West Side Story flops at the box office with $10 million opening

Gee, Officer Krupke, you don't say?

Everyone is wondering, why remake a classic? The original movie is perfection.

Also, In The Heights was a slightly similar movie which was released a few months ago. It also did not fare well.

Given Ansel’s peccadilloes, his rather lackluster performance, the ongoing pandemic and an iconic, original WSS, am not surprised at the poor opening.

Not impressed with this WSS (other than Rachel as the female lead). Many others seem to share this perception.

Is anyone checking for Spielberg anymore? When was the last time he had a hit?

$10M seems like a good opening to me.

This was a bad idea from the get go..and the casting choices made it destined for failure.

Nobody wants to see a fucking musical at the movies.

Maybe it's because the original movie is a classic? Remake bad movies to make them better and leave the classics alone. Is Spielberg remaking Casablanca next?

I wonder if Spielberg is rethinking his position on subtitles

Fetch me an axe!!

Another day, another remake going to the wall. They never learn....

Why don't they make up new stories, new films. What is wrong with them? How can they be this lazy.

We cannot let da english dominate over da spanish! Plz watch, amigos!

What’s interesting is someone mentioned the other day why are black people over represented in Hollywood while there’s a lack of Latinos despite a bigger population.

Welp, we’ve got TWO major Latino movies bomb. “In The Heights” in the summer and “West Side Story” for Christmas.

“Candyman” did $72 million on a $25 million budget. Let’s see if this Spielberg in Espanol movie can beat that.

It will get viewers over Christmas and NY but most people are saving their Covid-19 dodging block bluster visit for Spider-Man.

I’ll see WSW on TV.

R13 Why would latinos want to watch outdated musicals ? Other “latino” movies do very well especially from Disney.

Although Ansel is completely unappealing, I was prepared to watch this movie because I love the original and it's getting rave reviews. But, I've since learnt that the tomboy character Anybodys has been turned into a "trans" character. As a woman who was a tomboy, I find that offensive, misogynistic and homophobic and have no desire to see or support the erasure of a woman.

I think the publicity against Ansell for his treatment of a previous "girlfriend" did the movie in. They also publicized it for far too long before release.

R13 Latinos love complaining about their lack of representation in comparison to Black Americans but when it’s time to support a Latino led film, they don’t.

For R13 and R18, the Deadline article covers this:

[quote]West Side Story and In the Heights are, respectively, Puerto Rican immigrant and Dominican Republic and islanders’ stories, tales which don’t necessarily resonate with Mexican Americans. That means that only a portion of the overall Latino and Hispanic demographic will show up.

The lead actress is a plain Jane nobody has heard about, and the lead actor has toxic press surrounding him for allegedly raping some crack whore. 😵‍💫Not something Hispanics are eager to see.

Not to mention Rita Moreno decided to trash the beloved star of the original.

R5 Not when you're Spielberg with a $100 million budget film and millions spent on PR, and not when you're looking for opening weekends on a par with The Avengers: Endgame.

Old friends in NYC tell me they remember the lines around the block to see the original when it opened at the Rivoli (that's Manhattan, yes?), and theirs continued for at least a week.

Remakes are so seldom an improvement. Why screw around with a once in a lifetime happy gestalt that generated magic?

^*the lines (not theirs) continued

R18 That's the point: it has Latino leads (actually, one, as Anita and Bernardo are supporting, not leads), bit it isn't a Latino story, it isn't Latino directed.

The entire thing is the brainchild of gringo mem from Shakespeare to Leonard Bernstein to Jerome Robbins to Stephen Sondhein to Arthur Laurents. And now, to Steven Spielberg.

I suspect the Latino population suspects it's being pandered to in an effort to give the film a veneer of freshness.

I suspect they are right.

It's nothing but bitching in here but it sounds like one person at most in this thread has actually seen the movie??? I saw it and it's terrific, some of Spielberg's most dynamic filmmaking in years. I liked it better than the original, honestly -- all that caked on brownface and fake singing always distracted me. And I don't speak a lick of Spanish but you barely even notice the moments when the characters are - you get the gist of what they're saying, if not the specifics. Y'all just like to (be racist and) complain

Hollywood please please stop trying to make him a leading man. He’s fucking ugly. Same with TimoTay. He can’t play the heroic type.

Yeah, don’t really care about Puerto Ricans and whoever else is represented here.

Mexicana here, con mucho orgullo.

What r25 said, and I write that as someone who knows that someone can dislike or not have a positive reaction to a movie just based upon personal preference.

To me WSS 2021 is thrilling. It's pure cinematic, big screen spectacle; the kind I didn't think I'd experience again.

Objectively, if you've actually watched WSS 2021, I don't know how you can be critical of the actual production. It's superb.

I loved the movie, but I still don’t see the point of making it. The original will still remain the one everyone watches

[Quote] As a woman who was a tomboy, I find that offensive, misogynistic and homophobic and have no desire to see or support the erasure of a woman.

Anybodys wasn’t a woman in the original, so where are women being erased?

The movie isn’t clear if Anybodys is trans or just a lesbian tomboy

I actually enjoyed In The Heights more

Deadline can try its surmises all it wants.

NO ONE - meaning no big audience - wanted, needed, expected, demanded or sought this remake of a dated, over-the-top melange of some fine music, some embarrassingly earnest plotting, bizarre dance choices (SO artsy), unfortunate color coding (We're too early to do white/black so we'll do white/brown) and low-brow/high-brow overreach (Lenny: :I AM Gershwin for the 20th century!") rammed into "Romeo and Juliet" with fighting about who is pure enough in cultural terms to appear in it.

Fuk dat shit.

This movie is really good I’m hearing. Like excellent. I don’t even know if it is out in all the theaters yet. Not everybody even knows it’s out.

But people are losing their minds about it. They want to see it again.

I saw a screening and loved it but can’t imagine who the huge audience is for this. Going to the movies is expensive. This movie is long and there’s already a (better) original version of it and you could just watch something else on streaming. And covid.

I don’t see the teens running to see it, not sure about the 20 somethings. Seems like audience will mostly be gays, urban fraus and grandparents. Is that a good demo?

The right wing trolls will make 25 more threads this week declaring this movie dead in the water. Prepare for an onslaught.

Meanwhile it will probably make 500 million dollars by the time it’s all over. And win a dozen oscars.

[QUOTE]Anybodys wasn’t a woman in the original

I always thought she was, each of the four or five times I saw the original. Or a girl, anyways.

Maybe they should’ve turned Tony and Maria into superheroes or aliens.

[quote] Not to mention Rita Moreno decided to trash the beloved star of the original.

She's been doing that for nearly 60 years.

I saw it and thought it was okay -- typical Spielberg over the top sentimentalism combined with what is undeniably great music and lyrics. But the fact is that the original is just as good -- I still don't see the reason for this having been created. Remakes work best (well, actually, remakes seldom work) when they bring a new perspective to an old movie. This effort was good but completely unnecessary.

Between the terrible reviews for Mrs. Doubtfire and WSS flopping at the BO, Lady Kevin McCollum must be having a real bad month.

Covid. I'm in the camp of no one asked for a wss remake, but still would like to see it. Particularly as the reviews have been good. No way if it was a crappy remake. But I'm limiting my long indoor events to necessity. Flying to see family for Christmas? Okay. Sitting with a bunch of strangers for a movie? No, not yet.

[quote] Meanwhile it will probably make 500 million dollars by the time it’s all over. And win a dozen oscars.

Hi, Donald Trump.

R42, Covid has nothing to do with it.

[quote]Welp, we’ve got TWO major Latino movies bomb. “In The Heights” in the summer and “West Side Story” for Christmas.

They were release way too close to each other. And people have had sufficient of remakes and musicals.

Latinos complain all the time about their not represented enough in media and entertainment. And then they don't show up to support something that was very clearly made for them.

But everyone loves to complain about the " over representation" of black people, even though they've been here for centuries and have paid their dues more than anyone else in this country.

