Steven Spielberg hits the red carpet in a stylish suit with his wife Kate Capshaw
‘Without a doubt, superior to the 1961 film’: Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake wins rave reviews after world premiere… with viewers branding the movie an ‘amazing triumph’ with a ‘tremendous’ cast
The musical remake is adapted from the classic 1957 stage musical by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein and the late Stephen Sondheim, who passed away over the weekend at 91 years of ageThe movie debuted at its world premiere at the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City, where director Steven was joined by his wife Kate Capshaw, while a screening also took place in LA The first reactions have surfaced on Twitter from the premiere and other screenings, with some calling it a Best Picture contender already, while others have called the film ‘an amazing triumph’ The film is slated to hit theaters nationwide on December 10
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Stephen Spielberg’s West Side Story remake won rave early reviews following its world premiere at the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City on Monday.
After the NYC premiere, where the legendary filmmaker attended alongside his wife Kate Capshaw and a host of other stars, and another screening in Los Angeles, Twitter reaction saw the epic lauded as a Best Picture contender at the Oscars with many flooded the microblogging site with praise.
One of the delighted reviewers, Fico Cangiango wrote: ‘Steven Spielberg’s #WestSideStory is stunning. His first musical is without a doubt superior to the 1961 film. The cinematography, music and dancing are amazing, and most importantly, it treats Puerto Ricans & Latinx community with the respect they deserve. Spielberg delivers.’
Fandango’s Erik Davis added: ‘Steven Spielberg’s #WestSideStory is a TRIUMPH! It’s beautiful & brilliantly photographed – a real love letter to NYC w/ a tremendous ensemble cast who truly redefine this classic story for a new generation. Shout outs to @rachelzegler & @ArianaDeBose who CRUSH it in this film.’
Winner! Stephen Spielberg’s West Side Story remake won rave early reviews following its world premiere at the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City on Monday
At the big dance: The movie pays tribute to all the epic moments from the beloved original
Fico: After the NYC premiere and another screening in Los Angeles, Twitter reaction saw the epic lauded as a Best Picture contender at the Oscars while many flooded the microblogging site with praise
Many reviewers echoed the delighted reaction, with many stating the movie was better than the 1961 film.
Yahoo’s Kevin Polowy wrote: ‘Spielberg does not disappoint with #WestSideStory. OK maybe not as much dance-fighting this time, but sets a mood from the opening moments and delivers all the way through that gut-punching climax. “America” is the easy highlight but man Rachel Zegler is magnetic in every scene.’
Discussing Film’s Diego Andaluz stated: ‘#WestSideStory is INCREDIBLE. Spielberg delivers an award-worthy visual spectacle that expands on the original as a timely technical MASTERPIECE. Every department fires on all cylinders, & Rachel Zegler steals the show with THE star-making debut performance of the year. LOVED IT!’
Disney’s Marshall Weinbaum added: ‘Sending thoughts and prayers to all the Oscar Pundits out there who will be spending the next several hours updating their predictions now that they’ve seen Steven Spielberg’s absolute masterpiece #WestSideStory.’
Crush: Fandango’s Erik Davis added, ‘Steven Spielberg’s #WestSideStory is a TRIUMPH! It’s beautiful & brilliantly photographed – a real love letter to NYC w/ a tremendous ensemble cast who truly redefine this classic story for a new generation. Shout outs to @rachelzegler & @ArianaDeBose who CRUSH it in this film
No disappointment: Yahoo’s Kevin Polowy added, ‘Spielberg does not disappoint with #WestSideStory. OK maybe not as much dance-fighting this time, but sets a mood from the opening moments and delivers all the way through that gut-punching climax. “America” is the easy highlight but man Rachel Zegler is magnetic in every scene’
Incredible: Discussing Film’s Diego Andaluz stated, ‘#WestSideStory is INCREDIBLE. Spielberg delivers an award-worthy visual spectacle that expands on the original as a timely technical MASTERPIECE. Every department fires on all cylinders, & Rachel Zegler steals the show with THE star-making debut performance of the year. LOVED IT!’
