20s Movie Review - West Side Story

Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Musical/ Romance/ Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 156 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Rita Moreno, Brian D’Arcy James, Corey Stoll, Mike Faist

Description: West Side Story explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.

Review: It is important to note that Steven Spielberg’s version of “West Side Story” is not a remake of the original film. The filmmaker deliberately took the theatrical musical as his starting point. So those who know the classic film from 1961 well may wonder if musicals numbers were thrown out. The Latin American cast is also given a much larger role. Much Spanish is spoken and it was Spielberg’s explicit instruction not to subtitle it. However, the context is sufficient to understand it, even without knowing the language.
“West Side Story” is set in the New York of the late 1950s. the neighborhood is a victim of renewal or what we would qualify as gentrification. Only the store of the elderly Valentina (a newly written role played by Rita Moreno, who won an Oscar for best female supporting actress in the original film) bravely holds out. The neighborhood is weighed down by the battle between two gangs. The Puerto Rican Sharks are fighting for a place in society and are diametrically opposed to the leather-jacketed Jets. Former Jet member Tony has just been released from prison and want to make a quiet new start. Then the inevitable happens: during a dance party, he falls madly in love with Puerto Rican Maria.
Already from the opening shot, where the wrecking ball takes us into the experiential world of New Yorkers, it is clear, in combination with Bernstein’s matchless music: this is going to be something special. So the question of whether there is any need to record a new version of “West Side Story” quickly fades. Spielberg didn’t add many big new things, but went for rather small subtle addition that made a big impact. For example, a nonbinary side character who floats between scenes and clashes only momentarily with the rest of the characters. Forced or overly woke, this addition doesn’t feel like it; in fact, Spielberg stands for diversity and inclusiveness.   
The romance that develops between Maria and Tony is one of attraction and little repulsion, but it is the rivalry of circumstances that creates difficulties. “West Side Story” is still a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. But the romance here is rarely wry, but mostly sweet and beautiful without ever becoming overly sentimental.
The original had a store owner Doc, but he is replaced by his wife Valentina. She provies shelter for Tony but also the greatest emotional charge. Her fragile sung “Somewhere (aka “There’s a Place for Us”) provides goosebumps and poignancy. Rita Moreno’s Valentina forms the conscience, the calm and the spectator of Spielberg’s film.
Leonard Bernstein’s famed music has been rearranged and reworked but forms the rhythmic heart of this new musical adaptation. This is complemented by dazzling choreography that really splashes of the screen. The inexperienced lead actress Rachel Zegler, who was assigned the rol of Maria our of thirty thousand applicants, also deserves a special mention. Her Maria is independent and self-confident, but cannot resist the beckoning of love. When the romance does eventually turn sour, it is the circumstances that make it so.
In other hands, a new “West Side Story” might have become a mediocre film production. But Steven Spielberg has turned it into something very special, without compromising the heart of the original production. The direction and beautiful camerawork made it look like we are in the 1950s and the way they work with color is extraordinary. For example, the Jets are styled in dark and blue tones, where the Sharks are in bright and red/ yellow colors. You can see it best in the dance party scene.
This new adaptation of “West Side Story” is amazing. A movie I didn’t think was necessary, but I’m so glad Spielberg made it. It’s beautiful and a treat for every musical fan. Now streaming on Disney +.

Rating: 5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Allegiant

Director: Robert Schwentke
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 120 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, Naomi Watts, Theo James, Miles Teller, Maggie Q, Jeff Daniels, Ansel Elgort, Bill Skarsgård

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 35: A DYSTOPIAN MOVIE

Description: After the earth-shattering revelations of “Insurgent”, Tris (Shailene Woodley) must escape with Four (Theo James) beyond the wall that encircles Chicago, to finally discover the shocking truth of the world around them.

