Tonight, TV screens will light up with a modern Steven Spielberg masterpiece, an adaptation of a film that scooped 10 Oscars.
The cherished musical West Side Story is set to grace Channel 4 this evening (January 11) at 9pm. Missed the live airing? No worries you can catch it on Disney+ too.
Spielberg, a titan of cinema, had to measure up to the original 1961 silver screen rendition of the tale, which bagged ten out of its eleven Oscar nominations, including the prestigious Best Picture award.
Transporting viewers to the 1950s streets of New York City, the plot weaves through the love story of Maria and Tony, entangled in the fierce rivalry between two gangs battling for dominance over Manhattan’s Upper West Side, reports the Daily Record.
Ansel Elgort (Baby Driver) and Rachel Zegler (Shazam!) dazzle as the ill-fated lovers, with stellar support from Mike Faist (Challengers), Ariana DeBose (Kraven the Hunter), and David Alvarez (American Rust).
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Press Association Images)
Drawing inspiration from Shakespeare’s timeless Romeo and Juliet, the narrative reimagines its protagonists and backdrop, delivering poignant commentary on contemporary issues. The musical delves into themes such as gang violence, social injustice, and the impacts of gentrification.
The 2021 release was met with applause from audiences and critics alike, securing a stellar 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics hailed it, saying: “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.”
Despite not matching the accolades of the 1960s classic, Spielberg was nominated for the Best Achievement in Directing Oscar for his modern musical. The film also received six other nominations, including one for Best Picture.
However, Ariana DeBose was the only one to take home an award, winning the Best Supporting Actress prize.
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20th Century Fox)
Even though the awards didn’t quite match up to its predecessor, fans hailed the 2021 adaptation as a “masterpiece.”
One fan shared their thoughts online: “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.”
Over on IMDB, viewers were equally impressed, giving the film top marks. One review read: “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 fan gushed: “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 tonight (January 11) at 9pm on Channel 4
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