Masterpiece: Disney’s Marshall Weinbaum added, ‘Sending thoughts and prayers to all the Oscar Pundits out there who will be spending the next several hours updating their predictions now that they’ve seen Steven Spielberg’s absolute masterpiece #WestSideStory’
Wow: The story is set in 1950s New York City – loosely adapted from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet – with one girl named Maria caught between two gangs – the Jets and the Sharks
Film Inquiry’s Kevin L. Lee added: ‘Surprise surprise! #WestSideStory is really good, featuring some breathtaking choreography elevated by the cinematography and production design. Everyone in the cast is great, but the real standouts are Mike Faist and David Alvarez as Riff and Bernardo. Yeah, THIS is a musical!’
BuzzFeed’s Nora Dominick stated: ‘My #WestSideStory review is simply: I can’t wait to see Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose’s careers explode after this. They knock it out of the park as Maria and Anita in this beautiful crafted movie.’
@camden28_ added: ‘#WestSideStory is a blast, even better than the 1961 film. Steven Spielberg has done something really special with his adaptation of the beloved musical. As for me, Rachel Zegler has earned herself a huge fan, delivering a fantastic film debut as Maria.’
Coming soon: The film has won huge praise from earlier reviews
Surprise: Film Inquiry’s Kevin L. Lee added, ‘Surprise surprise! #WestSideStory is really good, featuring some breathtaking choreography elevated by the cinematography and production design. Everyone in the cast is great, but the real standouts are Mike Faist and David Alvarez as Riff and Bernardo. Yeah, THIS is a musical!’
Buzz: BuzzFeed’s Nora Dominick stated, ‘My #WestSideStory review is simply: I can’t wait to see Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose’s careers explode after this. They knock it out of the park as Maria and Anita in this beautiful crafted movie’
Blast: @camden28_ added, ‘#WestSideStory is a blast, even better than the 1961 film. Steven Spielberg has done something really special with his adaptation of the beloved musical. As for me, Rachel Zegler has earned herself a huge fan, delivering a fantastic film debut as Maria’
@xoxocorthenley added: ‘OMG #WestSideStory is a MASTERPIECE! I was anti a remake because the original is one of my favs ever! But this was better than the original by a long shot! Production design and shots gave me goosebumps. And the kid who plays Riff is Oscar worthy! I want to see it again & again!’
Anthony Gagliardi stated: ‘Steven Spielberg’s #WestSideStory does an outstanding job paying homage to the timeless classic from its authentic set designs to its incredible dance sequences and performances. This is one of the most beautifully shot films of the year.’
BroBible’s Eric Italiano revealed: ‘I am very much not a musical guy, so I’m perhaps not the best judge of #WestSideStory. I do, however, know what a movie star looks and @rachelzegler is absolutely that. She is *ridiculous*. More so than her massive voice, her ability to act with her eyes was stunning.’
Red carpet premiere: Rachel Zegler, 20, looked like the belle of the ball when she stepped out on the red carpet for the New York premiere of the movie, where she was joined by Rita Moreno, who featured in the 1961 version
Sweet: Steven and his wife Kate Capshaw attended the NYC premiere on Monday
Masterpiece: @@xoxocorthenley added, ‘OMG #WestSideStory is a MASTERPIECE! I was anti a remake because the original is one of my favs ever! But this was better than the original by a long shot! Production design and shots gave me goosebumps. And the kid who plays Riff is Oscar worthy! I want to see it again & again!’
Classic: Anthony Gagliardi stated, ‘Steven Spielberg’s #WestSideStory does an outstanding job paying homage to the timeless classic from its authentic set designs to its incredible dance sequences and performances. This is one of the most beautifully shot films of the year’
Stuning: BroBible’s Eric Italiano revealed, ‘I am very much not a musical guy, so I’m perhaps not the best judge of #WestSideStory. I do, however, know what a movie star looks and @rachelzegler is absolutely that. She is *ridiculous*. More so than her massive voice, her ability to act with her eyes was stunning’
Accusations: Star Ansel Elgort plays the lead role of Tony
Washington Post’s Thomas Floyd tweeted: ‘Spielberg’s #WestSideStory is a triumph. It’s less stylized, but more grounded, more brutal and more interested in the consequences of the carnage. Kushner’s script imbues its characters with depth, and paints a striking picture of how gentrification fuels tribalism.’
