observations 12/10

Where was everybody today, huh?

Haglund was sure that he would get caught up in an MJ-type crowd when he happily hopped down to the AMC Empire 25 cinema on W. 42nd St to see the very first public screening of the new West Side Story movie. But alas, only a dozen people showed up for the 12:30 p.m. showing of this wonderful new movie.

The movie is good. Most people probably have hearts that are big enough to embrace two different movie versions of West Side Story. The new one has more violence and blood in it to satisfy the evolved appetite of the contemporary audience. This film has much more focus on the immigrant experience than the original film. It invests a lot and sometimes strains to emphasize cultural inequities when in fact everyone in the film is in the same poor economic condition. And as can be the case in Spieberg's movies, the camera often tried too hard to be the star of the scenes.

The young Rachel Zegler gave a remarkably honest portrayal of Maria and had a very lovely singing voice. Ansel Elgort acquitted himself well as Tony; his appeal grew throughout the movie and Haglund was sorry to see him meet his tragic end. Ariana DeBose as Anita also gave a very strong dramatic and dancing performance. Harrison Coll delivered the most spirited dancing of the Jets and looked every inch the inner city troubled gang member.

But the highlights for Haglund were the performances of Rita Moreno as Valentina and David Alvarez as Bernardo. Wow, Alvarez had an especially intense presence on the big screen -- fiercely dramatic with an expressive face that held the viewer's attention. Of course, his dancing was fabulous. Moreno was marvelous in this new supporting role of the empathetic and compassionate Valentina. She drew attention without having to say much and when she did speak, Haglund was hanging on every word.

The choreography surprisingly was less important to the film than in the original possibly because the dance scenes were chopped up into 5-10 second clips of dance. The camera jumped all over the place almost as if it was trying to be one of the dancers. So, one never got the feel of watching a complete performance. Too much of Justin Peck's choreography carried his signature hunched shoulders and poor posture that show up in his work and often showed up in his own dancing when he was a performer with NYCB. No new ground was broken here.

This film may well be worth going back for a second viewing of the work of David Alvarez. He was a major standout in a very watchable cast.

 

 

Comments

[Aneva Stout]

I think MJ the musical, West Side Story the remake, Sex and the City remake reboot re-whatever are all the result of someone's very terrible idea. Like CATS the musical, remember that one? You probably didn't see it, nobody did.

[Aneva Stout]

CATS the movie. Not the musical. (correction)

[Haglund]

Aneva,

Oh gosh nooooo!!!! Go see MJ the Musical and the WSS remake before lumping them in with the embarrassing Sex and the City reboot. I didn't see the Cats movie because I could hardly watch the trailer.

I'm beyond excited about seeing Hugh Jackman on stage in the revival/remake of The Music Man in a couple of weeks.

[Solor]

The WSS story movie is glorious and stands on its own. Spielberg and Kushner have deepened the story contextually by making the demolition sort of a character as well. The camerawork is extraordinary. Musically it is wonderful and I think Mike Faist and Rita Moreno are shoo-ins for Oscars. (My only quibble is that there was no elevated train in the neighborhood in the fifties.)

[Haglund]

I was wondering about the elevated train, too.

Mike Faist was indeed very good -- the most Mercutio of Riffs.

[MoMo]

Dear Haglund: I am not surprised about your review of David Alvarez. As you know, he was trained at the JKO School under Raymond Lukens and Franco DiVita. And he won a Tony Award for “Billy Elliot” on Broadway. I can’t wait to see this new West Side Story, and will see it on Tuesday.

[Haglund]

MoMo, you're going to enjoy WSS. Stop back and tell us what you thought of it.

[MoMo]

Dear Haglund: I saw West Side Story today. I don’t have enough words to praise it! I never thought the 1961 movie could be surpassed. Steven Spielberg has done a masterful job with this classic. Justin Peck’s choreography is outstanding and pays homage to the Jerome Robbins original. The acting is outstanding. All four leads nail the roles. The singing is beyond great. Kudos to the Queen Rita Moreno for making Valentina so heartbreaking. She is a National Treasure. I cannot praise it enough. I know I will see it again. ( Special praise to Mike Faist as Riff and David Alvarez as Bernardo. Absolutely stunning). And lastly, Rachel Zegler brings beauty, and a stunning voice to Maria. A new star. And unlike some critics, I thought Ansel Elgort brought the right feelings to Tony. Five stars! ❤️👏

[Haglund]

Thanks for the review, MoMo.

I just read that Rachel Zegler will be Snow White in an upcoming Disney film adaptation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - live action, not animation. Fairly perfect casting.