Review: Spielberg's 'West Side Story' stands tall on its own merits

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — West Side Story
4 out of 5 Stars
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Tony Kushner, Arthur Laurents
Starring: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose
Rated: PG-13 for some strong violence, strong language, thematic content, suggestive material and brief smoking.

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) – Synopsis: Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” reimagined as a musical set in 1950s New York City.

Review: Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” is largely the same musical that made its debut in 1957 and was later filmed in 1961. There are adjustments here and there as the order of the songs shifts, a few locations change and the character of Doc, the store owner who saves Maria late in the film, has been expanded and renamed Valentina to give Rita Moreno more than a passing cameo. The heart of the story is largely the same. We have rival street gangs, dancing, star-crossed lovers, singing, and tragedy. I think the changes work in the film’s favor.

The cast features a mix of established named and fresh faces. You’ll recognize Ansel Elgort as Tony. Mike Faist, who plays Riff, made a name for himself as the original Connor Murphy in Broadway’s “Dear Evan Hansen;” Ariana DeBose was part of the original “Hamilton” cast; David Alvarez, who won a Tony Award for his performance in “Billy Elliot the Musical,” takes on the role of Bernardo. The list goes on and on. The only real newcomer is Rachel Zegler, who plays Maria. Zegler is fantastic. You needn’t worry about her.

Justin Peck’s choreography takes a few cues from the Jerome Robbins performances while taking his own path. Janusz Kamiski’s cinematography feels a little defused but swoops and soars in every other aspect. The music and lyrics are still Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. They haven’t tried to tack a contemporary number on for award consideration purposes. Special effects are likely frequent, but they’re done well enough that I never saw the seams. Tony Kushner’s script, the casting and some of the rearranging of songs help to provide a more authentic Puerto Rican experience. How authentic? I’m not knowledgeable enough to say.

Is “West Side Story” a fantastic film? Yes. Is it better than the 1961 version? In part, it might be. Does it need to be? I enjoyed it from start to finish. That’s good enough (and rare enough) for me.