Just remember, it was always black people who paved the way for everyone having civil rights in thus country. That paved the way for a lot of positive change in this country in the 50s and 60s etc. But everyone loves to shit on the black population of this country.

Now what?

Anybodys was a girl in the original. Isn't there a line "You're a girl, BE a girl, scram!!!"?

With COVID variants now suddenly flying about everywhere now, I suspect that much of the public is hesitant to go sit in a theater with others, even if they've been vaccinated.

I expect WSS to rake it in big-time once it goes to Amazon or elsewhere.

Of course she was a girl in the original, R47. More misogynist nonsense from DL's few gender-worshiping revisionists.

R16, I too looked forward to this film until I heard about the transing of Anybodys. These people are free to erase the lives and history of gender-nonconforming women and gay men, and I am free to withhold my money.

I love how you eldercunts are tripping all over yourselves to declare a movie that hasn't been out for 24 hours to be a flop.

And further tripping all over yourselves to declare the reason is whatever racist hobbyhorse you're currently weeping about.

R50 its past time for your meds, take them and get ahold of yourself !

Yes, let me take advice from R51 who's busy composing a lengthy screed about how the gender representation in WSS makes her MAD!!!!!

R49. I saw the film. They don't Trans Anybodys. She is referred to as a girl by the Jets and has to sit on the women's bench when she was brought to the police station.

Is the choreo new? I found Robbins so date and cringeworthy - not the the original film, it in the 6 or 7 productions I’ve sent on stages

[quote] "Remakes work best (well, actually, remakes seldom work) when they bring a new perspective to an old movie."

This. And it's the same with other forms of art, particularly song covers. If one can't bring new perspective to some part of the piece, they need to avoid it altogether.

Who knew?

We didn’t ask for it to be made, R46. Don’t pander to us. Especially if you expect Mexican-Americans to care about the ‘ricans or the other islanders from whatever country they’re from.

Why the hell should we care about feuding gangs in NYC? Honestly, I’ve never even seen the magical, amazing first movie. Again having no interest in the story.

If you want us to watch, cast real Mexican-American actors not only in movies but more importantly on tv. We want to see us on that screen.

Freaking making shows in Austin but hardly any Mexas being cast? Pathetic. Looking at you Walker.

[quote]This was a bad idea from the get go..and the casting choices made it destined for failure.

It's not a "failure," it's a brilliant achievement, REGARDLESS of the disappointing box-office for the first weekend, which is probably attributable to several factors. Your pronouncement makes you sound like a fool, and you should consider yourself lucky that you posted anonymously.

And as for R57, that kind of ignorant, clueless comment that represents the very dark side of the internet and social media, which has given voice to countless idiots.

Gap did it better in Y2K!

YASSSSS r59!

R53: "They don't Trans Anybodys. She is referred to as a girl by the Jets and has to sit on the women's bench when she was brought to the police station."

Both the makers of the film and the press disagree: "But Spielberg's film firmly establishes the character as transgender, both via dialogue heard in the film and the performer cast in the role: nonbinary Broadway actor Iris Menas, whose previous stage credits include the Alanis Morissette musical Jagged Little Pill."

We are supposed to be horrified not that ALL the female characters are being forced to enact gender stereotypes, but that ONE is-- one who is clearly too special and unique to be "just a woman."

R11 People always say this. Films have been remade since the 1920s. I think there were more remakes made from the 1920s - 1990s than the last 2 decades.

If a story is good, then it gets retold over and over again. That’s why we have fairy tales and Shakespeare and plays.

Books are repackaged and some plays like Medea are 2,500 years old, I don’t get why movies can’t be the same.

“Scarface” is a great remake by the way.

The Post made $179M worldwide, but it had movie stars and a great story.

I don’t know why SS wanted to remake West Side Story. It’s a very dated musical.

[quote]Books are repackaged and some plays like Medea are 2,500 years old, I don’t get why movies can’t be the same.

r62, the public's tastes change over time. This might not be the era in which people want to watch remakes. Maybe later there will be a resurgence of interest again, but right now they are striking out most of the time

[quote] Is Spielberg remaking Casablanca next?

Gypsy, actually. He wants to, anyway.

[quote] With COVID variants now suddenly flying about everywhere now, I suspect that much of the public is hesitant to go sit in a theater with others, even if they've been vaccinated.

You mean the mild Omicron, which has yet to overtake Delta, and isn’t a big deal anyway? I could see that being a concern for people who don’t actually know what’s going on with Covid.

[quote] nonbinary Broadway actor Iris Menas

I cannot even believe someone would market themselves as a “non-binary actor.” How do these narcissistic cunts live with themselves? You’re a woman. It doesn’t matter if you don’t “identify” with female cultural stereotypes. That doesn’t make you neither a man nor a woman.

I mean, la-di-da.

The Greatest Showman had repeat customers who sang along with the film. It's unlikely audiences will engage in sing a long's during COVID!

By R16's logic, we all should be screaming every time a black man is hired to play a white character.

I saw it Friday afternoon at 5:15 p.m. Five folks including my sister and me in the theatre.

When we came out I expected the lobby to be full for the 8 p.m. showing.....and the lobby was empty! Nobody around.....

I liked it, although I thought the actor playing Diesel was a hell of a lot cuter than the troll playing Riff. For me those actors and parts could have been traded. The only numbers I didn't like were OFFICER KRUPKE which fell flat. And I always like AMERICA sung on the roof of the building with the dancers still in their costumes from the dance at the gym.....here it was done outside on the streets like a number from FAME.

And Anita's scene at Doc's was kind of low key......Rita Moreno certainly played it with more fire and hate: "I got a message for your American buddy!"

COOL was moved into the original stage position and it was a great dance number with Tony trying to calm the Jets down before the rumble!

I liked it.....but it was completely unnecessary.

[quote] It's not a "failure," it's a brilliant achievement, REGARDLESS of the disappointing box-office for the first weekend, which is probably attributable to several factors. Your pronouncement makes you sound like a fool, and you should consider yourself lucky that you posted anonymously.

I’m new to this thread, but I was not really impressed with the movie, Steven.

For those utterly DISTURBED at the thought of a tomboy being conceived as trans, please recall this 1957 Sondheim lyric sung by Anybodys: “Girls ain’t good for anything/ I drink and I smoke and I inhale/ why can’t I be male?” It’s not a big stretch to 2021.

the movie doesn't look like fun. Latinos have no interest in going to see films where they're portrayed as immigrants, poor, and second class citizens. Movies are about fantasies, this movie doesn't have anything young audiences want either, other than young love. but its a period piece representing an era that was 60 years ago. 60 years is a long time.

The pandemic audience is middle america, this is an NYC movie. This is a movie for older people. The pandemic audience is younger than ever.

Can we blame Ansel?

In this day and age it's outrageous that anyone would take issue with every character, in every film and theatre piece, except the patriarchal straight-white-male villain, being played by a mismatched-to-the-part victim of historical injustice.

Isn't that what used to be called art and commercial entertainment is all about?

R65 R65 Well not the case for something like Batman. I think you’re right the public’s taste changes but I think there’s still a taste for remakes, it’s about which ones.

I don’t think anyone would roll their eyes at a remake of “The Little Foxes” or “Last Tango In Paris” or something like that.

But remaking “Grease” or “Gone with the Wind” or “Casablancas” is something people would roll their eyes at.

They could remake "Foxes" with Dula Pee.

R73 I don’t think that’s true cause Latinos love gangster and cartel movies and shows. All my recommendations by my Latino friends were like chola gang films and immigrants becoming gang members in the US and shit. Of course that was my male friends but still.

A lot of Latino males worship Tony Montana like he’s Jesus.

Ansel Elgort, Alden Ehrenreich, and Taylor Kitsch just aren't meant to be leading men.

You'd like them to lead you in a gangbang.

R2 What is West Side Story?

It didn’t flop

[quote] It didn’t flop.

Keep telling yourself that, Steven.

Its opening was marginally better than other flops. Time will tell though. It’s been hyped to the stars....and everywhere else.

