West Side Story | 17
Show Notes:
On December 12, 2021 host Julia Washington and frequent guest Mario Mello discuss the new adaptation of West Side Story directed by Steven Spielberg, which made its theatrical debut on December 10, 2021.
Mario and Julia discuss what they love, appreciated, and reservations they had about the new film.
Let's Get Social:
The Show: Pop Culture Makes Me Jealous
The Host: Julia Washington
The Guest: Mario Mello
Transcript:
Julia: Hey friends, this is Pop Culture Makes Me Jealous. And I'm your host, Julia. This week's episode is from my Instagram live with Mario Mello, from movies, with Mr. Mario, where we discuss the new west side story adaptation. This audio was pulled straight from Instagram and has not been edited for your listening pleasure.
Also, I'd like to add. The show just hasn't been edited at all. This is the original Instagram live audio from Sunday, December 12th, 2021.
Hello, everybody. Let's find Mario,
Mario. There we go. Oops. How do I get Mario to join you guys? There we go. There we go. Here we go.
Mario.
Yay. I know I do this all the time at work. You think I could figure it out in my real life? Can you hear me okay? Yeah, I, can you hear me? Okay. I can hear you. Fine. Awesome. Hello everybody joining. Um, happy Sunday, I'm Julia Washington hosted pop culture makes me jealous. And I am joined by, um, movies with Mr.
Mario, Mario Melo. He is a regular on the show, a couple episodes with us, right?
Mario: Three, I think so far.
Julia: Yes,
Mario: the. Yeah,
Julia: this was a two-parter the, Emmy's the, um, oh my mommy joined. Hi mommy. Um, Lala land and the family stone that came out last week. So yeah, so you are a regular. Okay. We are here to. Not mess with the screen.
Julia, just leave it. Okay. Okay. Okay. We're going to talk about west side story and it's the new one and I've been actively avoiding any information about it over the weekend. Minus the article I shared in stories about the box office numbers. Um, but I've been trying to not allow anything taint my, um,
Yes since going in since, since watching. Cause I want to keep my. Rah about it. Um, yeah, so we both saw it on Friday. Right? You saw it opening night.
Mario: I got to go see Thursday cause I got off work early. So I was like, I switched my tickets cause it was like, I am trying not to get spoilers or anything. So I
Julia: hate you so much that you thought before me booed.
I blame Regal. They didn't do a Thursday night showing for this one. They only did a Friday. Oh man. I know. Anyway, so let's dive in. Um, I want to talk about, uh, your general reaction of the film. Cause I don't know if I've told you this enough. Mario's Westlake story is my favorite musical.
Mario: I'm very intrigued to hear what you got to say, because the whole time I was watching movie.
And wondering what Julie's going to think. Why don't we, Julie's going to think about that. I'm like, I'm going to tell Julia right now, like, what's your review? What'd you? I was like, I'll wait til,
Julia: well, hold on. I know it was really hard not to text you Friday night to be like, here are my thoughts, but I waited.
So why don't we dive in? Go ahead. Tell me your general thoughts and reaction to this 2021 version by Stevensville.
Mario: So overall, I actually really, really loved it. I thought it was, I thought it was a very well adapted, um, movie of the classic. I think they definitely made some changes that, uh, cause I w I'm sure we'll talk about a little later.
Some of the problems the 1961 version did have, um, I feel like they bow, they fixed a lot of that, which was really cool. Um, just the seminary Simmons photography, the way the movie was shot. I mean, Spielberg is probably one of my favorite directors, so I don't know if I'm a little bias going in already, but just the way he like shot certain scenes, the way he brought some of the dance numbers to life, I was just like, oh my gosh, it's so good.
I'm so glad I saw this on a big screen. Um, Uh, but by the end I was just like, I was just like, wow, that's filmmaking right there. And that's, to me, that's like, that's why Steven Spielberg is top tier. Yeah. And, and why he's winning words and why is like, movies are so classic because like, he'll bring that, those, his elements, like the story, he kept the story.
Well, um, but he, he brought his own flavor and twist to it a little bit, but overall I loved it. I mean, there were a couple of issues they still had with them and that's any film I feel like, but yeah, but overall, like, I don't know. It's definitely, it'll definitely be in my, probably one of my favorites of the year.
So far. No. Uh, this year has been so good at movies. It's like ranking them is going to be hard in the next couple of weeks, but yeah. But yeah, it's going to, it'll be up there, but I overall loved it. I want to see it again. I'll definitely buy it and add it to my collection.
