Home Cinema This Steven Spielberg movie with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 91% was a box office bomb (thanks to No Way Home)

This Steven Spielberg movie with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 91% was a box office bomb (thanks to No Way Home)

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This Steven Spielberg movie with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 91% was a box office bomb (thanks to No Way Home)


One of Steven Spielberg’s most passionate projects is unfortunately one that few people saw when it hit theaters in 2021. As unbelievable as it may seem Spielberg managed to make one of the best musicals of recent yearshis reimagining of West Side History proved wrong all those who doubted his ability to do so. Although it made a strong impression on those who went out of their way to see it upon its initial release and received critical praise, it unfortunately disappointed at the box office, only managing to gross $76 million against a budget of 100 million dollars. It’s a real shame too, because with its development of certain story elements, the breathtaking performances of its actors and its magnificent cinematography which perfectly complements its unforgettable musical sequences, it is arguably as good, if not better, than the film Oscar-winning original. from 1961. It’s a film with all the trappings of the astonishing cinematic experience that Spielberg has been giving audiences for decades. Unfortunately, its untimely release date may have caused it to sink before it could swim.




West Side History created only a week before Spider-Man: No Way Home premiered and essentially became the only movie that casual movers and shakers wanted to talk about. While West Side History ultimately prevailing, garnering numerous awards season accolades and greater recognition from moviegoers, it remains one of the most undeserved box office failures of recent years. For those who missed what has since been dubbed one of Spielberg’s greatest modern works, as well as one of the best musicals of all time, now is the perfect time to give West Side Story a chance while waiting for the role. 2 of Wicked to be released in theaters.


West Side Story brings new energy to a timeless classic

Spielberg’s take on the story brings something different while remaining faithful


Of course, everyone knows the story of West Side History: a contemporary retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet set on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, exploring the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds, and the forbidden love between Tony, a former member of the Jets, and Maria, the sister of Shark leader Bernardo.Despite how the original musical has been revived and retold countless times on stage as well as in a previous film adaptation in 1961, for someone else to come and do their version, they would have to do some things differently; not only to stand out from the rest, but also to capture the audience’s attention and make them feel like it’s the first time they are seeing it. Fortunately, having such an attachment to musicals since childhood, Spielberg was the man for the task. Screenwriter Tony Kushner was hired to write an entirely new script that changed the order and context of some musical numbers, but also made changes and expansions to his characters’ backgrounds, as well as his background. map of New York.


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Tony, for example, has a different story that, unlike the original film and the Broadway show, gives him a legitimate reason to want to distance himself from the Jets. Not only does he also make a greater effort to ease the tension between the two gangs, but there is also a sense of inner darkness in his character this time around, one that he actively tries to fight against, resulting in does a lot more good. -rounded and interesting lead. The film also gives a new layer of absurdity to the violent battle for control of the West Side, seeing how their neighborhood is being demolished to make way for Lincoln Center. There’s even a minor sequence leading into the “Cool” number, which gives a backstory to the gun Chino kills him with at the end. While these expansions aren’t completely necessary, they help tell a more accurate and detailed story.thus providing a much more satisfying experience to viewers.


For all the changes Kushner and Spielberg made to the story, the order/context of a few numbers, as well as Justin Peck’s new choreography, perhaps the most admirable thing was their casting choice. As engaging and effective as most of the performances in the original film still are, seeing the amount of brown faces on white actors playing many Puerto Rican characters is something that slightly spoils the viewing experience. For the new film, Spielberg went out of his way to cast unknown and authentic Latin American actors, providing a platform for previously unsung talent as well as an authentic sense of representation in the process.

West Side Story has some of the best acting and cinematography of any Spielberg film

Every frame contains one of the greatest passions he has ever put into film

Bernardo and Anita dance about America in West Side Story.


The film’s exceptional cast is one of its strong points, with no member of the ensemble missing a single beat. As wonderful and easily likable as they both are in their performances, the on-screen and vocal chemistry between Ansel Elgort as Tony and Rachel Zegler as Maria is electrifying; of course, this is certainly helped by the way they both provide their singing voices (Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood’s voices were dubbed by other singers in the 1961 film). Leading the Sharks and Jets, respectively, David Alvarez plays Bernardo with an arrogance that is effectively intimidating, while Mike Faist plays Riff with a sense of nihilism that is as tragic as it is charismatic. The film also gives two Anitas the chance to share the screen, with Ariana DeBose shining in her Oscar-winning role, while Rita Moreno (who previously won an Oscar for the same role in the original film) reprises Tony’s role. employer, Doc, by instead playing the character’s widow, Valentina. These performances would be nothing, however, without the one behind the camera making them look as good as they do.


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Filmed by recurring collaborator Janusz Kamiński, volThe film features some of the most beautiful and unforgettable shots of Spielberg’s entire career.. Whether it’s the use of overhead shots like Tony standing in a pool of rippling light while singing “Maria”, the colliding shadows of the Jets and Sharks as they approach each other the other for rumbling, or using Steadicam and crane shots during the gym. dance or “America”, this kind of imagery gives a feeling of immersion with the musical and dance numbers and an aura that the original film simply didn’t have. The best comparison to make between the two cinematic versions would be that the 1961 film feels more like a filmed spectacle, but Spielberg’s offers something much more cinematic and functions more like a legitimate film in its visuals and overall storytelling.


Spider-Man: No Way Home’s success may have killed West Side Story’s box office

One of Marvel’s highest-grossing films kept Spielberg’s musical from getting the audience attention it deserved

  • West Side History And Spider-Man: No Way Home are now available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.

Just a single viewing of West Side History would be enough to convince anyone that this is exactly the kind of film designed for the big screen theatrical experience. Although it was praised by critics and audiences alike, even reaching numerous Top 10 rankings and garnering a total of 7 Academy Award nominations, its box office numbers were not up to par. height of expectations that would normally be set for a Spielberg. movie. Despite all the promotion of the film, it unfortunately wasn’t enough to attract the attention of casual moviegoers, who were instead aiming for another premiere that took place only a week later. Spider-Man: No Way Home made record breaking box office history, essentially stealing the spotlight and leaving all other competing films in the dust. As fun as it was to see three different generations of Spider-Man characters share the screen, it was sad to see a passion project from one of the greatest living directors in cinematic history fail. as was the case financially.


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This isn’t the only time a Steven Spielberg film has failed due to being released at the same time as a Marvel film. In 2022, the director’s semi-autobiographical film, The Fabelmanssuffered the same fate when it was released the same weekend as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Movies like West Side History show that cinema has much more to offer than epic superhero spectacles, and Talents like Spielberg won’t be around forever, so modern audiences need to appreciate and support them while they can. Whatever Spielberg’s next masterpiece turns out to be, one can only hope that audiences won’t be too distracted by other titles to provide the same type of support and appreciation.



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