On Thursday, December 9, the drama musical "West Side Story", a film adaptation of the theatrical production of the same name, will be released in Russia. The film was directed by Steven Spielberg, who has worked in this genre for the first time in his long career. The main roles in the film were played by debutante Rachel Zegler, previously approved for the role of Snow White in the musical film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", as well as Ansel Elgort, known for the projects "Baby Drive" and "Fault in the Stars". Oscar-winning cameraman Janusz Kaminski, who previously collaborated with Spielberg more than once, was in charge of the visuals. Together, the filmmakers have shot such cult films as Schindler's List, Catch Me If You Can and Saving Private Ryan.

West Side Story is set in New York in the late 1950s.

At the party, Maria and Tony meet and immediately fall in love with each other.

Already immediately their connection looks doomed: he is the founder of the street gang "Rocket", she is the sister of a member of the opposing group "Sharks".

Also, heroes cannot be together due to their origin.

Despite all this, an affair begins between Maria and Tony.

However, their happiness turns out to be short-lived - the relationship of the heroes provokes a new conflict between the gangs.

Violent street showdowns claim the lives of several characters.

In his adaptation of the musical, Steven Spielberg practically does not deviate from the original source, as a result of which the content of the film is not much different from the film adaptation of the same name in 1961, which won ten Oscars.

Characters familiar to the audience of the first adaptation also appear in Spielberg's version.

Except for the pharmacist Doc - he was replaced in the new film by Rita Moreno's Valentina.

It is interesting that the artist also appeared in the 1961 film - there she played Anita, one of the central heroines.

In addition, the new film touches on all the same problems - racial and class inequality, discrimination - and the heroes perform musical numbers to popular compositions written by Leonard Bernstein for the stage version of the story.

  • Still from the film "West Side Story"

  • © kinopoisk.ru

Nevertheless, the film adaptation of Spielberg turned out to be more thoughtful both in terms of production - the visual range here is very bright and juicy, and the dances are even more exciting and encourage the viewer to get up from the chair and join the heroes, and in terms of drama. The action is dynamic, funny and romantic scenes are diluted in a timely manner with dramatic moments, thereby maintaining tension throughout the story, so that the audience does not get bored. In addition, the story as reworked by screenwriter Tony Kushner (Lincoln, Munich) is revealed more logically and consistently. As a result, even some specific plot and staging solutions, which are possible only in such a conventional genre as a musical, look quite natural on the screen.

Otherwise, the new West Side Story is more realistic than the old one. Even the first half of the film, filled with dancing and not overshadowed by drama, does not look as feigned as the 1961 film adaptation. In the second half, the film turns into an almost serious crime drama with quite naturalistic fights.

An interesting, but controversial choice of performers of the main roles.

Equally pretty Rachel Zegler and Ansel Elgort look great together and are very organic in romantic images - but above all in static shots.

In dynamics, the artists are not very convincing.

For a long time they seem to be very confused and squeezed.

From the moment the main characters first met, almost all episodes with their participation seem somewhat awkward - either for Maria and Tony themselves, or for the audience.

Sometimes this effect enhances the strange behavior of Tony, who presents himself to his beloved as an ardent, but not the smartest young man.

There is no spark between them, due to which the acting duet in romantic stories can be considered successful.

  • Still from the film "West Side Story"

  • © kinopoisk.ru

Over time, Rachel Zegler is probably still imbued with the feelings of her heroine and begins to demonstrate a more convincing and soulful game, while Ansel Elgort remains in this vague confused image to the end.

Ultimately, there is no faith in the love of the protagonists, and the actors are easily overshadowed by each of her appearances by Ariana DeBos ("Hamilton", "Graduation"), who played the bright and temperamental Anita, the beloved of Maria's brother.

The actress especially shines in fiery dance scenes and is remembered much better than other artists.

The love story of Tony and Maria is dubious in and of itself - and even if not taking into account the acting.

However, in this case, one should not expect otherwise: the primary source is based on the tragedy of William Shakespeare "Romeo and Juliet".

Naturally, the play's contribution is evident both in the stage version of the story and in Spielberg's film.

The plot of the picture largely repeats the main events of the classical play.

Like Shakespeare's work, it makes no sense to analyze this musical from the point of view of common sense and reasoning of events.

West Side Story is a bright, beautiful romantic tale, albeit one that unfolds in relatively realistic conditions.