Julia: Why not? Because it's in, you're not wrong.
People need to see it on the big screen, because I think that. The detail of the sets and the detailed, the costumes will not translate the same on a smaller TV. Yes. Um, and that's one of the things that I love about the original movie or the 1961 version. Whenever it plays on the big screen, I go see it because then you get to see all that extra detail that you missed when you're watching on a smaller screen.
I initially was like, I don't know how I feel about any of this, but then I got settled into the story. I got settled into the narrative and. I woke up Saturday morning thinking, okay, maybe I'll go see it again. It wasn't, it wasn't. Maybe I was being a little too harsh last night. Um, I think that it was very true to the original theatrical production and we'll talk about structure in a little bit and I love.
That they brought some of the stuff from the stage performance book into the 2021 version because certain things couldn't exist in 1961. Um, and so I thought that was a really great. Move. And I also appreciated how much they try to pay respect to both the 1961 film, as well as the stage production. I think that was a really hard task.
They took on whether or not it was an intentional, I'm going to I'm thinking it was intentional. And so that way they were able to make this one its own story and its own version with still. Giving credit to the source material for which it came. Yes, exactly.
Mario: I agree.
Julia: Yeah. Um, do I love the way that the Tony looked at Maria? Yeah. Hello, thank you. Like that's the love right there. I was very concerned about what's his name? Ansell something or other. Oh, great. I can never remember how to say his last name. I was very concerned about him not having like the romantical eyes for Maria, because I've seen him in a bunch of like teeny bopper movies.
And I'm just like, can you do this? Can you be
Mario: Tony? Yeah. He doesn't have a very good singing voice though. I gotta make. Cause like some of those songs, I was just like, that's what I was worried about going in because I actually do like ants. I'll go from like baby
Julia: drivers. Oh, I haven't seen baby driver. I should add that to my like one of
my
Mario: all time.
Favorite movies. But, yeah, so I was a little worried going in, like how well he can sing, but I was like, dude, you can
Julia: see him. Yeah. I was surprised I was impressed and surprised by that. I'm very, I'm very glad that everyone can sing because in the 1961 version, everyone's saying, but for the most part, there were parts that they dubbed over for the actors as well.
Now we were just saying shit, she did not do that herself at all. Um, but everyone else sing their roles, but they also, you know, had parts that were. Um, I want to talk about structure and the way that it was structured, because it is a little, it's a lot different than the 1961 screen adaptation. And so I wanted to get, I wanted to know your opinions about the way they told this story in terms of structure.
Mario: I thought it did actually did well. Um, I did like that Tony Maria went on a date. Yes. I liked that. I was like, they actually go on a date because I mean, in the original, they really don't go on a date. Like she meets her, I like her work. And then they, yeah. And it's like, that's pretty much their day, but here though, like, no I'm going to take you out.
Let's go on the train. We're going to explore, talk, you know? And I was like, okay. You're getting to know each other. It's not just like, yeah, we're in love and that's it kind of thing.
Julia: Yeah. It's, it's less star cross because they're giving them a little bit more foundation to, you know, to have a relationship.
I thought it was interesting though, that they made, because I was trying to rack my brain. I've only seen the stage production once. Um, So there, I was trying to rack my brain. Cause I don't remember in 1961 version, it's, there's no mention of it, but in the, um, state production or not the super in this version, you know, he's coming out of prison.
And I was like,
Mario: what? Yeah, I don't think well, cause he, cause I want to say, because I just recently watched the 61 version few days ago and I want to say he just had gotten in trouble. And he was trying to change his life around and not be part of the jets, hence why he wasn't really doing stuff. So this one, they like legit Lee said, oh yeah, you know, he almost murdered somebody.
Julia: Oh, we should
Mario: warn people. I just thought about that. I was like, hopefully. So 61 version. Yeah. Yeah.
Julia: It's really not. And it's really not spoiling it because the story's the same for the most part. Sorry. And it's just, I mean, to me it was a surprise. I was like, I don't remember Tony being that much of a bad guy or bad guy, but I just, yeah.
I was like, I don't know how I feel about them making him that much a criminal, but then
Mario: I think that. Fit in with the whole rumble scene at the end though, towards the end, I was like, how he like kind of loses control. It's like, it's still in him, even though he's trying to, you know, fix it, but like kind of brought back his jet side because he's just, you know, he loses his, his friend.
