Tonight, TV screens will light up with a modern Steven Spielberg adaptation of an iconic film that previously swept 10 Oscars, offering a treat for all movie enthusiasts.
The cherished musical West Side Story is set to grace Channel 4 this evening (January 11) at 9pm. For those unable to catch the live broadcast, the film is also available for streaming on Disney+.
Legendary filmmaker Spielberg faced the daunting task of following in the footsteps of the original 1961 screen adaptation, which garnered ten out of its eleven Academy Award nominations, including the prestigious Best Picture.
Set against the backdrop of 1950s New York City, the narrative centres on the love story of Maria and Tony, entangled in the bitter rivalry between two gangs battling for dominance over Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Ansel Elgort (Baby Driver) and Rachel Zegler (Shazam!) headline as the ill-fated lovers, with support from Mike Faist (Challengers), Ariana DeBose (Kraven the Hunter), and David Alvarez (American Rust).
(Image: 20th Century Fox)
Drawing inspiration from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the musical reimagines its characters and setting to deliver poignant social commentary, tackling themes such as gang violence, social injustice, and gentrification, reports the Daily Record.
The 2021 release was met with acclaim from audiences and critics alike, securing an impressive 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics lauded 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.”
Although Spielberg’s adaptation didn’t quite match the acclaim of the 1960s original, the esteemed director received an Oscar nomination for Best Achievement in Directing. The updated musical also garnered six additional nominations, including one for Best Picture.
Ariana DeBose stood out as the sole victor, clinching the Best Supporting Actress award. Despite not sweeping the awards like its forerunner, the 2021 version has been hailed by fans as a “masterpiece.”
(Image: 20th Century Fox/ YouTube)
An enthusiastic viewer shared 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.”
On IMDB, the movie earned perfect scores from audiences, with one review reading: “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 individual expressed their surprise: “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 is available to watch on Channel 4 at 9pm tonight (January 11) and can also be streamed via Disney+ at any time
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