A modern Steven Spielberg adaptation of a film that won 10 Oscars will air on TV tonight, free for all cinephiles to indulge in.
The beloved musical West Side Story will air on Channel 4 today (January 11) at 9 pm. Those who miss the broadcast can also stream it on Disney+.
Legendary director Spielberg had big shoes to fill after the first on-screen version of the story, released in 1961, took home ten out of the eleven Academy Awards it was nominated for, including the coveted Best Picture prize.
Set in 1950s New York City, the story follows lovers Maria and Tony, whose romance is caught in the middle of two rival gangs vying for control over Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Ansel Elgort (Baby Driver) and Rachel Zegler (Shazam!) lead the cast as the star-crossed lovers, supported by Mike Faist (Challengers), Ariana DeBose (Kraven the Hunter) and David Alvarez (American Rust).
(Image: Press Association Images)
The story is famously based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet but refreshes its characters and setting to offer modern social commentary. As such, the musical explores gang violence, social injustice and gentrification.
Released in 2021, the film was well-received by fans and critics, earning a near-perfect 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics consensus praised it: “Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story presents a new look at the classic musical that lives up to its beloved forebear – and in some respects might even surpass it.”
Although Spielberg did not live up to the accolades won by the 1960s classic, the iconic filmmaker was nominated for the Best Achievement in Directing Oscar. The modern musical received six other nominations, including one for Best Picture. However, Ariana DeBose was the only winner, bagging the Best Supporting Actress prize.
(Image: 20th Century Fox)
Despite the awards scales tipping in favour of its predecessor, fans dubbed the 2021 adaptation a “masterpiece.” One person posted their thoughts online and said: “Let’s get right to it—it is a knockout, a masterpiece, brilliant on every level. And to the question everyone will ask: is it equal to the original? In fact, I think it’s greater.”
Meanwhile, over on IMDB, viewers showered the flick with 10/10 ratings, with one review stating: “Utterly amazing. This movie just amazes me; there is talent within the choreography, the music, the scenes, the acting, the emotion, everything… I don’t want to spoil anything but it is really just Romeo and Juliet (you guys probably already knew that) but in the 1950s. Absolutely beautiful. Must watch.”
Another person shared: “I’ve seen the original more times than I can count, and I’d heard this was good and worth seeing, but I was sceptical. O. M. G. Only Steve could have done it. This is incredible. It is utterly gobsmackingly mind-blowingly good. The sets, the cinematography, the lighting, the ambience, and then of course, cast and songs, all done with that slightly newish tangibility yet giving the all-pervasive sense of an era that was, with what happened then sadly still happening now.”
West Side Story airs on Channel 4 tonight (January 11) at 9pm
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