Right. So I kind of get why they went that way. And I think it makes a little more sense, but. I didn't mind you. I'm glad
Julia: you didn't mind it. I was a little like, wait a minute. Tony is a sweet, innocent kid. No, he's not. He wasn't even in the 61 version of sweet, innocent kid.
Mario: Um, other than that, like the only other issue I did have with the structure was after the rumble, they like, they go into a really upbeat song, like right now, Yeah, I feel pretty like, right guys, like it's so like somber and sad, and then they're like, oh, I feel pretty.
And usually in the other versions, I feel pretty much earlier in the
Julia: one, right? Yeah. It's like,
Mario: I felt a little off on that. Cause it was just like, oh, we're in this like serious moment. And then now we're just all happy and you know, all that stuff. And I'm like,
Julia: I think that's true. The stage performance.
So I think I feel pretty comes in the second act again, I've only seen the stage production one time, so that was years ago. Yeah, it was a while ago. Um, but that, so back to, so I feel pretty, I think in the original stage production is in the second act and then cool is actually in the first act. So I liked that they put cool back in the first half and
Mario: made it.
Julia: Because it makes more sense in my mind because it makes sense too. Cause you're trying to, he's trying to change the outcomes. He's trying to make sure that the rumble is either doesn't happen or is safer. Right. So nobody gets hurt. And so it makes sense for cool to be there. It still, it works still in the 1961 version where it is and that dancing is.
Donny. Um, but I really liked how they put it back in the first act for the, for this version. So again, and that's paying homage to the original stage adaptation. I think
Mario: that would make sense.
Julia: So yeah, it's hard, you know, cause the six
Mario: we're going, we're going to happy seeing it. I'm like, oh. That's
Julia: like, whoa, that was intense.
And this death scene was way more intense and way more gritty.
Mario: I was going to mention that violence was a lot, like in the beginning when they're first boy, like the guy gets pegged in the hand with a pink gun. And I was like, damn, he like. Or when,
Julia: when baby John, when they did the thing to baby John's ear, I'm not going to say it for people who haven't seen it yet.
I was like, oh, okay. I get it now, because everyone's saying that this is a gritty version of Westside story. Yeah. Within the first five minutes you get, you gave us something like intense. Yes. Which cool. I'm not a blood person. Thanks guys. I
Mario: turns guys it's a real thing,
Julia: not a fan, but also thank you. Um, But I did like the opening scene.
I liked the changes that they made to the opening scene. I really, because you know, their paint, I like how they expanded on the intensity of it, the fear and hatred of, you know, this new, um, group of people moving into the neighborhood because you, you get that in the first one, but, but they really didn't hold back in this version.
They really went for it. And then. You know when they have the pink cans, cause there's a few scenes in the 61 version where they're painting over things, but they really brought like the painting over the Puerto Rican flag as a main, um, point of kicking off the story. Yeah. Yeah,
Mario: I did like, I, didn't more of the pro uh, Puerto Rican community though.
Like we, we see that a lot in America, which I was probably one of my favorite numbers in this movie because they tied all that in to cause like that guy, they got the kids dancing, all that stuff. And I don't know. Did you see in the Heights earlier? I did. Yeah. Yeah. So they kind of did the same thing.
Like it was a whole community type things. So everyone got enough. Cause it's not just them. It's like, everybody's moving in, like from America or like to America. So it's not just the lady, the girls singing the song, which I figured most of it, but I did enjoy that, that they brought the whole community and then there was a big dance number.
Everyone was involved with it and it was more like a giant spectacular.
Julia: Yeah. I see your point. I struggled a little bit because America is one of my favorite songs from the 61 version America. And the, um, it's specifically called. The gym, the dance at the gym. Those are my two favorite dance numbers in the 61 version.
So in this, so that in my mind, I'm like, oh, I totally wanted to do that number. I wanted to be Anita. I wanted to do all the things thinking in dancing. Um, so in this version I was like, but I woke up Saturday morning thinking, no. I understand why they made that choice. I understand why they did that. And I think that was a good move.
I still prefer the 61 first in that scene, but I've also been watching it for 30 years. So maybe I'm 30 years old. It is a great theme. Um, what was your favorite song and dance number? You said it was America.
Mario: Um, I really did like cool.
Julia: Yeah, I thought they did a great job.
Mario: One of my favorites in the 61 version.
