Sixty years since the film last graced movie screens, West Side Story is back. This time around, legendary director Steven Spielberg takes his shot at the classic re-imagining of Romeo and Juliet. Set in New York in 1957, The Upper West Side is divided between two teenage street gangs, the white Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. The two gangs have a bitter rivalry fighting for control of the neighborhood, but their quest seems futile as the neighborhood is set to be demolished to make room for Lincoln Center. One day, Tony (Ansel Elgort), a former Jet, locks eyes with María (Rachel Zegler), the younger sister of the Shark’s leader Bernando (David Alvarez). As the two gangs prepare for a rumble, the star-crossed lovers are caught in the middle, desperate to be together and also save the people they care about.
Based on the 1957 hit Broadway musical, and drawing inspiration from the 1961 film adaptation, Spielberg creates a West Side Story for modern audiences. Gone are the days of white actors being cast as Latinx characters, such as Natalie Wood as María in the original film. Every Puerto Rican character in the 2021 version is played by a Latinx actor.
Rachel Zegler shines in her debut film performance as María. Her acting skills and vocal talents are the highlight of the film. It’s hard to believe that only a few short years ago, Zegler was just an ordinary high school student who responded to a casting call on Twitter. In fact, rehearsals for West Side Story had to be pushed back because Zegler still had a commitment to starring in her high school’s production of Shrek: The Musical. Since being cast in West Side Story, Zegler has booked several high-profile roles including a part in the Shazam sequel, and the part of Snow White in Disney’s live-action adaptation. West Side Story is sure to be only the beginning of her successful Hollywood career.
Another standout performance in the film is Rita Moreno as Valentina. Valentina is an original character in Spielberg’s film that fills the mentor role of Doc from the original story. Moreno is well-known for portraying Anita in the 1961 film, a role for which she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Moreno, who is Puerto Rican, also serves as an executive producer on the film.
Spielberg makes a bold choice by choosing to not subtitle any of the Spanish spoken by the characters. He claims doing so would alienate a Spanish-speaking audience, in a film meant to represent Latinx culture. Spanish is sprinkled throughout the film, and the story is not lost on those who don’t speak the language. The actor’s body language and tone of voice get the meaning of the scene across fairly well, even if an audience member can’t understand exactly what is being said.
West Side Story is a beautiful tale of how love can conquer division, but the racist casting choices and stereotypes of the 1961 film makes it difficult for a modern audience to enjoy. Spielberg’s version appeals to audiences of all backgrounds and takes the story in a more inclusive direction. During a time when division in the world is so prominent, it’s nice to have a film where love takes center stage and defies all obstacles.
STARS: 4/5