West Side Story - Itw David Alvarez & Mike Faist (official video)
West Side Story is an upcoming American musical romantic drama film directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg, with a screenplay by Tony Kushner, who also serves as one of the film's executive producers. The film is the second feature-length adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim, which is based loosely on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler (in her feature film debut), with Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Brian d'Arcy James, and Corey Stoll. Rita Moreno, who appeared in the 1961 film, has a supporting role and is an executive producer. The film is dedicated to Spielberg's father Arnold, who died on August 25, 2020, the year the film was initially supposed to be released.
The film started development in 2014 by 20th Century Fox, and Kushner started writing the screenplay in 2017. In January 2018, Spielberg was hired, and casting began by September 2018. Justin Peck choreographed the dance sequences. Filming began in July 2019 and wrapped up two months later. Shooting occurred in New York and New Jersey. West Side Story is scheduled to premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on December 7, 2021, and be released theatrically by 20th Century Studios in the United States on December 10, 2021, after being delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Synopsis :
West side story tells the legendary story of a budding love affair set against a backdrop of gang brawls in 1957 New York.
West Side Story
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Screenplay by Tony Kushner
Based on West Side Story by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Produced by Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Kevin McCollum
Starring Ansel Elgort, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Rita Moreno, Rachel Zegler
Cinematography : Janusz Kamiński
Edited by Sarah Broshar, Michael Kahn
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Production companies : Amblin Entertainment, TSG Entertainment
Distributed by 20th Century Studios,
Release date : December 7, 2021 (El Capitan Theatre), December 8, 2021 (France), December 10, 2021 (United States)
Running time : 156 minutes
Riff is flamboyant, magnetic, charming, charismatic and oozes swag but beneath the surface he is quite vulnerable. Riff relies on and looks up to Tony, because he is the only family Riff really has. Tony is a father figure, big brother and best friend rolled into one .Riff believes that as long as Tony's there and they stand by each other as they always have everything will be alright. But Tony is drifting away the neighbourhood is being knocked down and when it's gone the Jets will go with it. Riff's world is literally crumbling around him and that is why Riff feels lost and alone without Tony .
Agreed! One moment was when Anita came to identify Bernardo’s body and there was no one to identify Riff’s. Tony told Maria that family and hope was one thing that the sharks had that the Jets didn’t. I think that particular moment made that very clear.
Riff is a racist.
Crying
He is Also a bit racist but ok 👌
Tony Kushner really showed us how complex and ambiguous human beings can be and these young kids couldn't really grow in such a corrupt society and I think the other Jets showed how one-dimensional they are compared to Riff and Tony who were more conflicted as characters. The rumble scene really showed us how legitimate Bernardo’s prejudice was when he just wanted to protect his sister from manipulation, while Riff just wanted to protect Tony in the end. There are a lot of little details in the movie that make you see the characters differently throughout the movie actually. The real problem of this story is the fact that these boys couldn't realize that what they needed to do in order to fight against gentrification and the system in general, was to make an alliance and to see that they had more in common than what they thought.
Just watched it. The cast was really really good. Riff, Bernardo, Tony, everyone. Modern takes on classics can be disasters, but with Spielberg on the helm, and a superb ensemble crew, they really did justice to this one.
You understand the characters a lot better. You understand the setting a lot better. The detail of how Bernardo aspires to be a prized fighter, Tony's criminal history, and Riff's relationship with Tony makes us appreciate the story a lot better. Chino's internal conflict of trying to believe the American dream and resenting how he's being treated brings another dimension to his character, and Bernardo's death became a source of rage. Adding Rita Moreno brings relevance to the remake, and the scene with DeBose is an acknowledgment between both Anita's, and the West Side Story legacy. It fills the gaps exposed in the 1961 movie. I liked how Spielberg incorporated the story of the San Juan Hill neighborhood in Manhattan, and how the gentrification became a source of hostility between the Jets and Sharks.
@@dchang11 Totally agree
I was moving. I haven't felt like this since seeing Titanic in 1997.