Yeah. I mean, I love America. Don't get me wrong. I love America on that one too, but I think cool is my favorite just because of the dancing and, you know, um, but yeah, I
Julia: mean, you can't beat Jerome Robbins choreography anyway,
Mario: but I did, like, I did like cool on this one, America was really. Um, you know what, it's funny.
It's like, gee, officer crop key is probably one of my least favorite songs in the first movie. Like I just like, I don't like the song. Like I tend to, I didn't skip over this time, but usually if I'm watching all kinds of skip over, I was like intrigued because just the way they did it, this time around,
Julia: I was very athletic, the dancing, the dancing and the 61 version was very athletic, but they used more props this time.
And I think that. You can tell. So the 61 version feels very much like you took a theater show and made it a film, but you still kept theater elements. Very limited scenes, very limited, you know, few costume changes then it's okay. But now you took the 1957 Broadway version and adapted it truly for film with film in mind though, I feel like some scenes were very still theater minded.
But office or crept Vicky, that scene was very clearly like they developed that scene very clearly for film.
Mario: Yeah. So I did like that one a lot too. Um, yeah. Other than that, probably like, I would say American cooler, probably still my favorite out of the bunch. Yeah.
Julia: It's such a great song. It's such a great song.
Um,
Mario: I'll read them Marino song. Didn't make me tear up though. When she's saying. Legend amazing.
Julia: She's ah, and I was nervous too about them changing docs, characters of Valentina, but you know, with Rita Moreno at the home, it worked like she's, she's been very passionate all these years about the things that went right.
And the things that went wrong. And I think she did a really good job with helping make the things that went wrong right. This time. Um, but you're not wrong. And that song was very girl, listen, Mario, we should all be so lucky to be that talented and performing abilities at 90. Right.
Mario: It was like, dang girl, you still got it.
She does move out winter. And then I don't know. I could see her getting nominated again. So I'm like, oh right. We'll see,
Julia: we'll see. We'll see. It'll be interesting because the original was Dominic. We'll see. We'll see. We'll see. It'll be interesting because the original was nominated for 11 academy awards, one 10.
So it'll be interesting to see if this, how, what this one gets nominated for. Um, I. I was going to add, I'm looking at my notes and cheating. I have notes. I do too. Um, I loved, so I loved that. They expand, like I already said this, that they expanded a little bit more about the complicated, how complex. Was, and still is to be an immigrant in America.
I think they gave us more depth than that. And I really appreciate that. Especially with the scenes where they were only speaking Spanish, I thought that was a really great move. I had seen a lot of, um, Murmurings online about how Steven Spielberg was like, it's very important to me to have these scenes and not do subtitles diners, like awesome.
I love that. And I can't wait to see it. And I thought it was so well done because then it makes you feel like you're part of it, even if you're not a Spanish speaker and you don't understand what they're saying, it still puts you into that position of. Getting insight and what it's like to be in their world in a completely different way with Maria and Anita and Bernardo and all of those characters.
And then if you are a Spanish speaker, then it's like an extra bonus because you get a little bit, you get to get more out of the movie. And then the layer of everybody yelling about in English, in English, in English, and you just, that's such a heavy story. Narrative in our country with any language. And, you know, especially with the generations that came over in the middle of the century, it's just this force of like only in English and then the language gets lost because the generation stopped speaking, you know, the language of their Homeland, if you will.
Um, so I thought that was a really beautiful time.
Mario: Yeah, I totally agree. I liked that a lot. Um, somebody in the audience was said, wait, there's no subtitles. Oh, the person's like, next to him kind of laughed about it. But I was just like, no, there's not. I was thinking about it. I was like, no, it's good that way.
But yeah. The
Julia: future guys, come on. My favorite thought, oh gosh, that's hard because I really liked how they, like I said, I really liked how they did handled cool this time. I thought that was an amazing dancing. Um, I was a little bummed out about the gym, the dance at the gym scene, because there was far too many closeups to the face for me.
If you're doing a big ensemble dance number, I want to see the whole thing. I don't need a closeup of this person's space. I'm missing what everyone else is doing. And I hate that, but I loved how they brought. Maria and Tony out of the gym and behind the bleachers, and then still did the dance that we all know and love that they do when they fall in love.
I thought that was really beautiful because then it makes it more romantic. It's a little more intimate. You get, I mean, in 60 one's version, the idea is, is that when they, you know, they're removed from everybody and they forget everything around them and they're falling in love. Fine. But I love how he literally, how the direction was to literally move them, remove them from people so they can have this conversation and sort of start and have a little flirtation.
