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West Side Story

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02:15

West Side Story

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• Romance
• Crime/detective

• 2021
• Steven Spielberg
• 156 mins
• 12

Summary

Musical starring Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler. In 1950s New York, two rival teenage gangs - the "American" Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks - fight to control the streets. When former Jet Tony, who's trying to leave the gang life behind, falls for Maria, the sister of the Sharks' leader, their forbidden romance causes the turf war to escalate with tragic consequences.

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IMDB

Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

Jeremy Aspinall

Directing his first musical, Steven Spielberg delivers a magnificent revival of an American classic, injecting Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's groundbreaking stage show with fresh energy, authentic casting and sweeping camerawork. Romeo and Juliet remains the inspiration for the tale of lovers caught up in a turf war between ethnically divided New York gangs, the Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. Simmering resentment bursts into violence (and superb choreography) when former Jet Tony (Baby Driver's Ansel Elgort) falls for Maria (Rachel Zegler), the sister of Shark leader Bernardo. From the start, Spielberg creates a stark visual signature by staging the teen turmoil in an apparent war zone of ruins and rubble - a nod to Big Apple reconstruction in 1958 - which provides the drama with claustrophobic intensity. Every number is a winner, from The Jet Song and the Gym Hall Mambo to Tonight and Somewhere. Meanwhile, the exhilarating makeover of America transforms it from show-stopper to traffic-stopper as Bernardo (David Alvarez) and girlfriend Anita (Ariana DeBose) take their bickering to the streets in a whirl of colour and dance. The 1961 screen adaptation of West Side Story is a genre landmark, yet Spielberg's dazzling re-imagining pays it due respect with wit and style to spare.

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7.1/10

How to watch

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Streaming

• Disney+
• Sky Store

Credits

Cast

rolenameTonyAnsel ElgortMariaRachel ZeglerRiffMike FaistValentinaRita MorenoAnitaAriana DeBoseBernardoDavid AlvarezLieutenant SchrankCorey StollSergeant KrupkeBrian d'Arcy JamesChinoJosh Andres RiveraJet girlMaddie Ziegler

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Crew

rolenameDirectorSteven Spielberg

Details

Theatrical distributor

20th Century Fox

Released on

2021-12-10

Languages

English | Spanish

Guidance

Violence, discriminatory language, swearing

Formats

Colour

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