Review: The “Divergent” series has so far followed the practically all the conventions of the young adult genre. The third and final book was supposed to be two films, but the second half will be a series instead.
“Insurgent” worked mainly as an aftermath of the events of the first film and the setups for future parts were rather brief. In the final part the dictatorial faction system of a futuristic Chicago collapsed after it became clear that this society was an experiment to restore humanity. Or something like that. The main point was that the oppressed Divergents were not a problem but the solution for a peaceful future. As if you would expect something different from a film series that appeals mainly to insecure teenagers.
This hopeful end is turned upside down in the first minute of “Allegiant”. Freed from a totalitarian regime, the inhabitants of walled Chicago flock to the gates to explore the outside world. Unfortunately, their new leader doesn’t like it and locks things up. Typical case of meeting the new boss who happens to be the same as the old boss they initially hated. Of course ‘messiah’ Tris doesn’t care about such measures, so she tried to escape with a group of companions. Soon it turns out that keeping the gates closed wasn’t such a crazy idea; the outside world is a radioactive wasteland in which it’s hard to survive. Fortunately, the company is taken care of by those who run the Chicago experiment.
It is praiseworthy that a film series that has never surpassed mediocrity before doesn’t demand the same angelic patience from the viewer in this film. There are enough plot developments and well filmed action scenes for two hours. However, the CGI and special effects often look really bad, where both previous movies did look really beautiful.
The story offers few surprises and the look of the film is rather uninspiring. The movie is even at times a bit dull.
Also in terms of characters, not a lot new is offered. Main character Trisonce again gets a chance to save mankind and the contribution of her boyfriend Four is mainly of shooting and kicking people to the ground. Peter on the other hand does provide some cool moments. He was just an annoying character in the first film, now he has developed into an unpredictable wildcard.
“Allegiant” is definitely the least of the series, that wasn’t all that great to begin with.

Rating: 2/ 5

10s Movie Review - Insurgent

Director: Robert Schwentke
Genre: Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 119 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Miles Teller, Jai Courtney, Naomi Watts, Ansel Elgort, Kate Winslet, Maggie Q, Zoë Kravitz, Ray Stevenson, Octavia Spencer, Suki Waterhouse, Daniel Dae Kim, Mekhi Phifer

Description: Beatrice Prior (Shailene Woodley) must confront her inner demons and continue her fight against a powerful alliance which threatens to tear her society apart with the help from others on her side.

Review: The fact that many have had enough of the seemingly endless stream of Hollywood movie sof successful YA books is not incomprehensible. However, the current young adult hype has a pleasant downside: the similarities of the many productions force comparisons to be made. For example: “The Divergent” series is very easy to compare to the series of “The Hunger Games”. Both series have a lot in common in terms of story and design, but where “The Hunger Games” addresses some relevant contemporary issues, “Divergent” has no much to offer than what can be seen on the surface. The latter inadvertently contributes to the foundation of the throne on which “The Hunger Games” currently sit.
However, when the first film released in 2014 was it turned out to actually be pretty good and quite enjoyable. After all, “Divergent” was a lot better to digest than “The Host” or “Mortal Instruments” and also a lot more lucrative, even if it was not a resounding success. Enough basis to film the remaining books of Veronica Roth’s trilogy. Because there’s no time to waste, the film’s first follow-up is released just one year after the first.
At the start of “Insurgent”, Tris, her boyfriend Four, her brother Caleb and former opponent Peter appear to have been blamed by the responsible oppressors for the massacre that ended the first film. This leaves them nothing but fugitives through post-apocalyptic Chicago, constantly searching for new hiding places. That brings them to some factions that haven’t been seen before, as well as to the Factionless, which turns out to be not nearly as helpless as previously suggested.
Although this second part still doesn’t reach the level of any of “The Hunger Games” movies, “Insurgent” is on many points a good quality film. Now that all the explanations are behind us, the story movies into a higher gear, resulting in a pleasantly smooth movie that hardly repeats itself in the first part. There is plenty of visual spectacle, but fortunately the characters all get a little more to do this time as well. Not every development works equally well, but thanks to some fine surprises, replacement director Robert Schwentke holds the viewer’s attention well. Perhaps the most pleasant element of “Insurgent” is that it’s not just another typical interlude that only serves to set things up for the grand finale. This part is mainly about the aftermath of the previous film and the makers don’t seem to want to occupy themselves too much with future films. This means, among other things, that some plot lines are already neatly ended and some characters disappear from the stage for good as a result.
I think “Insurgent” did a pretty good job in continuing in this series.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 107: Carrie

Director: Kimberly Peirce
Genre: Drama/ Horror
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore, Ansel Elgort, Judy Greer, Gabriella Wilde

Description: A shy girl (Chloë Grace Moretz), outcasted by her peers and sheltered by her religious mother (Julianne Moore), unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom.