Seems it was unnecessary: another musical, remake of an icon, following in the footsteps of a similar film that flopped, Ansel’s issues, Ansel’s lack of leading man charisma, Covid, etc.

[quote]I don’t think that’s true cause Latinos love gangster and cartel movies and shows. All my recommendations by my Latino friends were like chola gang films and immigrants becoming gang members in the US and shit. Of course that was my male friends but still.

[quote]A lot of Latino males worship Tony Montana like he’s Jesus.

Such a primitive, savage people.

[quote]Just remember, it was always black people who paved the way for everyone having civil rights in thus country.

You mean like Stonewall? 🙄 Also, blacks never seem to acknowledge the white liberals who helped them over the centuries. Even today blacks are just 13% of the U.S. population. Thus, they would have never accomplished so much without the aid of whites.

[quote]Why has Hollywood Lost Its Creative, Innovative Edge?

Hollywood and Broadway are currently being dictated by radical feminists who tend to be the worst SJWs. So desperate to be seen as 'woke.' They care more about promoting their far-leftist agenda (anti-male, anti-white, anti-America, anti-science when it comes to the trans issue, anti-tradition in general) than creating successful art. Or even escapism in these hard times. They're modern-day Julia Sugarbakers on their soapboxes lecturing the rest of us and just being general killjoys and wet blankets.

The fact is, men tend to be better leader and inventors than women. Not to say there haven't been good female leaders/inventors, but they are few and far between. There is a reason why men ruled the world for eons. Putting women in positions of power just 'to be fair' even if they are not qualified is what is leading to ruin.

Remakes suck. I've never seen one that was any good.

Radical feminists are behind all those superhero movies?

[Quote] Remakes suck. I've never seen one that was any good.

The Maltese Falcon? His Girl Friday? Double Indemnity?

R72 gets points for referencing a cut song from the original.

F&F r 85 and its racist, misogynistic ass.

The article on the deadline offered a good point on the misunderstanding of Latino demo/audience, people tend to lump all Spanish speaking ethnic groups into one big category - Latino, but the truth is there are a lot differences among them, Mexicans are not that interested in West Side Story (the Puerto Ricans) or In the Heights (Dominicans).

Add “Reflections of Murder” a 1974 TV movie that was the first of several remakes of Diabolique, to the list of excellent remakes. Joan Hackett, Tuesday Weld, Sam Waterston. It’s great.

Starring Anselino Elgortina

[quote] Just remember, it was always black people who paved the way for everyone having civil rights in thus country.

Delusional and historically inaccurate. Latinos were too distracted having a good siesta to fight for their own rights.Think of it, I don't think they even existed back then...

I would rather sit through a four hour movie watching paint dry than to watch Ansel Elgort attempting to act.

No one has the patience for movie musicals any more. Name ONE over the past ten years or so that has had audiences raving and selling out theaters. Audiences today cannot suspend disbelief, much less sit through seven or eight songs in one film.

And this one is a BUTT CRUSHER!!!

Cost: $100 million

Gross: $40 million?

R97 you forgot the promotion and marketing, for a big budget movie, the marketing cost is at least half of and sometimes is almost the same as the production cost.

R98 They have marketing this movie for a year plus as well.

[quote]Name ONE over the past ten years or so that has had audiences raving and selling out theaters.

I don't know if it sold out theaters, but [italic]La La Land[/italic] (2016) grossed $151M in the US and $446M worldwide. It has a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a 94 on Metacritic, and an A- CinemaScore. It won six Oscars with 14 nominations.

WSS was number 1 at the box office this week with only $10 million. No one went to the movies this week

Stop with your amateur movie budget analyses. Unless you are a bookkeeper on any given film or a studio exec. you are just mouthing nonsense fed to you by the media. There are more ways in Hollywood to make a flop profitable and a blockbuster not profitable than there are threads on DL about the Golden Girls.

This is a complete failure deal with it.

Sondheim is box-office poison.

The only one of his musicals that was successful as a movie was the original West Side Story, and he didn't write the music for it.

In the Heights should now get WSS's place in the Best Picture nominations.

Into the Woods: $213M worldwide

I think people are just waiting for this to be on DVD as the original has been seen so many times

So while people won't rush to the theater to see this, they will download at home or buy the DVD out of curiously

This is not a movie people are going to line-up to watch.

Enough of outdated movies from 50 plus years ago filled with old fashioned story lines about young people obsessed with getting married. I saw the older version too many times and I still think it is corny. I watched it just to see how new York city neighborhood looked like in the early 60s.

People still buy DVDs?

[quote] People still buy DVDs?

you'd be amazed

4.4 mil in Europe this weekend...yeesh...though honestly higher than I would have thought

Send in the Clowns 🤡 on this one

“Rachel Zegler” is not someone puerto ricans or other Latinos will support or care about . Should have cast jlo lol

R86 - The remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers was surprisingly good.

But then, it had a much better story to work with.

R100 - La La Land was possibly one of the worst films I have ever seen.

Its success is just more evidence of how foolish it is to put one's faith in humanity.

[quote] Can we blame Ansel?

I think not. Ansel didn't cast Ansel. Production, casting, and the director did that.

WSS reviewed 30,000 audition tapes for Maria and possibly as many for Tony. The worst person auditioning on any of those tapes would have said, "Put me in, Coach," no matter how inadequate they were. Most actors don't see their own limitations when going up for once-in-a-lifetime dream parts, so it's up to production to filter them out. I highly doubt Ansel wowed them in the audition and then fell short when filming began. They knew what they compromised when they cast him.

The Golden Globes nominations will be announced tomorrow. Shit is about to get real!

I think both WSS and In the Heights will get nominated for BP in the Musical/Comedy category. I like that the GG have separate drama and musical/comedy categories.

Are we really supposed to believe that Ansel Elgort won this part through auditioning?

Cynical conspiracy theorists are not limited to Qanon.

The Golden Globes are back! I had no idea. How did they resolve all those issues from last year?

I didn't say La La Land was a good movie musical, R116. Just pointing out it was a successful one.

No show for the GG’s. Just press announcements.

So the GGs will give awards but not have a show? Okay.

[quote]I don’t know why SS wanted to remake West Side Story. It’s a very dated musical.

R64, do you consider HAMLET and A DOLL'S LIFE and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE to be "very dated" plays? Just asking out of curiosity, but I really don't care for your opinion, since you obviously don't know the difference between a "dated" piece and a classic.

I saw it Saturday night at Lincoln Square, which is literally the setting of the movie. My showing was maybe half full, but the theater itself was a ghost town. It seems people just aren’t going to the movies the way they did, at least in NYC.

R121 cant you see, we already have two high profile movies with a majority Hispanic cast for the best musical/comedy, we will have more non-white nominations for other categories. Not just GG, Oscar will be all over them too. But I am not sure the people behind #OscarSoWhite would be too pleased, it looks like their effort went on to benefit Hispanics, not blacks.

R100 Blah, Blah Land! It may have been popular but, no one I know who saw it liked.

The 2 Mama Mia films were popular and like LaLa Land awful!

R62 I think remakes worked in the past because of the factory like manner in which they were made. These days films can be enjoyed on tap which was not the case with movies from the 20s. The movies used to be made and then disappear after theatrical release until television started broadcasting them.

[quote] Maybe it's because the original movie is a classic? Remake bad movies to make them better and leave the classics alone

This has always been my position. There are SO many movies that missed the mark for whatever reason, but there was still a gem of an idea that could be expanded on. Something like this will forever be compared to the original. Why bother

R116 or put one's faith in critics or awards

Coming Soon: The Wizard of Oz with a gender-neutral, non-binary Dorothx!

West Side Story isn't dated at all, retard, but it didn't need to be remade either. The original movie (and the genius Robbins choreography) is perfect as is. And you can't compare remakes made in the era of fantastic studio filmmaking that was the 30s-40s to the absolute sludge we have now.

Did I call it or what

Maybe if they'd cast it with white actors like the original it would've done better 😂

Why haven't the trans community been going to see this en masse?

