, Corey Stoll.
Trivia: Co-produced by Spielberg; co-executive produced by Moreno, who played Anita in the 1961 film.
Oscar: Best Supporting Actress (DeBose). BAFTA: Best Supporting Actress (DeBose), Casting.
Last word: “Since I was 10 and listened to the original Broadway cast album, right up ’til I saw the ’61 movie – the brilliant, inimitable classic by Robert Wise and Jerry Robbins – and right through the stage productions I’ve seen over the years, it’s just been my favorite musical, and the music has been in my life, all my life. And it’s been in the life of my children too, because when dad likes something, he wants to share it with the kids – and I got the kids humming it and memorising some of the words and play-acting some of the roles with my video camera going on weekends. And so it was just a matter of time.” (Spielberg, Empire)
