Review: West Side Story

Disclosure: A complimentary code was provided to watch the movie.

Film Synopsis
Directed by Academy Award® Steven Spielberg, from a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winner Tony Kushner, “West Side Story” tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love in 1957 New York City. This reimagining of the beloved musical stars Ansel Elgort (Tony); Ariana DeBose (Anita); David Alvarez (Bernardo); Mike Faist(Riff); Brian d’Arcy James (Officer Krupke); Corey Stoll (Lieutenant Schrank); Josh Andrés Rivera (Chino); with Rita Moreno (as Valentina, who owns the corner store in which Tony works); and introducing Rachel Zegler (Maria.) Moreno – one of only three artists to be honored with Academy®, Emmy®, GRAMMY®, Tony® and Peabody Awards – also serves as one of the film’s executive producers.

West Side Story is one of the most beloved musicals of all time. I've seen it several times, so of course, I was hesitant about the remake by Steven Spielberg, as I am with most remakes of classic films.

But I loved it. The essence of the original remained throughout, while Spielberg cast his own magic.

With memorable songs and performances of "America," "I Feel Pretty," and "Somewhere," the timeless story tells the tale of love and loss, intertwined with stories of race and socio economics.

Although set in the late 50s, the challenges and triumphs depicted in the film are relatable to this very day, and the intense love story is one that still brings tears to my eyes.

The sets, characters, costumes, songs, and dances, along with the stellar performances of the cast (loved that Rita Moreno, who was in the original as Anita, is in this movie), all came together to create a wonderful reimagining of this treasured film.

West Side Story is available on Digital and Blu-ray.

Bonus Features*

The Stories of West Side Story

• Opening – Director Steven Spielberg begins the journey of one of his career goals – to direct his own cinematic version of the iconic musical. Doing so means he will embrace enormous challenges.

• Prologue – From the iconic finger snaps to the complex choreography, we are introduced to the film’s opening scene and explore its setting. We begin to see Spielberg's vision take shape.

• Sharks & Jets – Meet the actors who play the Sharks and the Jets. Go behind the scenes of "La Borinqueña," the song of the Puerto Rican Revolution, which was added into this vision of the story. Discover the deeper meaning of “Jet Song.”

• Dance At The Gym – Mambo your way through “The Dance At The Gym” and Justin Peck’s choreography, as it leads to the pivotal moment when Tony and Maria meet for the first time.

• The Romance – Explore the budding romance of Tony and Maria with the songs “Maria” and “Tonight” as Rachel Zegler (Maria) and Ansel Elgort (Tony) talk about the casting process, and what led them to this career-defining film.

• America – During a sweltering New York heat wave, the cast and crew take the production to the streets for one of the biggest dance numbers in the film, "America," featuring Ariana DeBose, who plays Anita.

• Gee, Officer Krupke – Spielberg and the Jets make "Gee, Officer Krupke" their own through a new setting, vocal direction and choreography, while they explore the meaning of Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics. Get to know Iris Menas (Anybodys) and the significance of their role.

• Cool – During the first week of production, Spielberg and the cast nervously jump into filming on the elaborate and challenging set of the musical number "Cool."

• From Quintet to The Rumble – Spielberg and his team navigate the intertwining scenes of “The Quintet” and "The Rumble." Once there, they take a scene that is traditionally stylishly choreographed, and instead bring a more visceralauthenticity to the fight between the two gangs.

• I Feel Pretty – Screenwriter Tony Kushner sheds new light on “I Feel Pretty.” We see how, in Spielberg’s film, the beloved song by lyricist Stephen Sondheim is given new vision, as it is set and performed within Gimbel’s department store.

• Somewhere – Hollywood Legend Rita Moreno, who won acclaim for playing Anita in the 1961 film, returns as Valentina, a shopkeeper’s widow, as well as an executive producer. She brings extraordinary experience and emotion to the film and sings the song “Somewhere.”

• Finale – In a moving testament to the talented cast and crew of WEST SIDE STORY, Spielberg reluctantly wraps “one of the best filmmaking experiences” of his career.

• Tribute – The late Stephen Sondheim reflects on his career and experience making WEST SIDE STORY in this dedication to the esteemed lyricist.

 

 

The Songs

Go directly to your favorite musical numbers from WEST SIDE STORY.

• Prologue

• La Borinqueña

• Jet Song

• Something's Coming

• The Dance At The Gym

• Maria

• Balcony Scene (Tonight)

• America

• Gee, Officer Krupke

• One Hand, One Heart

• Cool

• Tonight (Quintet)

• The Rumble

• I Feel Pretty

• Somewhere

• A Boy Like That/I Have A Love

 

*bonus features vary by product and retailer

 

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Review: Summer of Soul

Disclosure: I received a complimentary code to watch this movie.

Film Synopsis

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary—part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The footage was largely forgotten–until now. Summer of Soul shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present.  The feature includes concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension and more.

 

Watching the Summer of Soul was like watching a concert and being in a history class all at once.  It was fascinating to learn all about The Harlem Cultural Festival, which took place at the same time as Woodstock.  Most people have heard about Woodstock, but they haven't heard about The Harlem Cultural Festival.  I am one of them.

The Harlem Cultural Festival showcased a young Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Nina Simone, and more in a free multi-weekend concert for over 50,000 people of all ages.  

It is astounding that this amazing moment in time - and such a significant part of Black and musical history - was forgotten about in a basement.  The music, the newsworthy events, the fashions, the political climate of the time were captured on film, and to watch it in present day not only emphasizes how music can transcend time, but how it can help empower and motivate individuals.  

I learned so much about the history and perspectives of that time (I wasn't born yet), and watching the performances and learning about the artists was a real treat.

I especially enjoyed when some of the artists watched the footage for the first time - the raw emotion they exhibited once they realized the magnitude of the festival was so special to witness.

Summer of Soul is such a great documentary - a time capsule of a momentous time in history that should be shared with all.

Summer of Soul is available on Digital and DVD.

Bonus Features*

• Audio Commentary – View the film with audio commentary by director Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson.
• Soul Searching – A behind-the-scenes look at Summer of Soul. We’ll learn about where the footage from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival has been, how it was uncovered, and why director Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson decided to tell this story now.
• Harlem: Then & Now – We revisit Mount Morris Park, location of the Harlem Cultural Festival. We learn how the neighborhood was a crossroads of culture and precarious politics and explore why Summer of Soul is so relevant during this present time of great political upheaval.

 

*bonus features vary by product and retailer     

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