One of the Jets is now a non binary trans ex lesbian person (seriously!) who is rejected by the Jets at first but accepted when she/they start following around the Sharks and spying on them like a creepy peeping tom.

Apparently, since WSS was in production, the person playing Anybodys featured at r137 has changed their name from Iris to Ezra.

[quote] With COVID variants now suddenly flying about everywhere now, I suspect that much of the public is hesitant to go sit in a theater with others, even if they've been vaccinated.

Nice try, Steven. Other films are making tons right now. No one wants your shitty SJW film.

[quote] Maybe if they'd cast it with white actors like the original it would've done better 😂

It would have. People are sick and tired of forced diversity.

I wonder if East Side Story would generate more interest?

Why the remake? Spielberg thinks he’s infallible it he’s got a God complex thinking he can correct the problems with the original version. Maybe Kushner convinced him about that his “woke” approach would be a corrective? The central story is dated. Who cares if a Puerto Rican chica dates a white guy?

[quote]I wonder if East Side Story would generate more interest?

Upper East Side Story would probably win the Oscar for best costumes.

The lines in the movie are super corny and society has moved on. No one is shocked a Latina is into a white guy. Outdated crap that appeals to mostly boomers who want to reminisce about their youth and since they are paranoid about going to the movies. It killed the chance of this sappy mess from making a lot more money.

[Quote] No one is shocked a Latina is into a white guy.

Plenty of people are shocked at Bennifer.

[quote] But people are losing their minds about it. They want to see it again.

OMG hi Steven Spielberg!!

[Quote] Plenty of people are shocked at Bennifer.

Maybe, but not because he's white and she's a Latina.

Seriously, a white guy with a Latina is nothing these days. Who even notices?

People noticed Shawn Mendes and his lady love.

R149 Only because Shawn is a homo.

This was an astonishingly well done movie. If West Side Story is not your thing, fine. But it’s hard to imagine anyone who ever loved the show or the movie being disappointed.

For those who ask why this movie needed to be made, I think the movie answers that conclusively. The social history of New York is laid out thoughtfully and precisely in a way the original does not attempt. The plot points and characterizations are fully fleshed out, which makes the original seem cartoonish and shallow. The cinematography is actually cinematic, rather than a filmed stage version. Every death resonates because all characters are fully human and flawed.

[Quote] But it’s hard to imagine anyone who ever loved the show or the movie being disappointed.

You would be wrong.

The movie has a lot going on, which could be very rewarding on multiple viewings by people who enjoy this level of detail. It feels authentically like New York - a lot is going on but you can’t take it all in. I love the original, but this fascinated me with its depth and intelligence.

I just got home from my 2nd viewing of WSS. The theatre was full except the first two or three rows.

[quote]The central story is dated. Who cares if a Puerto Rican chica dates a white guy?

I was just talking with a friend, and we both agreed that the dumbing-down of the American populace over the course of the past 50 years or so is the main cause of this country being in so horribly fucked up. And this post by R142 is an especially pathetic and horrifying example of that.

[quote]The lines in the movie are super corny and society has moved on. No one is shocked a Latina is into a white guy.

By this logic, R144, there would never be another movie about the Holocaust because there hasn't been mass genocide against Jews since the 1940s, never another movie about slavery because African-Americans are no longer bought and sold. In short, you are a fucking idiot, and both you and R155 should go off and live together somewhere far removed from civilized and intelligent society. Like, maybe Antarctica.

Nobody gives a shit what you think r156. West Side Story is a very dated show.

You do NOT fuck with eldergays and their beloved musicals from four generations ago, or they go apoplectic like r156.

See Also: self checkout and people who still pay in cash.

It has nothing to do with being an "eldergay," you cretin at R158. It's about being in possession of a brain that works well enough for me to know how idiotic it is to argue that a movie shouldn't be made about a historical situation because it doesn't exist anymore. And P.S., in this case, it's tragic but true that youth gangs DO still exist, even if their ethnic makeup isn't exactly the same as that of the gangs in WEST SIDE STORY.

r159 = yelling at the sky and shaking his fist

Of course WSS is dated. In what world it that style of music current?

And Rita--not Chita--promoted it on The View.

R156 I still stand by my statement that West side story should be changed to west side corny story. You are probably one of those boomers who love to bitch about modern entertainment. We young people don't want to see that outdated shit and I am happy it flopped. By the way you can go fuck yourself.

Dig the eldersister going on about "youth gangs," thinking it makes him sound hip and totally tuned in to modern culture.

the musical score is not dated / it is timeless you idiots / that is what will bring people in.... no one is in a rush to go opening weekend.

The film, like the play it is based on, is dependent on an artistic aesthetic. Take away the music and choreography and you have nothing. Take away the extraordinary language in the original and you haven't got much left either. The Bard's histories are far juicier in plot and characterisation.

The plight of Daphne Manners and Hari Kumar in Jewel in the Crown had far more pathos and tragedy than either R&J and WSS. They are fun by comparison.

Ditto the fate of Miyoshi Umeki and Red Buttons in Sayonara in occupied Japan. What's more, the understory of how the US military tried to stop those marriages is factual.

This is a common enough theme I film and literature. The only thing that separates WSS is the magnificent score and dancing. And the original had those.

So, why bother with another film with a $100 million budget?

A Broadway or West End revival of the original, all right. That's standard in the theatre.

But a gargantuan budgeted film?!

I know you do!

Have you seen the movie, r166?

“ The movie has a lot going on, which could be very rewarding on multiple viewings by people who enjoy this level of detail. It feels authentically like New York - a lot is going on but you can’t take it all in. I love the original, but this fascinated me with its depth and intelligence.”

A very limited modern audience indeed. No wonder it’s a flop

R168. I don't need to, which is my point. Im only interested in the music and dancing. The dancing in the original was fantastic and the score is iconic and I own it and can play it any time I want to. F

The characters are stock and just an excuse for the music and dance. This isn't King Lear.

$100 million and a $22 film ticket? I can stay home. It isn't worth the effort.

What I'd really prefer to spend my money on is the London revival of Cabaret with Eddie Redmayne as the Emcee. Only its fucking sold out and I can't get my hands on a ticket.

Have you seen the reviews for that, especially Redmayne?

That's the kind of revival I'll spend money on.

Just the photos Redmayne in costume made my skin scrawl.

Remaking something like WSS, especially with an obscene budget like that, is borderline offensive. It's not deep. Its just pretty with glorious music and choreography. It's been done to death in stage revivals.

Leave it, already. And, I've sat in a cinema too many times already rolling my eyes at Spielberg's inability to refrain from OTT schmaltz to pay for it again.

Has anyone here seen the Redmayne Lobdon Cabaret yet? If do, please start a thread on it.

^* It's

London not Lobdon

It's interesting that there are 3-4 threads on the DL currently active on this bomb of a flop of a snoozefest that never should have been made.

R167 Smoke on your pipe and put THAT in!

I actually think there is something to what r166 and r170 posts and I've paid to see WSS 2021 twice and loved it both times.

I made the point in another thread, or hell, maybe it was this one (there's at least 2 going here) that the gush over Spielberg's skill - "he can even direct a musical!"- leaves out that, yes, while he did hit a triple, even a homerun, with WSS 2021, he was able to do so without swinging the bat because....

I'm on a roll with the tired metaphors...Spielberg is standing on the shoulders of Bernstein, Sondheim, Robbins and Laurents.

I thoroughly enjoyed WSS 202. I was thrilled to hear the music, singing and see the dancing by the extremely talented cast. It was convenient to go see it on the big screen and I think it deserves to be a cinematic hit.

But the observations of r166 and r170 are well taken.

West Side Story? I thought it was the overbite Olympics.

[quote]What I'd really prefer to spend my money on is the London revival of Cabaret with Eddie Redmayne as the Emcee.

If, as you say, you can't get a ticket, book into one of the tippy top London hotels – Claridges, Dorchester, the Ritz. The concierge will get you a ticket. Given the tickets are US$430 as it is, a little more won't hurt.

