West Side Story

written by Tony Kushner, based on the stage play by arthur Laurents

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Rating: 🏆 Most Excellent

Steven Spielberg has done it again, creating another masterpiece that will stand the test of time. It’s the return of the triple threat with an insanely talented cast bringing the iconic story of love, loyalty, prejudice, and loss to life. Set in a poor New York neighborhood experiencing gentrification the Puerto Rican gang The Sharks and white gang The Jets both claim this territory as their own. The two gangs agree to a rumble- the winner takes the neighborhood, and the loser will stop making life difficult for the other. But things get complicated when Maria, the sister of the Sharks leader Bernardo falls in love with the recently reformed founder of The Jets, Tony.   The two young lovers are in for a bumpy ride as they are caught in the crossfire of the deep-seated hatred that so closely surrounds them.

Wow! This was an all-consuming experience as you are transported to a time and place that is new and nostalgic at the same time. Obviously, this musical is a classic with music that is intoxicating and dancing that makes you question how TikTok is so entertaining, but that doesn’t always translate from stage to screen as this has in both the 1961 and the 2021 films. In a film full of incredible talent, Rachel Zegler as Maria not only held her own in her FIRST ROLE EVER but stood out among the rest with her beautiful soprano voice- this girl is the whole package. And I am convinced that Mike Faist, who truly embodies Riff, is actually the reincarnation of Gene Kelly- that is the only explanation for why he is so incredible. I know it is controversial to add a new character to a story that has been so beloved for so many years, but I personally loved the addition of Rita Moreno as Valentina. Having played Anita in the original 1961 film, her newly created role as a maternal figure to Tony and the whole neighborhood felt authentic and natural because she has literally known these characters so intimately since the beginning. Legends were born in Spielberg’s Westside Story, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for them.

In the Heights

written by Quiara Alegria Hudes (Based on the musical stage play by Lin-Manuel Miranda)

Directed by Jon M. Chu

Rating: ⭐ Better than a PSL

In the heights is a summer musical about Washington Heights, a working class immigrant neighborhood in New York City. The kind of neighborhood where everyone knows everyone, and people don’t have a lot, but they’re always willing to share.

This is an incredibly powerful and relatable storyline for anyone who knows the struggles of poverty, the process of gentrification, and the toxicity of racism. But, In the Heights reminds dreamers everywhere that their dreams are worth fighting for. The best thing that In the Heights does is that it personifies cancerous issues within our society in such lovable characters that I think you’d have to be truly heartless to leave this film and not care about social justice for immigrants. While these topics and themes are heavy, the musical never feels preachy. You’re so swept up in the magic and the music of Washington Heights that existential thoughts don’t feel as overwhelming. This musical made me laugh (a lot), cry (A LOT), and it’s one of those that is so good that I’ll probably see it in theater at least one more time.

PRO TIP: stay til the end for the after credits scene.

Written by Zianna Weston

Hamilton

written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, based on the book by Ron Chernow

Directed by Thomas Kail

Rated: ⭐️ better than a psl

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway smash hit shines a lot on an often overlooked founding father, Alexander Hamilton. This musical is literally perfect. I had never seen Hamilton before but have been wanting to for a very long time. My expectations were incredibly high and Hamilton surpassed them with ease. I used to teach US History and I was a history minor in college and I learned things from Hamilton that I have never learned before. I think that all history should be taught this way because it was informative, challenging, and memorable, three things that all teachers strive for. 2020 was a perfect year for Hamilton to come out on Disney+ because it’s important to look back on where we’ve been so that we can know where we are and where we’re going.

The best part of watching Hamilton the movie instead of live on stage is the up close intimacy that we are given through the skillful camera work. You still get all the big theatrics of a stage play, but you also get the beauty of subtle actions and expressions that you’re definitely not getting from the back row. 

Review written by Zianna Weston

Rocketman

written by lee hall

directed by dexter fletcher

rating: ⭐️ Better than a psl

Rocketman is the larger-than-life fantasy biopic about the legendary Sir Elton John. Directed by Dexter Fletcher and written by Lee Hall, this film sets out to tell Elton’s story conceptually rather than give a chronological play by play of his life. This was a decision that Elton supported as he stated that he has spent much of his life in a fantasy daydream rather than based solely in reality. Taron Egerton plays Elton John and gives us an incredible performance. The world does not deserve Egerton and the way that he is able to so seamlessly transform himself into another person as he has in Rocketman and Eddie the Eagle. His performance as Elton John features intense moments of raw vulnerability, flashes of blinding rage, performances of songs that transport the audience to another dimension, and an ever-present underlying pang of loneliness. Beyond the brilliant acting Egerton also had the challenge of singing all of the songs as this was a requirement that Elton insisted upon. Not only did Egerton deliver in the acting department, but he also excels vocally.

Another highlight of this film is the cinematography. Through dramatic lighting designs and creative camera work, this film sweeps the audience off their feet and into the emotional fantasy of Elton’s dramatic life. A particularly poetic way that Elton’s story is told is through the costuming. You see Elton’s evolution told clearly through his wardrobe throughout the film. Most noteworthy are the costume changes throughout his stint in rehab. He arrives garishly dressed in a performance costume that quite literally represents his demons. As he shares his story, he removes the layers of this costume, allowing the audience into his authentic life.

After the overwhelming response to Bohemian Rhapsody last year it was fun to see that Rocketman was also able to honor the life of a musical legend without following the same style as Bohemian Rhapsody. While Bohemian Rhapsody stayed closer to the true story of Freddie Mercury, Rocketman stays close to the spirit of Elton John while modifying factual details as the director and writer saw fit. While Rocketman is also receiving a lot of praise in the United States, some countries such as Samoa have banned the film due to homosexual content. It is heartbreaking to see that Elton John is still receiving backlash for his sexual orientation. In earlier iterations of the film, they considered limiting the amount of screen time for Elton’s sexual promiscuity and rampant drug use, but Elton fought to keep the less glamorous parts of his life in the film. He did not want to be glorified for someone he was not; he wanted the audience to see his successes and his struggles. Overall, Rocketman does a brilliant job of creatively telling the story of one of music’s most iconic performers of all time.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Guava Island

written by stephen glover

directed by hiro murai

rating: 🔥 That’s hot

Deni Maroon (Donald Glover) is a musician and local radio star on the tropical paradise Guava Island. The island is full of life and natural beauty, but Deni sees that the people are not able to enjoy it because they are forced to work all of the time. He is determined to bring them a music festival and a day off, but the boss Red Cargo (Nanso Anozie) is equally as determined to make sure his workers never take a break.

This movie was not what I expected. I’m not even sure if I can call it a movie because it blurs the lines of feature and short film, and of musicals and musical essays. The movie runs at just under an hour and features Childish Gambino songs like “This is America”. The portions of the film with the songs feel more like a music video than a traditional musical, but the songs are interwoven perfectly to tell the heartbreaking tale of decolonization. Donald Glover’s creative genius works to tell this story in a nontraditional way. His love interest Kofi Novia is played by Rihanna and ironically her character never sings. Rihanna delivers an authentic performance that allows the audience to feel like a fly on the wall as they watch the story unfold. As a Caribbean native herself I’m sure that her days of growing up in Barbados helped shape her performance on the fictional guava island. I recommend that everyone check out Guava Island, now streaming on Prime Video.

Review written by Zianna Weston