I let their flirting was so cute and it's like stupid. How beautiful. Rachel and Ansul are together. Like it was like, you guys shouldn't be in the same theme. There should not be this much beauty in one scene. I can't,
Mario: I liked that too. I did like that, um, moment. Um, it's my, I liked her little, her little, uh, oh, you're so tall.
I was just like, yeah. Cause he really, he really is. And she's pretty short. I want to say. Oh my God. So she is short. So I liked how she threw that in there, but, um, she she's actually going to be, I guess her next big role is she's going to be Disney's snow white for their lives. So I was like, okay, I could see that she has that stare innocence and all that stuff.
So I was kind of excited about that. I thought she did really well though. I didn't, I, I was, I was very happy with his job. Um, well, so you can see too, so that's good.
Julia: Um, I also, okay. You can't write notes, I'm cheating.
Mario: I, do you remember that scene? Did you ever see the movie? Uh, Not, not another teen movie.
They'll all the spook
Julia: with, oh my God. It's been such a long time since I've seen that. But
Mario: it's funny. Cause they always make, they make fun, you know? Cause in teen movies, everyone has a big dance number. So it was like there was a character in that movie that says you would be surprised how many, uh, professionals, dancers we have at this school.
And I just kind of brought when they were doing the dance. It's so funny. Cause everyone can dance. Like no matter who you are, you can all dance. Like it's cool. Like I wouldn't go to a school like that where everyone just
Julia: dances and right. I want to put down a dance number all the time. I feel like we've had this conversation before in our Lala land.
I I'm gonna be on, I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm going to be honest this time. I think the costumes were better in the original. Because there's that line that riff says we're going to the dance tonight. And then after the dance, we're going to sort out the rumble with Bernardo and his guys, everyone dressed to the nines or whatever the line is basically saying, like, get yourself dressed up and dolled up and looking good.
Right. And in the 61 version, they're all in a jacket and a tie and slacks. And in the 2021 version I saw some fools were in jeans. And like, no, this is not like, this is not
Mario: so he's outfit though. Tony was wearing a suit with like sneakers on Nike. Wasn't.
I remembered people do that. Like they were wearing suits and they would wear like sneakers with their suit.
Julia: Probably not. Nope. Because I mean, I just feel like considering women were forced to wear pantyhose with their dresses and they weren't allowed to wear pants until like the eighties.
Mario: So the one thing I did notice in this film was the. I don't know if you noticed very bright in the beginning and as the movie progresses and as the movie gets darker, the color starts to get darker.
Like even she was wearing white because she was, and as she gets progresses, her office started getting dark. And in the very last scene, it's a very dark outfit.
Julia: It's a blue dress, I think. Right? Yeah. Yeah. It was beautiful.
Mario: I was just like that. So, I mean, that's what I noticed about the costumes. That's how I was looking at the costumes, I guess.
So.
Julia: Read them Marino's dress in the gym.
beautiful. And there's like all that there's like lace over. It's like purple lays. And then she's got all this. I don't know the tool, tap it. I don't know what it is, but it's stunning and same with, um, not the gal that plays. Graziella the gal that plays, I think her name is Velma and the 61 version, her blue dress at the gym that dresses gorgeous.
So I did like that. The jacket. Girls, we're all in some sort of version of blue dress for the, at the gym scene, because I felt like maybe that was their way of like paying homage to Velma. Yeah. Um, oh, that's another thing that they changed. Um, Graziella having dated Tony before he goes to prison.
Mario: You needed some backstory, I guess
Julia: I just felt like
Mario: it was kind of random and they didn't really go much with it until like the very end where she was like, let Tony know I'm here.
Tony cares about me or something like
Julia: that. Like he knows that we still care about each other or whatever it was. He used to care about me once or whatever the line was. And I was like, girl, um, I let's see what else.
Mario: There's that scene though? Um, I did really appreciate the scene right after that was that when I need, it comes to the drug store, it's got potential rate and the girls stick up for her.
Yeah. I thought that was a very powerful scene. And I was just like, that's because it showed girl power.
Julia: First of all,
Mario: afforded me that she stick around and like, try to convince them like, Hey, no, like leave her alone. Like, and in her mind, yeah, we're different, but we're still female. Right. We don't, I mean, we don't know the backslide, but she could have been attacked by, you know, before, so she knows what could happen or
Julia: because in the 61 version, they run the girls out before I think even Anita even shows up.