Eddie Redmayne is a Cliff.

r170, that's a Cabaret I'd love to see, too. Of course, I've never been a member of the DL He-man I Hate Eddie Redmayne Club. He's been gloriously handsome in everything I've seen him in.

r173, I have no idea whether I agree with your POV on WSS, but that was funny.

Are the $22 - $24 tickets for IMAX? That's what I saw—paid $16—and I wish I hadn't. The dance scenes in Paterson looked kind of phony. There was a green screen-esque ridge of separation between the actors and the set. I grew weary of looking at Ansel's blackheads. And everyone's gray makeup in "Officer Krupke" was distracting. I don't need that degree of resolution.

AND THE WHOLE THING WAS SO LOUD.

[Quote] So, why bother with another film with a $100 million budget? A Broadway or West End revival of the original, all right. That's standard in the theatre. But a gargantuan budgeted film?!

To expose the property to an audience who would not watch an "old" film. That audience will probably check out the original movie now and perhaps a stage production too.

[Quote] By contrast, her rendition of “Cabaret” turns from pragmatism into a full-throated howl.

Jane Horrocks all over again?

R164 he meant young gang culture in modern times like the bloods,crips and Latin kings. Grandpa is so cool because the youth gangs now bust out into song and dance not engaging in drive by shootings. 😂😂😂😂

Everyone here be too cool 😎 for skool

This place raises cunts on a tangent to the level of art.

Just chiming in to express more appreciation for Eddie Redmayne, along with R178. Not only is he nice to look at, he's charming and not a creep, the polar opposite of Ansel Elgort. And Redmayne can really sing. Or maybe he's just a master of deception. I prefer not to look too deeply into it. There are already very few leading men in Hollywood who don't repel me.

Knob twiddling can make Zac Efron sing too.

[quote]But the observations of [R166] and [R170] are well taken.

Not by me. This thread has so many trolls, I feel like I'm crossing a bridge.

And as for your observation about Spielberg "standing on the shoulders" of Robbins and Bernstein (and Sondheim and Laurents), of course that's true -- but since Spielberg is not a writer, he's always "standing on the shoulders" of someone in that sense. How good would even his best movies be if they didn't have great scripts?

He's been standing on John Williams' shoulders his whole career. What's your point?

My point is in response to Spielberg stans who are calling him the GOAT film director because in addition to drama, biopics, etc. he can direct musicals, too!

That’s like me playing golf and and playing way, way under par, and the crowd wildly cheers me even though I was allowed to place my golf 6 inches from the hole and knock it in.

Spielberg is a master of imagery. He knows how to wield his directing and editing skills to tell a compelling story. Still, when you’ve been brought inches from the golf hole by Bernstein, Sondheim, Robbins and Laurent, knocking it in doesn’t take much.

Place my golf ball

People like Scorsese's directing. "New York, New York" still stinks.

R190, and John Huston directing ANNIE. And Richard Attenborough directing A CHORUS LINE. And.....

[quote] It's interesting that there are 3-4 threads on the DL currently active on this bomb of a flop of a snoozefest that never should have been made.

They’re all started and propagated by the same person, who an Aspie and is borderline insane.

[quote] Still, when you’ve been brought inches from the golf hole by Bernstein, Sondheim, Robbins and Laurent, knocking it in doesn’t take much.’

And yet, Ivo Von Hove couldn’t do it with the last Broadway revival, nor could Laurents himself with the revival before that.

These reviews will be history after my triumph in Sunset Boulevard - The Movie! Prestige and profits!

r193, I defer to your greater familiarity with stage productions.

R190 R191 and William Wyler directing Funny Girl

[quote]And Richard Attenborough directing A CHORUS LINE.

WSS 2021 is nothing like the movie version of A Chorus Line. Have you even seen it?

Has this old-fashioned bomb 💣 been pulled from theaters? LOL at Rita Moreno running all over TV for her 5 minutes.

Projections are saying the coming weekend will be disastrous for Spielberg’s film with a 60% drop in earnings. A $4-6 million second weekend awaits “West Side Story,” which has a budget of over $100 million. The film has thus far made just $12 million domestically and isn’t doing any better overseas, having racked up just $14 million internationally.

There's obviously no way that WSS is winning BP. It will get nominated, but it's not winning any of the major categories. Spielberg's only hope at this point is for Faye Dunaway to present BP again and mistakenly announce "West Side Story!!!" as the winner.

It's currently a horserace between Power of the Dog and Belfast.

Why would they even bother to nominate it?

[quote]WSS 2021 is nothing like the movie version of A Chorus Line. Have you even seen it?

Yes, I've seen it. My point was that some movie directors not previously known for musicals have directed great musicals (for example, Robert Wise, Fred Zinneman, William Wyler, and now Steven Spielberg) but others have directed very, very bad musicals (for example, Richard Attenborough and John Huston). I'm not sure how you misunderstood me so completely.

R176 Chance would be a fine thing.

R170

[quote] t's currently a horserace between Power of the Dog and Belfast.

Power of the Dog will fade. It’s dreary beyond words. It’s stunning to look at, some of those vistas, but the movie is a bore. It’ll get nominated, but even the two sure things, Campion & Cinematography, aren’t 100% set for it.

Gaga’s Gucci shit is doing incredibly well and still has legs.

Yes, the box office juggernaut Power of the Dog...

Red Rocket?

Right R197. A chorus line the movie was an abomination.

WSS has also been dealt a bad card by Omicron. Barely reopened, the cinemas will be closing again due to the highly contagious nature of the new variant. And not just in America. It may eventually make up its budget in streaming rentals and DVDs, but remains to be seen.

That goes for the much lauded "Cabaret" - as the production involves bringing the actual audience into the Kit Kat Club, if I've read the reviews correctly.

I finally got to see it yesterday. I wasn't blown away by it, but it wasn't bad. I'm used to the 1961 movie, and this one was quite different from it. I wanted to be sure to see it in case of a lockdown. The music was great, but the choreography wasn't pure Robbins....it was different, but still excellent. The musical numbers had some of the other characters singing and dancing....again, just different. There was a more enriched setting....true to life, than the older movie...making it a richer visual movie. It was centered around the demolition of the neighborhood...giving way to the new Lincoln Center being built. It was true to life. The actors did a great job...the singers, especially Maria and Tony, were wonderful. There was too much spoken in Spanish...needed subtitles, but if you love WSS, knowing the story....you get the gist of what's being said. All in all...not a bad movie, but different. I'll buy the DVD, when it comes out...and will watch on a smaller screen again, when streaming or cable picks it up. The news, just now, said that the movie dropped down to third place this weekend....so, if you want to see it on a big screen, I would try to see it soon. I don't know how long it will stay in theaters. BTW, I was double masked (being nervous), but many people in the theater were unmasked. I'm triple vaxxed, too. So much for safety, the AMC theater I went to. The woman next to me, was chomping on her popcorn...so mask down. The seats were incredible though. They were reclining seats...feet up, like a Lazy Boy recliner. Very comfortable. I would recommend seeing WSS, but don't wait if you want to see it in a theater.

Great post, r209. I'm glad I saw this at the theatre, too.

5 of us (all vaxxed and boostered) attended, however, the theatre had maybe, at most, 25 or 30 people all spread out over the seating area.

"But people are losing their minds about it. They want to see it again."

R34 sounds like a corporate shill...

Thanks R210. I've read a few of your excellent posts...so I know you're a fan, too. :)

Some of the issues Variety mentioned are pretty much on target. The coveted movie audience is teenaged boys, 14-18. They aren't going to be hot to see a reboot of a film that is their grandparents' generational icon. That's why Spider-Man pulled in $254 million in one weekend and WSS pulled in $10.3. Older people don't want to see their iconic film messed with, nor do they want at this point to sit in a crowded movie theatre. Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker just acknowledged breakthrough infections.

Bad timing and no matter how well it was done, a somewhat foolish choice on Spielberg's part, and his moronic comments about the lack of subtitles for Spanish dialogue didn't help, especially with this aged audience.

