West Side Story

Steven Spielberg proves to the world that he knows how to direct a musical with the incredible showing of West Side Story.

The original musical, inspired by Romeo and Juliet, features a young romance between Tony and Maria who are divided by the racially charged rivalry between two New York gangs in the 1950s. Right from the first shot, the energy of the sweeping performances is felt instantly. The ensemble cast across the board gave their very best in their roles. With the immaculately choreographed camerawork, Spielberg guides you to travel across the dreamy, violent and romantic streets. The film features stunning shots by the virtuoso and his long-time collaborator and cinematographer Janusz Kamiński. 

This Spielberg-helmed version is most likely a welcomed addition to the canon of West Side Story. But if you are someone who doesn’t have easy access to Broadway musicals or Shakespearean stories, it would naturally take a little bit more to get swept off your feet by the rapture and urgency of the new-found love between Tony and Maria. The development of their romance could benefit from a little reframing in a modern adaptation of the story. The writers could have clued in the audience more about how the recklessness of the two plays into a conflict that has been brewing since way before their romance. In fact, their romance only heightens the long-existing chaos, and catalyses the fatal “rumble” in the climax of the film. The exuberant musical numbers work as a showcase to filmmakers’ artistry but the translation of this classic tale does leave something to be desired here. 

Even if there are moments in the film which make it hard for the audience to suspend disbelief, Steven Spielberg’s mastery, along with his dedicated cast and crew still made West Side Story a gratifying experience on the whole.