Review: Hollywood has taken many of Stephen King’s novels as their inspiration. One of the bigger ones is “Carrie”, directed by Brian De Palma. It’s actually one of the few horror movies that got recognition from the Academy. It’s a pretty big job to top De Palma’s film. In 2013, Kimberly Peirce gave it a try, with this remake.
Peirce is known for “Boys Don’t Cry”. Her version of “Carrie” had to be a different take on King’s story. But Peirce doesn’t really succeed, because it’s nothing new and we’ve seen most of it before.
It follows the original pretty well, but also the horror genre in general. Like many horror remakes, “Carrie” doesn’t really focus on building the tension. There is more room for Carrie to experiment with her powers.
Chloë Grace Moretz, who plays Carrie, does manage to convince us. But Julianne Moore overshadows her, as Carrie’s extremely religious mother.
Sadly enough Kimberly Peirce wasn’t capable of finding new angles to present the film from. Bullying and social media are so topical, she could have turned “Carrie” into a contemporary horror film. Much further than a YouTube video, with no consequences, it doesn’t really go. We didn’t really need this remake.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 87: Baby Driver

Director: Edgar Wright
Genre: Action/ Crime
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Ansel Elgort, Jon Bernthal, Jon Hamm, Kevin Spacey, Lily James, Jamie Foxx, Flea

Description: After being coerced into working for a crime boss (Kevin Spacey), a young getaway driver (Ansel Elgort) finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail.

Review: Before I start this review, I have to state that director Edgar Wright is a genius. And as for many geniuses, the big crowd doesn’t understand him. His previous films (like “Shaun of the Dead”, “Hot Fuzz” and “The World’s End”) are examples of how a movie is perfectly edited. His films are never box office hits and he never seems to click with the average moviegoer. In my opion: Edgar Wright is one of the best directors of the moment.
Because of a constant ringing in his ear, Baby listens to music non-stop. That makes music not only a big part of the film, but also the story. Everything is accompanied by the music: every shot, movement, rhythm. And because of Wright’s perfect editing skills, “Baby Driver” is an amazingly synchronized and choreographed film. And that without it distracting from the actual story. Every song fits the scene like a glove and sounds like it belongs there.
Does the film have flaws? Off course, but they are so miniscule. Probably the motives of the characters, but that would be nitpicking.
The film opens with an amazing chase scene, where we see what Baby can do. One giant chunk of adrenaline.
When I saw the trailer for “Baby Driver”, I was sceptic about Ansel Elgort as the leading man. But boy did he surprise me. In a good way! Jon Hamm as Buddy and Jamie Foxx as Bats (the last being one of the most annoying characters of this year, I constantly wanted to slap him in the face) are also worth mentioning. The chemistry between Ansel Elgort and his on-screen love interest Lily James is very strong. Some might say it’s a bit too sweet, but it’s forgivable.
The script is simple, yet Edgar Wright turns it into what I can call the best film of 2017 so far.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 77: Men, Women & Children

Director: Jason Reitman

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 119 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Rosemarie DeWitt, Adam Sandler, Jennifer Garner, Dean Norris, Judy Greer, Emma Thompson, Ansel Elgort, J.K. Simmons, Dennis Haysbert

Description: A group of high school teenagers and their parents attempt to navigate the many ways the Internet has changed their relationships, their communication, their self-image, and their love lives.

Review: Fifteen years after “American Beauty”, little has changed with the relational problems of seeking teens and their disillusioned parents in the suburbs. Only nowadays many of it goes through social media. At least for the characters in “Men, Women & Children”. Director Jason Reitman zooms in on a small group of American men, women and children and how they deal with the temptations of the internet.

Supported by the narration of an ironic Emma Thompson, an above average cast including a very modest Adam Sandler, the movie shows us a disturbing image of the effect of the new media. On sexuality in the modern society: boys grow up with internet porn, girls want to live up to a certain standard and parents that commit adultery. Reitman shows us how today’s teenage life integrates with the smartphone. It’s like real life doesn’t matter anymore, when the real problems happen in real life.