Remakes of iconic films is basically asking for trouble. You never achieve the gestalt of the original. Science fiction sometimes pulls off a decent remake, but something this loved, this historic, whose score is still adapted into suites played in concert halls, or released on CDs paired with Bernstein's scores for On the Waterfront and On the Town?

Move on. Pick something else.

I think a GYPSY remake could work.

Ha ha Spiderman #41 makes an historic amount of money at the BO while "adult" movies like WSS and Nightmare Alley make pennies.

We deserve this. We created this. I hope none of you were expecting the end of superhero movies anytime soon.

Most of the premiers before the movie...probably a half hour of them (ridiculous) were mostly superhero or animated movies. The industry has been Disneyfied.

The superhero movies make a bucket load of money but they end up having no lasting cultural value whatsoever.

They go on the shelf and get forgotten about . The next one rolls up and the same thing.

No-one's gonna mention them in a couple of decades like other films.

They are a mere footnote.

Most people don't like complex...or anything of substance anymore. They like KISS...Keeping It Simple Stupid. Not trying to be political, but that shows the dumbing down of society...look at the tribal way of politics, and who gets voted in, even if against the interests of mostly everyone. Using this as an example...not trying to hijack this thread.

R218 There's nothing complex about West Side Story. Of the many reasons it flopped (all previously discussed), complexity is not among them.

At least there's great music and dancing...and it's a classic.

The music alone, lives on today...

[quote]Most people don't like complex...or anything of substance anymore. They like KISS...Keeping It Simple Stupid. Not trying to be political, but that shows the dumbing down of society...look at the tribal way of politics, and who gets voted in, even if against the interests of mostly everyone. Using this as an example...not trying to hijack this thread.

I recently said the same thing, in almost exactly the same words, to a friend of mine. I think the dumbing-down of society -- and, perhaps, America in particular -- is arguably THE greatest problem in the word today, because it leads to and/or contributes to so many other very serious problems.

[quote]The superhero movies make a bucket load of money but they end up having no lasting cultural value whatsoever. They go on the shelf and get forgotten about . The next one rolls up and the same thing. No-one's gonna mention them in a couple of decades like other films. They are a mere footnote.

This is also true. I used to make a similar argument about Broadway show cast albums. Except for the real monster hits, many of them didn't sell all that well in their initial releases, certainly not as compared to albums by pop stars -- BUT in later years, every time some high school or college or community theater group did a show, all of the people involved would very likely buy the cast album, which is why they often prove to be a very good investment for the record companies over time. Of course, I realize the problem is that, like Hollywood, most record companies want to make their investment back plus a profit RIGHT AWAY. So that's a big issue.

The very thought of those "foreigners" the Puerto Ricans cavorting around an American city caused MAGA brains to explode in flyover country, so there's that.

It's like junk food...it fills you up, and maybe tastes good...but it lacks the proper nutrients and uses empty fillers/calories....and just makes you fat.

R219 - Exactly. As has been repeated several times on these WSS posts. Romeo and Juliet itself isn't King Lear, either. R&J remains a work of art because of lines like "She doth hang upon the cheek of night like a jewel in an Ethiop's ear" and all the rest of the stunning language in which it is written. WSS is about the music and dancing. Take those away and you don't have anything deep. There just wasn't a good enough reason to resurrect this, let alone at a cost of $100 million.

Look, it's likely far, far better than La La Land, which was quite possibly one of the worst films of the last twenty years. The entertainment industry is well known for its incomprehensible standards, and its unfairness. But that's still not a good enough reason to have remade WSS at a cost of $100 million.

As for the superhero blockbuster state of films - yes. I don't know what can be done about it.

[quote]There's nothing complex about West Side Story. Of the many reasons it flopped (all previously discussed), complexity is not among them.

Everything is relative, but that said, I find the statement above to be quite ignorant.

WEST SIDE STORY is "complex" in that it requires audiences to pay attention to the lyrics, the music, and the spoken dialogue, all of which combine to tell a gripping story about complex human beings -- as opposed to the latest superhero movies or action flicks or special effects extravaganzas, which are all about explosions and/or guns and/or dazzling FX but don't require the audiences brains to work AT ALL.

A movie of WEST SIDE STORY was obviously not "too complex" for the movie-going audience in 1961, but because of the tragic dumbing-down of America, the new WSS is apparently too much work for a lot of people. A tremendously sad and also infuriating state of affairs.

[quote] The very thought of those "foreigners" the Puerto Ricans cavorting around an American city caused MAGA brains to explode in flyover country, so there's that.

Seems the only ones criticizing the film are New Yorkers and the New York-centered media.

R226 I think you flatter yourself by implying that watching WSS is some intellectual feat (and then calling others ignorant for not applauding your “accomplishment”. The last time I saw WSS (a live theater production), the venue was full of children as well as adults so I don't think the content is that hard to comprehend. I’ve never seen Spider Man, but I’ve skimmed the reviews enough to grasp that there’s more than action and explosions going on there. I’m not going to dismiss that genre as stupid just because it doesn’t appeal to me. If you’re going to be an intellectual snob, at least pick a more highbrow film than WSS to use as a comparison.

This ⬆️

R209 how small was the auditorium? WSS is still in over 2,800 theater that based on BO are hardly packed. Just move away from those without masks.

[quote] As for the superhero blockbuster state of films - yes. I don't know what can be done about it.

Yes, what to do about the dilemma of movies that people actually WANT to see!🥲

Lol 😂

It's not simply about "wanting to see," it's about "will actually go to the movies and pay money rather than torrent."

Look at you, r228. An expert on the MCU without seeing a single movie. Guess what? “They’re laughing at you, too! You, the burlesque queen who speaks lousy French and reads book reviews like they was books!”

R234 Oh, please. I merely said I'm not judging those movies or dismissing the people who like them as stupid. I don't care to see them or look into them further than that. And I speak lousy Italian, not French.

[quote] It's not simply about "wanting to see," it's about "will actually go to the movies and pay money rather than torrent

I’m the wiseass at r231, and i love a good independent film. Lately I’ve seen Uncle Frank on Amazon, CODA on Apple+ (both amazing), as well as The Electrical Life of Louis Wain and Annette, (which were both…movies!) also on Amazon, and that’s the future.

I live in NYC, where tickets ain’t cheap. Leaving the house and subjecting myself to yet more of humanity after my job, is something I’m not interested in doing anymore. Movies like CODA and Uncle Frank (which my friend described as ‘the best gay movie I’ve ever seen’) are intimate affairs that work as well at home as they would in a theater.

Spider-Man, which i saw Saturday, is a communal experience: the applause, the gasps, the dead silence at a tragic moment, its all more fun when shared. There’s a triumphant moment in CODA, but its on a different scale.

Movies like that are still getting made, and seen, just in a different way. I used to talk on the phone for hours, now its text or nothing, but the communication still happens.

[quote]I think you flatter yourself by implying that watching WSS is some intellectual feat (and then calling others ignorant for not applauding your “accomplishment”.

No, what I meant is almost the opposite of your interpretation. Watching WSS should NOT be considered some "intellectual feat," and wasn't considered so back in 1961 (and for years thereafter), when the movie was a phenomenal success. It's only now, when the mass audience of moviegoers has been severely dumbed down, that WSS has no interest for so many of them because they can't get their brains to work hard enough to appreciate a well-written story, and they simply have no interest in expanding their horizons to include an appreciation of music that's different from today's pop, rock, and rap.

[quote]The last time I saw WSS (a live theater production), the venue was full of children as well as adults so I don't think the content is that hard to comprehend.

Yes, and that was A LIVE THEATER PRODUCTION, the audience for which has not yet been so severely dumbed-down as the mass audience for movies. Sorry, but you completely misunderstood what I was trying to say.

