West Side Story

STORY: It’s love at first sight for Tony (Ansel Elgort) and María (Rachel Zegler), when their eyes lock on a passionate dance floor in New York City. Much against the gender stereotype and quite a bold move for 1950’s, she is the first to steal a kiss. Her move catches him off guard. It takes a second for the two to find their ‘one and only’. But there’s a catch.

REVIEW: The two belong to the warring communities of street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. He is white (the Jets), she, a Puerto Rican immigrant (Sharks). Do the star-crossed lovers stand a chance to see a future together? Inspired by William Shakespeare's iconic play Romeo and Juliet, Steven Spielberg perceives his film as not as a remake but a contemporary reimagining of the original classic. West Side Story, originally a stage musical by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, was adapted into a 1961 film by Robert Wise. The story set in the mid-1950s in the Upper West Side of New York City, follows two rival gangs, the Jets and the Sharks and a doomed love story marred by violence and racial hatred.

The love story is as old as the hills especially if you’ve grown up on Bollywood romances, but xenophobia and racism are still prevalent in society. Spielberg finds that aspect relevant to come up with a film that doesn’t violate the classic but acts as its 2021 interpretation. The scale, production and set design, nuances and musical performances, are as good as what you’d expect from a Spielberg film. But despite its desire to attain near perfection, the film does not blow your mind. The lead actors fail to spark powerful chemistry that can make your heart ache for the young lovers. Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler are gorgeous and talented but individually. He has a twinkle in the eye, she sings like magic but together, they don’t quite hit the bullseye. You are more invested in the supporting cast — Ariana DeBose as Anita, David Alvarez as Bernardo and Mike Faist as Riff. The story finds its calling in these actors.

Musicals have a beat of their own, who better than Indians to know that. Spectacular visuals cannot compensate for the lack of emotional connect. Spielberg’s film is beautiful, especially the balcony scenes but detached unlike the glorious musicals which allow you to feel the lyrics. You don’t feel involved enough and that’s when the length gets exhausting.

Another major drawback is the lack of English subtitles for Spanish dialogue when half the film is in Spanish! The director didn't want to give ‘English the power over the Spanish’ by subtitling the Spanish within the movie. “I needed to respect the language enough not to subtitle it.” The progressive approach and thought is great but it limits its reach considerably.

Spielberg’s adaptation works for its artistic mastery, spectacular choreography and the relevant dialogue on racial equality. However, it fails to weave its magic as a story on forbidden love that it essentially is.