@TheJosieMarie added: ‘#WestSideStory is Steven Spielberg’s attempt at his own La La Land wonder. The film acts as an eraser for all the wrongdoing of the one that came before it. Some things felt genuine while others felt tied with a bow.’
@atomiracle stated: ‘#WestSideStory was incredible wow Steven Spielberg perfectly balanced the magic of the original while building off of it and presenting new ideas. @rachelzegler was obviously the standout she brought Maria to life in a way we’ve never seen before.’
Story: West Side Story first debuted as a Broadway musical in 1957, with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Steven Sondheim, loosely inspired by Romeo and Juliet
Triumph: Washington Post’s Thomas Floyd tweeted, ‘Spielberg’s #WestSideStory is a triumph. It’s less stylized, but more grounded, more brutal and more interested in the consequences of the carnage. Kushner’s script imbues its characters with depth, and paints a striking picture of how gentrification fuels tribalism’
Bow: @TheJosieMarie added, ‘#WestSideStory is Steven Spielberg’s attempt at his own La La Land wonder. The film acts as an eraser for all the wrongdoing of the one that came before it. Some things felt genuine while others felt tied with a bow’
Standout: @atomiracle stated, ‘#WestSideStory was incredible wow Steven Spielberg perfectly balanced the magic of the original while building off of it and presenting new ideas. @rachelzegler was obviously the standout she brought Maria to life in a way we’ve never seen before’
Hitting back: The film has won huge praise since hitting screens on Monday
The AV Club’s Jesse Hassenger also said: ‘I was hoping that WEST SIDE STORY (2021) would sate my decades-long desire for Spielberg to do a musical. Alas, it is so beautifully shot and staged, such an absolute schooling of the usual musical directors, that I fear I now want him to make two or three more.’
Discussing Film’s Chris St. Lawrence wrote: ‘WEST SIDE STORY has rocked my world. Everyone is at the top of their game. Spielberg is a master. Under his direction, Kamiński is a camera wizard, aiming a show-stopping light on the shining star that is @rachelzegler. So many things to rave over here. Too many to mention.’
Actor Alex Wyse tweeted: ‘I saw the new West Side Story tonight and WOW it is spectacular. Sweeping, emotional, remarkable staging, each shot looks like a painting, and I swear I didn’t breathe until the credits.’
MTV News Correspondent Josh Horowitz gushed: ‘So WEST SIDE STORY is my favorite Spielberg film in nearly 20 years. It is gorgeous filmmaking in every respect. @rachelzegler & @AnselElgort are amazing. The supporting cast is impeccable. And Rita Moreno made me cry. So yeah it’s a classic reborn as another classic.’
The AV Club’s Jesse Hassenger also said: ‘I was hoping that WEST SIDE STORY (2021) would sate my decades-long desire for Spielberg to do a musical. Alas, it is so beautifully shot and staged, such an absolute schooling of the usual musical directors, that I fear I now want him to make two or three more.’
Discussing Film’s Chris St. Lawrence wrote: ‘WEST SIDE STORY has rocked my world. Everyone is at the top of their game. Spielberg is a master. Under his direction, Kamiński is a camera wizard, aiming a show-stopping light on the shining star that is @rachelzegler. So many things to rave over here. Too many to mention.’
Actor Alex Wyse tweeted: ‘I saw the new West Side Story tonight and WOW it is spectacular. Sweeping, emotional, remarkable staging, each shot looks like a painting, and I swear I didn’t breathe until the credits.’
MTV News Correspondent Josh Horowitz gushed: ‘So WEST SIDE STORY is my favorite Spielberg film in nearly 20 years. It is gorgeous filmmaking in every respect. @rachelzegler & @AnselElgort are amazing. The supporting cast is impeccable. And Rita Moreno made me cry. So yeah it’s a classic reborn as another classic.’
Slash Film’s Chris Evangelista added: ‘WEST SIDE STORY is *phenomenal.* Steven Spielberg has been talking about making a musical for almost his entire career, and this was worth the wait. This is top-tier Spielberg. Been having a rather awful few days and I walked out of this like I was walking on air. Thank you, Mr. Spielberg.’
West Side Story is an adaptation of the iconic 1957 musical by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein and the late Stephen Sondheim, who passed away over the weekend at 91 years of age.