This movie does not dishonor the original but is like being reacquainted with an old friend who awaits you with open arms and after spending time with them you realize your love is even stronger now. It was like watching the original on steroids. Words can't describe my feelings for this picture. This was like Hollywood back in my day with a musical at its best. And in Dolby it was pure Heaven. Loved it!
These guys are what makes the story exciting.
Both of them should have been nominated at the Oscars!
I love these 2 actors. Bernardo is a tough, confident guy who loves his family. Riff is a guy who only has the Jets as a way to be tough, confident and to love his Jet family. I think that Mike should be nominated for an Oscar. I could feel Riff's pain and disjointed and misguided upbringing. I know a lot of guys like Bernardo. David played it real and should have been nominated also. I love Tony. I feel bad for Rachel. She sings like an angel. She has beautiful expression and is the perfect Maria. She is the IT girl; like Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly. She is a damn good actress and should have been rewarded with an Oscar nomination. This is her first film and she has great screen presence. Steven Spielberg is BRILLIANT!!!. He is not given enough credit for the great work he has done. This is best film and best director in my book.
their acting was just amazing, as well as the chemistry that they had with the other actors in character. loved the original and this version!
the real stars of the movie
thankful for a new Mike Faist video❤️
nobody: seriously, no one at all: mike faist: ✨*snaps* ✨
Took my kids to see this. They loved it great cast. I especially thought the actor who played Riff was awesome..
Did you know David (Bernardo) played the lead in the Broadway show Billy Elliot when he was only about 12 or 13; the casting people from West Side were having trouble finding a suitable Bernardo, but one casting lady remembered David as Billy (and obviously he could dance and sing); meanwhile, David had temporarily dropped out of show business, but the casting lady found him...and the rest is history! (David did not have a beard when he played Billy Elliot!)
And he won Tony Award for the role
David Gonzalez is amazing. He won a full scholarship to go to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at the American Ballet Theatre which is the most exclusive ballet school in the country where only the top dancers go, he won a Tony for Billy Elliot and then for some reason decided to drop everything and join the army. That's an unusual move for such an accomplished young man. Usually poor boys without too many options voluntarily join the army, not accomplished performers from solidly middle class backgrounds [father a scientist, mother a theater director]. It's a credit to his personality that he didn't want special treatment in the army so didn't tell anyone that he was a famous, award winning Broadway actor. He went incognito. By the way, he is trilingual. He is Canadian by birth and of course, speaks French as well as Spanish [his parents are Cuban] and now English [which he learned when he came to the USA].
Rayarena he didn't speak English in Canada?
@@fc8240 He's from Montreal. Although some people speak English in Montreal, I don't think everyone does. French is the official language.
@@rayarena879 ok. Yes, that's true. I've visited Montreal many times. It definitely has a European vibe. And it is mixed with regards to English. He speaks English as a native. I didn't hear regionalism or quirks...other than choices he made for his character. Hearing he is Canadian surprised me.
The film is so amazing. I feel it was better defined than the original.
I agree With You completely.
These two were absolutely amazing
i like that they’re kinda matching
and amazing riff
I remember seeing David do an interview when he was a child, starring in Billy Elliot at the time. When asked what other Broadway show he might like to do someday, He said West Side Story. (Obviously had just seen it recently) So when I saw that he had been cast as Bernardo, I was thrilled that he had the opportunity to do the musical (with no less that Steven Spielberg as the director!). I am so pumped to see the resulting movie performance.
He saw the revival of WSS 10 years ago (approx.) - not the one that was on Broadway when COVID shut everything down.
@@petemichael4512 Yes that is correct. David was still performing in Billy Elliot when the interview took place. It was during that time (10 or 12 years ago) that he saw the WSS production that inspired his answer. He must have been about 13 or 14 then (still looking like a rather young Billy Elliot).
@@waynebulson941 It's so interesting to me where time takes these kids. Tom Holland who is the current Spiderman and who impressed me as Naomi Watts' son in the movie, The Impossible - the true story of one family's ordeal while staying at a ocean front resort in Thailand during the disastrous Tsunami of 2004 (?). His break was like David as a Billy Elliot boy only in London. Two young men with big movies out at the same time with that same experience as kids.
