West Side Story captures the magic of a movie musical and reaches out to audiences touching the hearts of every person, while simultaneously breaking the hearts of audience members. The Steven Spielberg revival brings new life into a legendary tale and it pays off in massive ways. There is so much charisma and life in this movie, and the story, and we’re captivated by every moment of it.
When a movie musical is done right it can be one of my favorite movie genres. Not since La La Land in 2016 has a movie musical made me feel so many things. The beginning of West Side Story has the charm, the charisma, and the flare that it needs to get you invested. There are so many interesting camera choices that it almost feels like we are floating around this movie and around Manhattan.
Steven Spielbergs direction here really helps this movie soar to new heights and brings an artistry to the story that it truly needs. I found myself smiling through a lot of the first half of the movie. That’s when you know a movie has charisma, when you can’t help but feel the magic of what’s happening on the screen. All of the dance numbers, the upbeat songs, the love, the colors all jump off the screen and make you feel the joy of being around music. The second half of the movie is a different story though.
West Side Story packs a punch in the story department and the second half of the movie is a complete tonal shift. There is a dark shift and all of the sudden we feel this cloud of sadness and heartbreak looming over the characters. This usually can be a problem to have such a massive tonal shift, but in the case of West Side Story you are slowly moved into that tone. The stakes become higher and higher and character motives and emotions become more elevated.
Many times I found myself crying through large portions of the second and third act because it really is that powerful and that heartbreaking through the end of the film. This is all anchored by terrific performances. Ansel Elgort is fine and really does what he usually does here. But, the stand out is Rachel Zeglar in her debut role and knocks it out of the park.
Zeglar’s portrayal as Maria is nuanced and has depth. She’s able to anchor the film and center it around it’s most important topics. Her family Bernardo and Anita were also some of my favorite characters and show the true love a family can have for each other. Rita Morena as Valentina exudes such class and dignity in this film and you can’t help but feel that she is the heart for both sides of the story here and just wants all of the boys and girls in the neighborhood to grow up to be good people.
West Side Story may be one of the best movies of the year and makes me feel the magic of movie musicals again. The film has such style and beauty throughout and will be a memorable moment for a long time. There’s love, family, heartbreak, and fun all packed into one. It’s a must see for me and I recommend it to anyone.
I give West Side Story an A+
