As an admitted musical fan, I’ve been looking forward to the new film version for quite awhile. Unfortunately it let me down. I remember seeing a professional performance of West Side Story in high school and being enchanted; seeing it now 25 years later held none of the same magic. It’s a beautiful production, with an assured hand from director Steven Spielberg, but it feels dated and, outside of a handful of musical numbers, lifeless.
Based on the famous stage musical (itself based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet), the story follows a couple of star-crossed lovers on opposite sides of a generational feud. The local white gang the Jets has seen their turf erode as Puerto Ricans have moved into the neighborhood, with their gang, the Sharks, pushing back against the Jets. Tony is a former leader of the Jets, but he spent a year in jail after nearly killing a person, and his time behind bars has changed his views; he wants to stay the straight and narrow. He’s only been out a short time when he goes to a dance and is instantly smitten by Maria.
Maria is not only Puerto Rican, but the sister of the Shark’s leader, Bernardo. Not a good situation for anyone. Maria and Tony fall for each other right away and plan to run away together, but their families come between them. A big fight between the gangs (the famous “rumble”) changes the path of their lives.
Despite fantastic sets, amazing production, solid acting (outside of Elgort, more on that soon), and everything you’d hope to see in a filmed musical, it just didn’t move me. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t great, and I was expecting great. Ansel Elgort is a good actor, but he was the wrong choice for this film. Everyone is full of emotion except him; Tony walks around with his too-cool-for-school look and blank face, which doesn’t mesh with what is going on around him. A big bummer. ★★
Jons Movie Takes 