"Thank you for pointing out the central problem with the movie: "This was the first time I've seen "West Side Story" where I wasn't rooting for Maria to wind up with Tony." EXACTLY!"
I've got to say, that is a biggie and it owes far more to Kushner's script than Spielberg's flawless direction. Nearly everyone I know has loved the movie, but many have pointed out that as good as Rachel Zegler is they do not find her as moving in that final scene as they found Natalie Wood in the 1961 film. Two factors play into that that have nothing to do with Zegler or Elgort's performances. Turning Tony into a repeat offender takes away his ability to offer an alternative to the darkness surrounding them both, and not having them sing "Somewhere," which originally stated their hope in the face of it so beautifully, takes away from their increasing closeness. Don't get me wrong, Rita as Valentina singing the song brought tears to my eyes and told its own story about the experiences of others, but it took away from Tony and Maria. I actually felt the two leads had palpable chemistry in this film so this flaw, if you can call it that, is not on their end. It is built into Kushner's screenplay.
The film works very well on its own terms, but its climax does not devastate as the earlier film does. |
