TED REVIEWS: “WEST SIDE STORY”

By: Ted Campbell 1/19/2022

"West Side Story" is a vibrant love drama chalked full of energy that is guaranteed to immerse you in a colorful recreation of 1950s Manhattan.

"West Side Story" is the second major film adaptation of the hit 1957 Broadway musical of the same name. Released 60 years after the first, this new adaptation lacks originality, yet makes up for it with strong cinematography and direction, courtesy of director Steven Spielberg. I greatly enjoyed watching "West Side Story" in theaters, however I didn’t find it particularly memorable.

The remarkable set designs of "West Side Story" caught my attention and transported me back to 1957 Manhattan. The film recreates a city that has been used and lived in — the buildings are old, the balconies are rusted, the floors are dusty. All of it immerses you into the past. Paired with excellent costume design, the film mimics the era's clothing from the gang outfits worn by the Jets to the dresses worn by the girls.

Spanish is spoken throughout scenes where the characters are in their homes without the aid of subtitles. This was intentional on Spielberg's part, who said in an interview with IGN that he did not want to give “English power over Spanish,” which while understandable, made some parts of the film hard to follow.

The acting in "West Side Story" was hit or miss for me. Ansel Elgort, who plays Tony, performance falls flat. I felt that he didn’t convey emotion very well. On the other hand, I enjoyed Rita Moreno (who also starred in the original film) as Valentina, whose character was a new addition to the film.

"West Side Story" currently holds a 93% critics approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes as well as a 94% audience rating.

The film has won several awards already, including the American Film Institute’s top 10 movies of the year and the Golden Globe for Best Picture - Musical/Comedy.

"West Side Story" is a great take on the 1957 Broadway musical and a classic American tale that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys musicals or love stories.