WEST SIDE STORY Review by James Mandell — A Gem of Inspiration
This West Side Story review by veteran recording artist James Mandell comes from a place of reverence for the source material, and awe of Steven Spielberg’s grand feat.
It’s here, at last. Couple months back, one of the streamers ran the original 1961 version of West Side Story — which won a dozen Academy Awards that year —and it was remarkable to sense how little it had aged over that 60-year span.
This new interpretation is a fascinating update in terms of measured woke. The Puerto Rican roles are now at least genuinely Latino and the Spanish language dialog is plentiful and notably not subtitled. You’ve got to accept it for what it is and at the very least, interpret its inflection and tone for yourself.
The dancing, direction and photography, reliably Spielberg, gorgeously timeless. But about that revised script… the additional and extended dialog scenes seem place-marked to man-splain one cultural conundrum to the next. For first-time viewers, they may feel connective and benign. But if the original is implanted on your brain, maybe not so much. That ’61 brevity of dialog supported by an expectation of culture clash of the time that has now been supplanted with editorial hand-wringing and some unnecessary symbolism.
Overall, Spielberg has delivered to form, as expected, including some exceptional style. The singing is truthfully simplistic and believable. David Newman’s orchestrations pay homage with spirited updates. Rita Moreno’s new role is welcome and touching. And it’s fitting to watch a culturally appropriate Rachel Zegler in Maria’s role rather than an Anglo shoehorned into the original to up box office appeal.
Overall, it’s a classic for the ages, musically the GOAT, based on Leonard Bernstein’s brilliant compositions in partnership with lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Together, they seem to have tapped into what I can only believe was a direct line to godliness. And rendered us the fortunate recipients of this expression of tragic beauty and whispered grace, this precious, unforgettable gem of inspiration and human folly.
If this West Side Story review by James Mandell makes you want to mambo out to the cineplex to see it, get times and tickets at Fandango.com.
This West Side Story review by veteran recording artist James Mandell comes from a place of reverence for the source material, and awe of Steven Spielberg’s grand feat.