Collette Review: West Side Story

When classic films are remade, there’s usually a “why” surrounding them. When it was announced that Steven Spielberg was remaking West Side Story, there was a hope that this film may fix what was broken in the original. And I’m happy to say it did.

Just in the first five minutes, Steven Spielberg proves why he’s one of the best. The opening sequence is not only gorgeous but sets the stage for what’s to come. 

Everything is lavish and beautiful with an almost Technicolor tint to it. The camera work is flawless, with movements from wide angles to tight shots of the actor’s faces throwing you right into the story. 

I can go on and on about how gorgeous the film itself looked, but we already know that Steven Spielberg is a genius Director. What he did that truly set this film apart from its original is somehow bring it up to date while making it feel like it was shot in the ’60s.

This is not a shot-for-shot retelling of West Side Story. The screenplay has been changed just enough to fix what the original film missed. In this retelling, you can ultimately see both sides of the Jets and Sharks. There’s no favoritism, and there’s no one-sided story. Instead, this film brought a sincerity that the classic missed.

There are three significant changes in this updated version that helped bring the story forward and move it along. We’ve had a character added with a backstory we haven’t heard before, and we get more insight into Tony’s history.

The other thing done right is the Casting. I was surprised and delighted that there is no stunt casting in this movie. There are a few names that you’ve heard before, but most of these actors are on Broadway or just being introduced.

I’ll admit I had my doubts is Ansel Elgort as Tony, but he proved me wrong. He was a strong lead that had a beautiful connection with Rachel Zegler as Maria. Ziegler may be new to the scene, but she will leave a long-lasting impact. She brings the wonderment of a child to the role and yet a certain sense of maturity at the same time. She also has a voice like a violin, smooth and beautiful. 

Outshining the two leads are the supporting characters. Ariana DeBose is the perfect Anita. She steals the spotlight every time she’s on-screen with a smile that can light up a city and a flair to her dance moves that are so eye-catching you can’t look at anything else. On top of that, she’s just a fantastic actress with the poise of a classic movie star. 

David Alvarez makes you fall head over heels for Bernardo. The original movie showed Maria’s brother is being tough, but in this remake, you understand why he needs to be the protector. 

Mike Faist as Riff also steals the spotlight. He is the character that you love to hate. I love that we are given more of an insight into his motives. Because as terrible as they are, the audience now has a broader picture of why he’s doing what he’s doing.

Rita Moreno had an added role in this. Instead of being a nice cameo, her character served a purpose. She drove the story in the direction it needed to go, guiding us along through both sides of these rival gangs. And as always, she’s flawless. 

In conclusion, Steven Spielberg has done it again. He made a gorgeous movie with stunning visuals and beautiful camera work. He fixed what was broken with the original Script bringing sincerity to the original story. I think it fell victim to a lack of marketing to encourage a new audience to watch in theaters. This movie deserves to be watched on the big screen, preferably in IMAX. But when theaters are still trying to get seats filled because of Covid, this should have been made available to stream at home. That being said, West Side Story is definitely in the running for best picture this year.