“Men, Women & Children” wants to tell a lot of stories in two hours’ time. For themes like gaming addiction and anorexia there is just not enough time. And because we follow multiple storylines, it’s hard to focus on all of them. Some characters are also in contrast too much. When Judy Greer’s characters publicly ‘sells’ her daughter by posting promiscuous pictures of her daughter online, so she can have a career in Hollywood, Jennifer Garner’s character is obsessed with the incoming and outgoing computer data of her daughter. The acting in the movie is good, it’s especially fun to see Adam Sandler in a more serious role again.

“Men, Women & Children” is not bad, because the concept is good. The movie is just a little to melodramatic, has too many storylines and lacks subtlety.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 60: The Fault in Our Stars

Director: Josh Boone

Genre: Drama

Runtime: 126 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Laura Dern, Nat Wolff, Willem Dafoe, Lotte Verbeek, Sam Trammell, Emily Peachey, Mike birbiglie, Amber Myers, Milica Govich, Allegra Carpenter, Johanna McGinley, Debbie Hartuer, Wyatt McClure

Description: Hazel (Shailene Woodley) and Augustus (Ansel Elgort), two teens, both who have different cancer conditions, fall in love after meeting at a cancer support group.

Review: The movie, based on the bestselling novel by John Green, targets young adults. With a surprising optimistic take, “The Fault in Our Stars” is more than a simple tearjerker.

When two young cancer patients, Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters, meet each other at a support group, they have an immediate connection. The two share a considerate sense of humor and look at the world with a healthy touch of sarcasm. Although they know that there is only little time left, they let love into their lives.

“The Fault in Our Stars” deals with a heavy theme, but the movie is very subtle about it. It starts with the characters. Hazel and Gus don’t hide behind their sickness. They show vulnerability, but do it with humor. They don’t have self-pity, which makes you more connected to the characters. Hazel and Gus are always, good and bad, likeable.

The levity and humor in the story also manage to give Hazel and Gus depth. Not just one-dimensional characters who happen to be sick. Although the doctors and their parents know they will die, Hazel and Gus have a different view on life. They want to grab life by the balls and experience it.

Off course it’s inevitable to cry in the end, there are some moments that make this movie a bit over sentimental. A scene at the Dutch Anne Frank house is an example. For me it was a bit too much, it felt like it belonged in a simple feel good movie.

“The Fault in Our Stars” is a good adaptation of the book and it will definitely reach the audience it was targeting. There are many great moments in the movie and it manages to hit the right nerves. Great performances by Ansel Elgort and especially Shailene Woodley. “The Fault in Our Stars” has depth, humor and drama and is worth your time.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 44: Divergent

Director: Neil Burger

Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction

Runtime: 140 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Miles Teller, Kate Winslet, Ansel Elgort, Zoë Kravitz, Ray Stevenson, Maggie Q, Ashley Judd, Tony Goldwyn, Mekhi Phifer

Description: In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris (Shailene Woodley) learns she's Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four (Theo James) must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it's too late.

Review: The young adult film has, in a short period of time, settled down in Hollywood. Movies like the “Harry Potter” series and “The Hunger Games” series started this all. The movies, mostly adaptations from books, focus on young adults. Friendship, love and the battle between good and evil are central themes in these stories. “Divergent”, based on a book by Veronica Roth, isn’t an exception.

In a futuristic Chicago, five factions fight for power over the city. The factions are divided based on virtues: abnegation, candor, amity, dauntless and erudite. The choice for your faction is made when you’re sixteen. Tris is at that point in her life. Is she going to stay in the faction she grew up in or will she choose another faction? During her test something unusual happens. It appears she doesn’t fit in any of the faction. She is divergent.

Not a lot happens in “Divergent”. A thin plot between political power between the different factions and the place the divergents take in that society. Friendships are made and enemies are formed. Tris has to undergo a tough training and the underdog becomes the hero. And there is also a love story. Not a lot of originality, but time does fly. This is a good sign, because the movie is very entertaining.

That the book is often better than the movie, is also the case here. I feel that some important scenes are cut down. For instance the test. It’s a very important part of the story, but it goes so fast in the film. For people who haven’t read the book, it could have gone too fast.

Shailene Woodley does a good job and is a good leading lady. “Divergent” is a movie that you can’t help to compare to “The Hunger Games”. It’s not as good, but still very entertaining and I did enjoy it.

Rating: 3/ 5