West Facet Story (English) Assessment {3.0/5} & Assessment Score
WEST SIDE STORY is a love story of two children from completely different ethnic backgrounds. The movie is about within the Nineteen Fifties in New York Metropolis. The Higher West Facet of town is occurring for redevelopment and decrease class folks residing within the locality have been requested to go away. Two rival road gangs management this space – the Jets, which consists of the Whites and is led by Riff (Mike Faist) whereas the Sharks, which consists of Puerto Ricans and is led by Bernardo (David Alvarez). One of many founding members of the Jets, Tony (Ansel Elgort), has simply been launched from jail. He was arrested after he almost killed a rival gang member belonging to a unique ethnic neighborhood. He has now reformed and works at a drugstore, and prefers to avoid violence. At an upcoming dance occasion, members of each the gangs and their siblings make their presence felt. The organizers intend to make use of this chance to kind a bond between the 2 teams. However the effort proves futile because the Whites and the Puerto Ricans desire to bounce amongst themselves. Tony attends the occasion and is mesmerized by Maria (Rachel Zegler), sister of Bernardo. She has come together with her date, Chino (Josh Andrés Rivera), however isn’t fascinated about him. She spots Tony and each dance, away from everybody’s eye and, even kiss. Nevertheless, they get caught, resulting in an altercation between the 2 gangs. Each resolve to combat it out the following evening. What occurs subsequent types the remainder of the movie.
WEST SIDE STORY relies on the stage musical of the identical title written by Arthur Laurents. The story is impressed by William Shakespeare’s play Romeo And Juliet. The Indian viewers may also be reminded of Shah Rukh Khan-Aishwarya Rai Bachchan starrer JOSH [2000] because it has the road gang connection (the movie was additionally impressed by WEST SIDE STORY). Tony Kushner’s screenplay is neat and entertaining. The characters are very nicely fleshed out and most significantly, he additionally properly informs viewers in regards to the issues confronted by folks of varied ethnic communities and decrease courses. The dialogues are sharp however the romantic ones are certain to tug at heartstrings. A number of racial slurs are additionally heard within the movie however that’s as per the script’s requirement.
Steven Spielberg’s route is, as anticipated, supreme and old style. He handles the movie in such a method that one seems like watching an outdated traditional. The color tone additionally compliments this facet. On the similar time, he additionally makes use of the fashionable sensibilities of filmmaking and this fusion created on celluloid makes for a pleasant watch. Regardless of the presence of so many songs, for many components of the movie, one is totally immersed. The love story and the monitor of Anita (Ariana DeBose) and Bernardo are the most effective parts. On the flipside, at 2 hours 36 minutes, it’s fairly a prolonged movie. It could not have been an issue if it was participating from begin to end. There are too many tracks and in direction of the later a part of the movie, just a few songs appear pointless or ought to we are saying, wrongly positioned. Therefore, Indian viewers, who are usually not used to watching western musicals, may get stressed within the second half. Agreed that they wholeheartedly accepted LA LA LAND [2016] however that was a shorter movie at 128 minutes and had fewer songs. One other main drawback with the movie is that just about 10-15% of the dialogues are in Spanish. And as per Steven Spielberg’s directive, these dialogues haven’t been subtitled. This creates a language barrier and in India, it turns into a bit bizarre since there are English subtitles accessible for English dialogues however not for Spanish dialogues! A number of Spanish strains are self-explanatory however some are uttered in essential sequences. Since audiences received’t be capable of work out what’s being mentioned in these scenes, it’ll hamper the affect.
WEST SIDE STORY begins with a breath-taking shot that educates viewers in regards to the setting and the period by which the movie relies. The road gang combat to start with with the sprint of dance units the temper. The entry scenes of Tony and Maria are pretty. However the movie takes off once they each meet and likewise once they meet at Maria’s hearth escape. The varied songs add to the enjoyable. The scene the place the combat takes place within the salt shed is a shocker. One expects the movie to finish quickly however right here it begins to tug. The music ‘I Really feel Fairly’ appears pointless right here and may have been positioned elsewhere, or perhaps shouldn’t have been there within the film in any respect. ‘A Boy Like That’ additionally slows down the narrative and it seems to be acceptable for a stage model of the story. Within the movie, it’s the one music, which appears unconvincing. The climax is transferring.
Ansel Elgort is great because the loverboy. He had earlier performed an all-out romantic position in THE FAULT IN OUR STARS [2014] and it stays to be one in all his most memorable performances. His efficiency within the movie comes very shut although right here, he places up a restrained act. Rachel Zegler seems to be beautiful and it’s troublesome to say that it’s her debut efficiency. She had a difficult position however she performs it effortlessly. Ariana DeBose is terrific and is a certain shot Oscar worthy efficiency. She dances like a dream. David Alvarez and Mike Faist are nice within the roles of aggressive gang founders. Josh Andrés Rivera has a vital half and does nicely. Rita Moreno (Valentina) is gorgeous. Brian d’Arcy James (Officer Krupke), Corey Stoll (Lieutenant Schrank) and Iris Menas (Anybodys) are respectable.
Leonard Bernstein’s music is without doubt one of the USPs of the movie. The identical songs, which had been there within the musical, are performed within the movie and are organized completely by David Newman. Essentially the most memorable songs of the lot are ‘Maria’, ‘America’, ‘One thing’s Coming’, ‘Gee, Officer Krupke’ and ‘Tonight’. ‘Tonight’, particularly, is terrific and the concept that everyone seems to be ready for the evening for their very own causes makes for a nice watch. ‘America’ can also be nicely considered and really well-choreographed.
Janusz Kamiński’s cinematography is outstanding and has an old-world really feel. Adam Stockhausen’s manufacturing design is detailed and brings the previous period alive. Paul Tazewell’s costumes are very interesting and genuine. Michael Kahn and Sarah Broshar’s modifying is unhurried.
On the entire, WEST SIDE STORY is a nice piece of cinema and embellished with noteworthy performances and music rating. The movie has the potential to file respectable footfalls in Indian cinemas attributable to Steven Spielberg’s affiliation, the hype and the truth that it has possibilities to excel on the Oscars. Nevertheless, the lengthy size, too many songs and absence of English subtitles for Spanish dialogue will cut back the affect to some extent.
