West Side Story (1961)

Too much of everything

So much average

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Racism, xenophobia, sexism, a little dash of homophobia, violence and absolutely loads of toxic masculinity. Partially redeemed by Maria's soliloquy at the end about "hatred", although the writers didn't really have the words that we do now to name the all the hatreds.Of course the music is beyond brilliant, but otherwise this movie's best feature these days is as a reminder how far our society has progressed - and of how much further we have to go.

This masterpiece is already 56 years old and as it happens with masterpieces, it has kept intact all of its energy all of its power and it remains a mind blowing novelty. "Singin'n'the Rain" has those qualities but the setting is a natural for the infections musical numbers. In "West Side Story" we visit Romeo And Juliet in New York among feuding street gangs. Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins create an experience for the ages. Natalie Wood is devastatingly gorgeous and even if the singing voice is not hers she manages to make it hers. The blandness of Richard Beymer works wonders for his Tony and Russ Tamblyn is a dynamo of youthful exuberance. But perhaps, Rita Moreno and George Chakiris steal the limelight. They are spectacular - As Oscar time they won Oscars over Judy Garland and Montgomery Clift in "Judgement At Nuremberg" To conclude let me reiterate "West Side Story" is a film to visit and revisit.

This film is a bizarre mix of musical, crime, drama and romance. It's set in Manhattan and is like a 20th century, NYC, Romeo and Juliet - with added singing and dancing.Some of the song and dance numbers are lighthearted - and therefore totally out of place in a film that's meant to be both a serious romantic drama film and about gang violence. Seeing gangs about to fight - then suddenly break into a lively, fun song and dance routine - then continue with the fighting - is preposterous. This bizarre jolt back-and-forth between those two very different tones and styles takes away its credibility and the ability for the audience to take the film seriously.This film should either have been a serious crime drama romance without the singing and dancing - or lighthearted and fun throughout. This film is supposed to prominently feature an interracial romance. Why then, did they cast the clearly white, Russian-American Natalie Wood to play the Puerto Rican female lead? I know that Puerto Ricans vary a lot in skin tone, but when the filmmakers wanted to make the relationship interracial/intercultural, why not emphasise that by casting a mestiza or mulatta actress?

The choreography, dancing and on location photography create excitement, but the story, an update of Romeo and Juliet, is trite, sugary and uninteresting. Ultimately, aside from the singing and dancing, the film really drags with far too many characters and caricatures crowding the screen making the star crossed lovers Tony and Maria peripheral characters which may be a blessing because Wood and Beymer are a dull pair and Beymer is not persuasive as a former gang leader even if the Jets are the Dead End Kids with ballet training. Oscar winners Rita Moreno and George Chakiris give the only memorable performances. The film's energy and interest is not sustained making the film's 2 and 1/2 hours running time feel punishing and the ending more relief than tragedy.