Rachel Zegler beat out a whopping 30,000 hopefuls for the role of Maria, making her feature film debut in the iconic role.
She’s joined by a cast that includes Ansel Elgort as Tony, Ariana DeBose as Anita and Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the 1961 adaptation of West Side Story, which won 10 Oscars including Best Picture.
Slash Film’s Chris Evangelista added: ‘WEST SIDE STORY is *phenomenal.* Steven Spielberg has been talking about making a musical for almost his entire career, and this was worth the wait. This is top-tier Spielberg. Been having a rather awful few days and I walked out of this like I was walking on air. Thank you, Mr. Spielberg.’
Shocking: Dance sequences pay tribute to the original movie to perfection
Hitting back: In the original film, many of its Puerto Rican, including Maria, were played by white actors in dark makeup (Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer are pictured in character)
The story is set in 1950s New York City – loosely adapted from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet – with one girl named Maria caught between two gangs – the Jets and the Sharks.
Her brother Bernardo (David Alvarez) is the leader of the Latinx gang the Sharks, though she has fallen for Tony (Ansel Elgort), a member of the white gang, the Jets.
Frequent Spielberg collaborator Tony Kushner (Munich, Lincoln) wrote the screenplay, adapted from the iconic stage musical.
Shocking: The stars of the movie were out in force following its debut
Director and stars: The filmmaker posed with a number of his stars such as newcomer Rachel Zegler (right), Ariana DeBose (left) and the iconic Rita Moreno.
Spielberg and Kushner are also collaborating on his next project, The Fablemans, a semi-autobiographical take on Spielberg’s own childhood, starring Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen and Paul Dano, set for release in 2022.
Director Steven attended the premiere alongside his wife Kate Capshaw led the stars at the world premiere.
The 74-year-old filmmaker donned a stylish suit alongside his glamorous wife of 30 years, Kate, for the glittering red carpet event.
The filmmaker also posed with a number of his stars such as newcomer Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose and the iconic Rita Moreno, while also joining lead star Ansel Elgort at the event.
Adapted: The musical originally was adapted for the silver screen in 1961, starring Natalie Wood as Maria, and Richard Beymer as Tony (the 2021 remake is pictured)
Valentina: Valentina (Rita Moreno) is heard singing Somewhere while Tony is seen at a high school dance, glancing at Maria
The director stepped out in a stylish grey suit, with a dark grey corduroy coat over a grey sweater vest, grey tie and a white dress shirt.
His wife Capshaw, who celebrated her 30th wedding anniversary in October, wore a stylish red and grey plaid dress with green heeled boots.
Spielberg and Capshaw met on the set of his 1984 movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, where she played Willie Scott.
In theaters: West Side Story will be released in the US on December 10, in time for the original film’s 60th Anniversary
Steven and Kate: The director stepped out in a stylish grey suit, with a dark grey corduroy coat over a grey sweater vest, grey tie and a white dress shirt
First meet: Spielberg and Capshaw met on the set of his 1984 movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, where she played Willie Scott
Rachel: Rachel Zegler (right) beat out a whopping 30,000 hopefuls for the role of Maria, making her feature film debut in the iconic role
Rita and Steven: She’s joined by a cast that includes Ansel Elgort as Tony, Ariana DeBose as Anita and Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the 1961 adaptation of West Side Story, which won 10 Oscars including Best Picture
The couple married in late October 1991 and share three children, Sasha, Sawyer and Destry, along with two adopted children, Theo and Mikaela.
Capshaw continued acting into the 1980s and 1990s before retiring after her final performance in the 2001 TV movie Due East.
Other stars seen at the premiere include Ana Isabella, who plays Rosalia, spotted in a stunning black gown.
Corey Stoll, who plays Lieutenant Schrank in the film, also hit the red carpet with his wife, Nadia Bowers.
Coming soon: Spielberg and Kushner are also collaborating on his next project, The Fablemans, a semi-autobiographical take on Spielberg’s own childhood, starring Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen and Paul Dano, set for release in 2022
Corey and Nadia: Corey Stoll, who plays Lieutenant Schrank in the film, also hit the red carpet with his wife, Nadia Bowers