R228 Right? I was laughing myself to near death on reddit the other day reading some WSS21 enthusiasts lamenting how now all people will watch are lame superhero movies and not (and I quote) "adult" films like WSS. I hate superhero movies too but honestly, WSS , especially how this version was marketed, seemed like a glorified teen movie with some catchy music/dancing. It ain't Ibsen lol. Or really much more sophisticated than anything Marvel.

And I like the og WSS. But the og film was actually groundbreaking, new, exciting. This year's version? Far from it.

Is this movie still flopping? Any resuscitation since last week?

R239 nah it fell nearly 70% from the week before. It might have some slight legs going into New Years but it'll be a flop regardless at this point.

Wow. Thanks, R240. I know someone involved with the production. He must be very disappointed.

[quote]I was laughing myself to near death on reddit the other day reading some WSS21 enthusiasts lamenting how now all people will watch are lame superhero movies and not (and I quote) "adult" films like WSS. I hate superhero movies too but honestly, WSS , especially how this version was marketed, seemed like a glorified teen movie with some catchy music/dancing. It ain't Ibsen lol. Or really much more sophisticated than anything Marvel.

Laugh it up, fuzzball. Nobody said it was "Ibsen," but WEST SIDE STORY does require some intelligence for people to appreciate it, because it's an actual story about real people, not just some stupid movie about superheros and/or filled with violence, wall-to-wall CGI effects, and/or explosions.

In one day, Spider Man made $121M compared to WSS which has made a total of $18M since it opened!

R243

That’s like comparing apples to oranges. You can’t compare a musical to a Marvel superhero action flick (and it’s fucking Spider-Man!). Completely different genres.

This is the biggest flop of the year.

SS should've done a musical that either didn't have a movie version, or an existing inferior one.

Hum...

Yea maybe SS should have given us a GOOD film version of Man of La Mancha.

West Side Story is very heteronormative with the macho street kids and girls in long dresses talking about feeling pretty. It has no place in the culture of today which is about throwing out conventional gender roles. They were too tone deaf to understand that and now they have millions down the drain as a result. It will take years for the movie to recover this financial loss.

They should have made it about a hip hop West Side.

[QUOTE]They should have made it about a hip hop West Side.

Bleargh.

[quote]West Side Story is very heteronormative with the macho street kids and girls in long dresses talking about feeling pretty. It has no place in the culture of today which is about throwing out conventional gender roles. They were too tone deaf to understand that and now they have millions down the drain as a result.

Right, because there are no "macho" characters or pretty, sexy women in the super hero movies and action movies that continue to make hundreds of millions of dollars at the B.O. Your "analysis" has got to rank as one of the stupidest ever posted on DL, and that is quite an achievement.

R226 - Oh ffs, draw it mild. Rome and Juliet are not two complex human beings, and neither are Maria and Tony - the only complex human being in the original story is Mercutio, and he was written out of WSS.

And you don't have to pay any more attention to I Feel Pretty or Tonight or Maria than you do to Oh What a Beautiful Morning, If I Loved You (which at least has a sad truth at its core), Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered, or Night and Day, or to the dancing any more than you do in Swing Time, which features some of the finest dance numbers with one of filmdom's greatest dancers in cinematic history.

This is not a hard story to understand, it is not particularly complex, and the thing about songs and dance are that they make their points in very easily digestible portion lasting two-six minutes. You really don't have to work too hard at "understanding" the points.

"West Side Story is very heteronormative with the macho street kids and girls in long dresses talking about feeling pretty. It has no place in the culture of today which is about throwing out conventional gender roles. They were too tone deaf to understand that and now they have millions down the drain as a result."

You fucking moron. Heterosexuals still make up 90% of the population, girls still want to be pretty, reproduction is still based on a sexual marketplace in which taller stronger males have an advantage as do pretty girls.

WSS failed because it was preceded by an iconic film that no one needs to see again.

No place in today's culture? Where do you think you are, the Lost Continent of Atlantis?

I suppose Anna Karenina has no place in today's culture, either, because it's focus is relationships between hetero couples. Oh, never mind the portrait of the human suffering people inflict on each other in the name of love . . . !

Christ, no wonder you fucking deluded cultural fascists will destroy everything of value in art. You will not, I promise you, be well regarded in history for the attempt to stifle any artistic impulse that doesn't support your power agenda.

And by the way? Just about every single man involved with the creation of this musical was gay. Bernstein, Robbins, Sondheim, and Laurents, whose homosexuality didn't come out until much later.

Give it the fuck up, will you?

^*its (not it's) focus is on . . .

[quote]Mercutio, and he was written out of WSS.

Isn't Riff more or less the Mercutio character?

[quote]This is not a hard story to understand, it is not particularly complex, and the thing about songs and dance are that they make their points in very easily digestible portion lasting two-six minutes. You really don't have to work too hard at "understanding" the points.

For the last time, you have missed my point, which is that the mass audience of moviegoers are largely interested in buying tickets ONLY to movies with superheros and lots of violence and explosions and special effects. The only other exceptions are animated movies for the kiddies. These people don't want to have to pay attention to words even enough as is necessary to appreciate a movie like WEST SIDE STORY, and to repeat, they are NOT interested in hearing any music that doesn't sound exactly like the pop, rock, and rap music that's currently popular.

[quote]Isn't Riff more or less the Mercutio character?

Of course he is. Stupidity continues to reign here on the DL, where anyone will state anything with assurance even when they're dead wrong.

Good. This trans propaganda shit can fuck off. It's offensive that they added a trans person instead of a gay man.

That Anybodys is trans rather than a tomboy is so subtle that it would not have been noticed by a 1961 audience. How exactly are you proposing the story could have been twisted to include a gay man, r258?

In the now mostly forgotten West Side Story Broadway revival, there were some characters in "America" who were clearly intended to be gay

R254 who is being a triggered little bitch?

For what it's worth, one could argue that Glad Hand is presented as a gay man in the new movie of WSS, as he has been in some previous productions.

Yes, Riff is more or less Mercutio but in fact, speaking of stupid, far farther LESS than more, as the wit, irony, cynicism, and bitterness that make Mercutio the ONLY complex character in he fucking original play.

The songs take the place of the play's greatest dialogue. Name one song from WSS that gives Riff the equivalent of Mercutio's big moment, the "I see Queen Mab hath been with thee" speech, one of the greatest in the canon, filled with fantastic imagery as he warns Romeo about the idiocy and deception of infatuation.

Riff is an okay part. Mercutio is a fucking great part and is the only current of dynamism in the play. You cannot say that about Riff.

Speaking of the stupidity going on here at DL.

Was there ever any gay sex depicted in a revival of West Side Story? Why, yes, yes there was.

In the mostly hated (?) 2020 revival, Tony and Maria are in the front of the stage after the rumble, comforting each other while Tony sings "Somewhere." The other participants in the rumble are scattered throughout the stage in what is supposed to be their private spaces. Their partners filter in during the song to be with them, and there is a male in the middle back of the stage who has a male partner. They simulate some acrobatic gay sex movements.

It was a nice hat tip to the all gay + bi creators of the musical.

The gayish stuff starts at 1:13:15

^ You may need to go to Youtube to see it better in full screen.

R230...the theater was small. AMC is a multiplex with several movie theaters. When I got my ticket, they show the seats that are available....most of them were taken, except the ones too close to the screen. Even those were taken by the time the movie started. I would have moved, if I could. That was Sunday....so far, I feel fine. I didn't get tested, though.

I weep for Glenn. This is a death knell for her hopes of a Sunset Boulevard movie.

I was the new Broadway WSS in December 2019. Personally, I didn't care for it and was disappointed. I'm used to the original Robbins choreography (sp), that was lacking and the screens behind the actors were distracting. To watch the actors, or watch the screens took the focus off both. I read some Youtube comments in R264's link and many really liked it. It's just a matter of opinion. I'm a boomer....used the the original Broadway version and the 1961 movie. They had the most impact on me at the time. I think this newer version would appeal, generally, to a younger audience. It feels more revelant to them and is more modern. I love Robbins' dancing and moves...and wanted to see that.

