How Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ remake danced its way to the Oscars
There were, and are still, many questions about Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story.”
Does it work best as a film? What musical or dance changes would be made? How will its tainted history be dealt with?
Whether they were answered is up to audiences, but Times critic Justin Chang called the film one of Spielberg’s “most exhilarating movies in years.”
Academy members agreed, lavishing the commercially disappointing movie with seven Oscar nominations, including a supporting actress nod for possible history maker Ariana DeBose and recognition for cinematography, costume design, directing, production design, sound and best picture.
Were it to win the big award, it would be the first time ever that a remake of a previous Oscar-winning best picture takes the prize.
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A vibrant new screen adaptation of the enduring Broadway classic will remind you of the power of the big-screen movie musical.
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A history of the musical’s Puerto Rican appropriation and stereotypes and failed attempts to correct them on stages and in the new movie.
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Three criminologists say the 1961 film ‘West Side Story’ popularized fictions about gangs — and wrongly influenced public opinion and public policy.
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A look at how Leonard Bernstein’s score has functioned on Broadway, in opera, through recording and, once more, in feature film.
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The surprise: How Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ finally solved the problem of ‘I Feel Pretty’
Stephen Sondheim regretted the original song’s lyrics. For the revamped film, Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner came up with an ingenious solution.
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Fans of the classic film starring Natalie Wood will notice major changes in Steven Spielberg’s remake. We compare five key differences.
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Oscar nominee Ariana DeBose on her portrayal of Anita in Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ and why it’s time to retire the term ‘ethnically ambiguous.’
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The actor expected a much more uptight work environment. Instead, he and his fellow gang members “did Jet-tivities, where every single Jet had to choose an activity and regardless of what it was we all had to do it.”
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Production designer Adam Stockhausen had one directive from Steven Spielberg: Make it real. So he took to the streets of New York City.
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Despite critical acclaim and two years of anticipation, Steven Spielberg’s lavish ‘West Side Story’ revival made little noise at the box office.
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Ariana DeBose is nominated for her supporting role in ‘West Side Story.’
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Afro Latino actress Ariana DeBose, who identifies as queer, won SAG’s supporting actress prize for ‘West Side Story.’