@@petemichael4512 Yes!! I hadn't thought about the fact that both movies are showing now. Of course, I have followed Tom too. Though so athletic, we are unfortunate in that we don't see Tom dance as Spiderman. But, I am none the less thrilled by his tremendous success. I have only seen a brief clip of Tom's performance in B.E., and that was grainy. I'm just obsessed with WSS because it has been so long in coming (due to COVID).
@@waynebulson941 Me too. I saw the 61 version as a young man . I was smitten by Natalie Wood and Rita Moreno and it was such a departure from the musicals I was familiar with. And the dancing and the Bernstein score. Following Spielberg from the beginning and being so impressed by his work, I took notice from first press release. Film finished and then the delay - good decision!. Both of the films need to be seen in a theater on the big screen. No distractions to take you out of the experience. I will see it soon and look forward to that. In the meantime, have a wonderful Holiday.
This may sound weird but I always like it when during interviews, the actors drink water. Mike did at 6:18. Somehow it's reassuring that even while they are talking about their crazy jobs, they are still only human.
aw that’s adorable
Weirdo
Loved this movie, currently binging every interview lol
Same
The movie is beautiful, and magical. The men are awesome.
amazing bernardo
I really liked David as Bernardo
I LOVE LOVE LOVEEEDDDD HIM!!!!!!
the thumbnail doesn't reflect the interview at all
the things i'll let Mike Faist do to me is so despicable that it'll shock you all
마이크 파이스트 당신 너무 잘생겼어,,, 존나섹시ㅠㅠㅠㅜ
It would have been nice to have seen both David and Mike in future films, but from what I'm hearing, both actors were killed in a rumble while making this film, which is sad, and a great loss to the Hollywood community, and to the field of entertainment at large. RIP David and Mike.
Wait whut are u talking about the characters that they both played ?
? both actors are alive and well
Oh the spoilers!
Lol I think you misunderstood. They didn't get killed in a rumble in real life. That was their characters that they were portraying for the movie. The actors themselves are alive and well.
@@gabbi-m No, I understand what you're saying, Gabbi. I'm just saying it was sad that two actors should lose their lives in a senseless rumble, especially with Steve Spielberg right there to stop it. Both guys were excellent dancers too. And the world could always use better male dancers, ask any woman. So, to lose two of them over a ridiculous disagreement and subsequent rumble, just seems so senseless. And on top of that, from what I'm now hearing, Ansel also didn't make it. They're saying he lost his life over a girl, which I can sort of understand. But what a loss for the entertainment community as a whole. The buzz surrounding the movie pointed towards Oscar nominations for all three, but now, will never know. Very tragic, is what I'm trying to get at. Thanks.
Interviewer was terrible.. didn’t seem interested, just reading questions off a paper.. when ur an interviewer you give some feedback and opinions of what you interpreted, not too much though just enough.
The new movie treats the audience a little dumb. There were one liners in the movie where they beat you over the head with the theme, themes that are obvious in both the original and remake. All but tony was phenomenal and and Tony still was pretty good
What a terrible interviewer please dont do this again
Nonsense this back story for both actors is pure bs. Being a boxer and a gang member are mutually exclusive. ( he would have been spending most of his waking hours training and not being the head of a youth gang. If you told me Bernardo was a failed boxer or a neighborhood punk I could see his gang affiliation) it just feeds the writers woke narrative. Not in keeping with Westside story or actual youth gangs in the 50s. I guess I blame Disney for this, followed by Spielberg then Rita Moreno and Tony K. I would rather watch dance fighting ( realizing that Robbins had created a ballet, that Bernstein had written a score based heavily on operatic influences, and that Laurent’s had written poetry followed by the brilliant Steven S enduring lyrics for the age) then the Disneyfication that ensues. The ultimate problem is you can’t write or reinterpret a musical about 1950s gangs through the lens of 2021 Hollywood “wokeness”. That incongruity will be doomed to failure.
Yeah the boxer part felt weird to me as well... I don't know why they did it
it sucked
how?