‘West Side Story’ (2021)
Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story is the rare remake that not only works, it works miracles. This new adaptation of the classic 1957 musical reappraises the story’s central class and race politics for a modern era, but it doesn’t forget the romance propelling the iconic score. Ansel Elgort stars as Tony, a reformed Polish-American bad boy who falls in love with an innocent beauty. The problem is that girl — Rachel Zegler’s Maria — is Puerto Rican. Tony and Maria belong to different tribes, racially divided gangs on the verge of exploding into open warfare. What makes this adaptation so thrilling is the way it celebrates excellence. Spielberg is working at full genius-level, Tony Kushner’s script is fiery, and the cast is sensation. Let yourself drift into a dream with West Side Story tonight.