I *saw...not was..^^

R242 I always thought the characters were broadly drawn types, the love at first sight to be taken on faith and Maria forgiving Tony who killed her brother not in self-defense but in angry retaliation for killing Riff a bit of a stretch and Doc a windy old bore! Haven't seen the 2021 version but with WSS is most notable for its music and dancing are its strengths. The text a passable variation of R&J.

[quote]I always thought the characters were broadly drawn types, the love at first sight to be taken on faith and Maria forgiving Tony who killed her brother not in self-defense but in angry retaliation for killing Riff a bit of a stretch

For what it's worth, in the original script (and I think the new one as well), Maria is never told the details of the killings. First, she is told only that Tony has killed Bernardo, and when Tony shows up at her window, she screams at him and beats on his chest calling him "Killer! Killer! Killer!" Then she starts sobbing and he tries to comfort her, and only then does she learn from Tony that Bernardo had killed Riff before Tony killed Bernardo. But again, he doesn't tell her the details, and neither does anyone else.

R271 but still he killed her brother, and one would think Tony would explain it to Maria or Maria demand to know why. And ironically didn't Maria urge Tony to go to the 'rumble' to stop it and he winds up killing Bernardo.

R261- The triggered gay male is standing up against the empty bullshit you trans fascists are trying to pass off as truth, both visible and biological.

And proud of it.

And will keep doing it, you mindless cretin.

R262 Glad Hand was presented as sexually "ambiguous" in the original film. He says, "Boys to the right, girls to the left," and one of the Jets says, "Hey, where are you?"

[quote]But still he killed her brother, and one would think Tony would explain it to Maria or Maria demand to know why. And ironically didn't Maria urge Tony to go to the 'rumble' to stop it and he winds up killing Bernardo.

The saddest irony of the original script is that, presumably, if Tony had NOT gone to the rumble to try to stop it completely, it might have remained a fistfight (which was what had been agreed on), and Bernardo wouldn't have killed Riff with a knife, so Tony wouldn't have then killed Bernardo. (All of this is presented a little differently in the new movie.)

Overanalyzing a movie that most people did not even bother seeing at the movies. Basically a flop.

[quote]I was the new Broadway WSS in December 2019.

You were??

How did you become sentient and learn how to type? That is quite an accomplishment.

[quote] Name one song from WSS that gives Riff the equivalent of Mercutio's big moment, the "I see Queen Mab hath been with thee" speech, one of the greatest in the canon, filled with fantastic imagery as he warns Romeo about the idiocy and deception of infatuation.

That may be so; but you conveniently forget William Shakespeare never wrote lines anything so great as this:

Anita's gonna get her kicks tonight!

We'll have our private little mix tonight!

R278 and don't forget the Jet's dialog: It hoits! It hoits!

Anybodys was a highlight for me, good comedic timing despite very little lines

DataLounge favourite Aaron Tveit may be a little too old for Speilberg's WSS and his performance here a little hammy, but anything would be better than Ansel Elgort.

Anybodys was much tougher than the one in the '61 movie...really kicked ass.

I remember that in high school (fifty years ago), the smart juniors read Romeo and Juliet while the dumb kids had to read a novelization of WSS.

In tenth grade in my boys' school, r283, we read the entire R&J out loud, each person in a scene up in front of the class. I played Juliet (I was short and, well, perhaps not the butchest boy in my class). I would have been happy to make out for real with my Romeo (whose name was Mike), but we only got to do fake smooches from about 3" apart, which everyone laughed about.

Sweet story, R284. I was in junior high school when the Franco Zeffirelli movie of R&J came out and was a huge hit. It was so big a hit that I believe they released two or three different versions of it on LP, one of which was, I believe, a three-record set that contained ALL the dialogue, and our teacher played that for us in class as we read along to the play. Oddly, I don't specifically recall the teacher making comparisons to WEST SIDE STORY, but she must have done so.

I guess you didn't see Tveit in Grease LIVE. Charisma vaccuum.

I missed a lot of the humor from the original & 1961 version.....especially Velma and Gloria.....

"And you can punctuate it!"

"I and Velma ain't dumb."

West Side Story comes to streaming platforms, according to Variety:

[quote] Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated remake of “West Side Story” is coming to Disney Plus and HBO Max next month. The movie will debut on Disney Plus in the U.S. and most international markets on March 2, 2022, when it also will be streaming on HBO Max (in the U.S. only).

"Hey, R287 -- you got my name wrong, Daddy-O!"

Yeah, thanks Steven! About 3 months too late.

[quote] The movie will debut on Disney Plus in the U.S. and most international markets on March 2, 2022

Academy Award voting begins March 17, 2022., It will be fresh in the voters minds?

Hey, Graziela, bee bop mmm pow! Like sorry, frame......

No one's going to watch it on Disney or HBO either. There is no audience for this film.

If HBOmax and Disney push the film when you sign onto their content ("Seven Academy Award Nominations!!!"), a lot of people will at least try it out and maybe stay with it.

Here's the possible good news: it got a 92% positive score from critics on Rottentomatoes, and a 94% AUDIENCE score (from over 2,500+ raters.) People apparently really like it if they just sit down to watch it, and streaming should make that easy to do.

Ariana Debose got her break during Donna Summers Musical.

Ariana Debose got her break during the Donna Summers Musical.

I don't know if this has been mentioned but the original film took place in the present and was topical. This remake takes place in 1957, 65 years ago. I'm sure it's still moving and dramatic, but maybe Hollywood should stop remaking everything and nostalgically living in the past. I love old musicals, but a musical about current gangs with a similar story would be more interesting to me and I'd probably see that one.

Ok I see a lot of people mentioned it. But I mean, something very dark and real about gangs in 2022 - but also a musical - would be cool.

[quote] a musical about current gangs with a similar story would be more interesting to me and I'd probably see that one.

I doubt you'd go after the audience shootouts began

R299 So we can't make movies about current topics. Just things gay men and my grandma want to see, by dead composers.

I thought someone on Datalounge said there are only Russian gangs in America nowadays-like the Russian Mafia. So they would have to revamp the entire musical.

I think technically this new version was better than the original but somehow it left me feeling cold. New tony was better than the original but new Maria was somehow good and pretty but lacked the star power of Natalie wood. I was not expecting to come to the realization that wood was actually rather good in the original.

[quote]This remake takes place in 1957, 65 years ago.

Is there anything in the movie itself that states the exact time of the action? I ask because someone in another post insisted that the time was now supposed to be 1960.

I'm watching it on HBO and though I have things to pick about (I played tony in a production once) I generally like it for a lot of reasons

[quote] I ask because someone in another post insisted that the time was now supposed to be 1960.

I suppose that is because of the demolition of the near UWS to start building the new Lincoln Center

[quote]a musical about current gangs with a similar story would be more interesting to me and I'd probably see that one.

If everyone had cellphones, though—and everyone in and around a current gang would have had a cellphone—there would have been no reason for Anita to go to Doc's, and Maria and Tony would have had their happily ever after. Instead of "Somewhere," we'd have "Here at the corner of 65th and Broadway."

[quote]DataLounge favourite Aaron Tveit may be a little too old for Speilberg's WSS and his performance here a little hammy, but anything would be better than Ansel Elgort.

Not a household name, but Rob Houchen could really sing the role.

Ariana DeBose does NOT deserve an Oscar for this. Her acting and singing are the definition of mediocre. Rachel Zegler, Mike Faist and Rita Moreno all gave better performances than her and they weren't even nominated.

Most of the acting Oscar winners could be from box office bombs: Will Smith, Jessica Chastain, Ariana.

So far I’m pleased with it. I sort of wish I’d seen it on the big screen

R310, well, you had your chance -- for months. Thanks for contributing to its box office failure.

No, I’m very happy. And honestly am sorry i didn’t see it on the big screen

You're happy about what, R312?

[quote] Ariana DeBose does NOT deserve an Oscar for this

Yes she does. She’s terrific, her acting, singing, and especially her dancing. Mike Faist should have been nominated as well, and maybe David Alvarez.

Ariana is big through the hips, roomy.