Yep. Yeah. So that was, uh, that was, uh, yeah, I was wondering how they were going to handle that scene. Cause it is pretty intense. Um, But I do appreciate how they handled it. And then Rita Moreno coming in and being like, no, what is wrong with you? People you are animals. Tell them Rita, you tell them Valentina kicked her ass.
I really want her to kick her ass. That
Mario: I was very proud of that. And I'm glad Steven Spielberg did that. Cause it was like girls need stick together, you know?
Julia: Absolutely. How does it compare to the 61 version? Do you think.
Mario: I think it's just as good. Um, I, I think it's its own film. Um, I, I think the 61 was always is always going to be a classic.
Um, like I said, I really enjoyed this, the new version just because they did change some of the stuff that we had problems with in the 61 version,
Julia: um, Rita Moreno, press junket. She was very clear that every role for the. Sharks people characters was played by somebody, um, who was, you know, last, you know, or Latino.
And that's huge because that didn't happen in 61. And that's kind of a sore point. Like Natalie Woods. Yeah, girl, we love you. But also, no,
Mario: she was Jewish Jewish woman, but nothing to do with,
Julia: right. It may have kept the original plan way back when all those years ago to make it about a Jewish girl and a Catholic boy.
Sure. It would have been fine, but no, they changed it. So, and then when I found out that they were considering Audrey Hepburn, I was like, wow. Oh, I'm glad that didn't work out.
Mario: That was a whole different time of Hollywood. Yeah. It's crazy to think how it was back then to where we are now. And we're still making progress.
Right. I mean, now
Julia: there's still, we still, we still think a lot of work, a
Mario: lot of work to do. Yeah, no, but I mean, I think, I think with Steven Spielberg did justice for the film I really did, and I really enjoyed it. Um, I've recommended it to everyone I've talked to and like it goes there.
Julia: Especially on the big screen.
Like you have to see it on the big screen because the dance, the dancing and the costumes just don't, they're not going to translate the same if you don't have, if you have like a small, you know, your TV at home.
Mario: Exactly. Um, and it came out during right before Christmas and stuff. So I think it does have longevity, um, a lot, I feel like a lot of movies in December that come out do, because I ended December is a busy time for everyone.
So. People know, catch it when they can. So, um, I, I was very sad when I saw the box office today. Cause it was like, it deserves so much more, but I'm hoping for legs the next few weeks and then hoping to ask more, um, golden globe nominations and critic choice nominations, I think come out tomorrow. So I'm hoping that.
Julia: Yeah. Cause it, it, it did not do well at the box office. I think the opening a few hours ago, variety ran an article saying that they had only like a $10 million opening, but it was a a hundred million dollar film. So that's not a good sign.
Mario: No, but I mean, I think it's that type of movie and honestly on, and we can go on, this is a whole side subject, but the pandemic definitely keeps people from going to every single movie.
Like they they're very picky.
Julia: Yeah, I was, I was surprised our theater wasn't full. It wasn't even half full when we saw it. And we saw the seven o'clock show. So compared to when I bought tickets for Spiderman and I was very lucky to get the seats that we like, you know what I mean? Like that movie sold out the showing that we're going to.
Um, so it's just interesting. It's just interesting. Every time we go to the movie theater, I think it's going to be packed and then it's not. So, you know, people are, especially with them doing the releases to, um, show them your services as well. But I I'll be curious to see what nominations it does receive, especially on the academy award level, because Rita Moreno is still the first and only.
Um, Latino who's been nominated for an academy award at that level being at best supporting actress. Um, I said to my mom that I, to me, it felt very, Rachel did a good job. The woman that played Maria, she's a great job. But to me it was like, you don't have a lot of acting experience. Like I felt like you could tell she didn't have a lot of acting experience.
Um, and I don't know if that's just because. I've been acting longer than she's been alive or, or, but she did great. I mean, for it being her first major motion feature, she did a great job. I don't know if it's academy award level acting, but I do think that Rita Moreno was, and I do think that like the costume and the set design all in like the sound, all of that stuff,
Mario: I feel like you'll get definitely technical words.
I see. Read them. I could see Rita Moreno would probably be the only acting numb. Um, ma what did you, so what did you think of Ariana de bows then of the new.
Julia: Yeah, so she's beautiful. She's beautiful.
Mario: She is.
