Rita Moreno praises West Side Story costars: 'Definitely not CGI'

The rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks is no match for the discord between cinematic legends and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Rita Moreno took to Instagram to encourage her followers to watch Steven Spielberg's reimagined West Side Story. The film opened on Dec. 10 and has won critical praise, nabbing 11 Critics Choice nominations despite lackluster box-office numbers. However, the EGOT legend appears to be taking cues from Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott when discussing the box office competition in a post shared on Tuesday.

Moreno — who starred and won an Academy Award for her performance as "Anita" in the 1961 film adaptation and portrays a new character, "Valentina" in the new Spielberg iteration — praised her West Side Story costars Mike Faist and David Alvarez and heralded the dance sequences. In the post, she points out that their work is not "CGI" — a presumed dig at Spider-Man: No Way Home, which has dominated domestic and global box offices since its Dec. 17 release.

Addressing Faist, who portrays Jets leader Riff, Moreno wrote, "It is not surprising to see you getting such a wonderful and positive press and critical reviews on your superb performance as Riff," adding, "The first time I saw our film in a private screening I just came out raving about your extraordinary performance."

She also commended Alvarez, who portrays the "stunning" Sharks leader Bernardo, writing, "I could not be more proud."

Moreno called on moviegoers to watch the film "more than once," adding, "Thrills, chills, and, unlike some other movies, every time you see these amazing young dancers hover and fly through the air, it's their own great power and abilities. Definitely not CGI."

Moreno's presumed shade recalls comments made by Scorsese, who said Marvel films are "not cinema" while promoting his gangster drama The Irishman in 2019. The remarks culminated in some pushback from MCU stars and directors, including the late Chadwick Boseman, Scarlett Johansson, and Chris Evans. And just last month, Scott drew the ire of Marvel fans when he called superhero films "boring as sh--" with scripts that "are not any f----ing good" while promoting his historical drama, The Last Duel.

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