Julia: I was like, yes, let's get some brown because she's Afro-Latina right. So it was like, yes, let's represent, I'm not Afro-Latina but I'm Afro something.
So I was really like, yeah, it's, you know, a little bit more buy-in. Um, I don't, she did a beautiful job, but if I'm going to compare her to read a Marino, she Rita Marino
Mario: and nothing by your smell. No comparison. I agree. I think she did really well with. Yeah.
Julia: Especially in the scene where they ha she has to identify the body.
I was dead. I was just like, oh girl, where have you been? Because I felt like she could have brought more of the whole movie. She didn't do, she did a great job, but I felt like. With Rita Moreno playing Anita, you just, you, she was just, she was a Nita. Right. And, and for those who may not know, Chita Rivera originated the role on Broadway.
So I don't, obviously I don't have any reference for that. Cause I didn't, I wasn't alive in 1957. Um, but you know, sh I think she did a great job, but I think that if anyone has seen the original, it's not gonna, you can't compare the two. Yeah.
Mario: Gotcha. I was nervous,
Julia: ample. I was so nervous about him being Tony.
Mario: Oh my God. Scandals and stuff. He just like, oh, no.
Julia: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, but, okay. So I, I used to in the 1961 version is my favorite character on the jet side. And I was like, No, the tall one, the one that he was like, you're going to fight when, when Bernardo thinks that he's gonna fight, um, Tony, but he ends up fighting ice and said, yeah, the actor's name.
No, but that hit in the, so he's like tall and like dark and brooding. Right? Well, he's not dark, his eyes are ice blue, but, um, he's my favorite because he's like, you know, he's clearly like the hinge he's like clearly the Lieutenant, if you will. So in this version, I was like, which one's eyes? Cause I just said to my mom, I was like, I know the Ansell's really tall, but if he's like five 11, all of these guys are very.
And it's not intimidating at all for like, cause you know, some of the other guys were a little intimidating in the 61 version, specifically eyes. And so when they said his name, I was like, oh, that guy is really handsome. But also I think. I feel like I might be taller than him and ice is supposed to be the big tall man.
So I had a hard time with that. And then I, you know, so I'm going to work through those things because I've got my own preconceived notions about what your second in command supposed to look like, I guess. Um,
Mario: what'd you think of.
Julia: I actually really liked the way they handled anybody's and you know what, it's interesting because I feel like they were that cruel to anybody's in the, in the, in the stage production.
And then in the movie version in 61, they dialed back some of the cruelty, but in this one, they brought it back. And so I was a little shocked at first, but I thought they did. I thought they did an okay job. Um, there was a, there was a scene that I think was a little overactive. But, you know, it's a big, it's a big, it's such a crucial character to the story that I, you know, Anyway.
Mario: I liked it too. I was like, oh, like you said, the same thing was like, Ooh, they're really mean, I really mean it.
Julia: Yeah.
Mario: And then I liked it where they were like good job or you did well, anybody's like, they finally realized like you just trying to help. Yeah. So, but I was. I enjoyed that one. I thought they did really well with that character too. Yup.
Julia: Yeah. Okay. So let's rate it. What it did. Did it exceed your expectations?
Did it meet your expectations? Was it below your expectations?
Mario: And I, I went in, I went in thinking it was going to be good, but I didn't think it would be that good. I guess I'm more looking at it more artistically.
Julia: Um, anything else? Yeah, for me, yes, artistically, it was incredible
Mario: the way he brought people in.
Um, like even though, even during the rumble, like it was just with the shadows and we saw it, but like just seeing it in real life and then. At the end of the rumble, the lights coming in and just kind of representing the depth of the room. And I was just like, oh wow. That's just top tier filmmaking. I'm like, that's, Stephen's Gilbert for you.
That's why he's great. That's why he's one of the best. Yes. So I, it definitely exceeded my expectations. Um, I'd, like I said, it'll probably end up in my top 10 for the year. I'm still working on my rankings and stuff. A couple more films to say before that, but, um, definitely a for me, um, my review will go away to Tobago my official one on IgE, but.
Julia: Perfect and we'll share it so everyone can know it can know your opinion. I think cinematically, it exceeded my expectations because I was so I'm like, again, I love the 1961 versions so much because the singing and the dancing is so amazing and so beautiful. And I get chills every single time. And I get so emotional.
I did not get as emotional in this version. And I think it's because I was sonar and I told you this I'm so I was so nervous. I don't know how many times I told you it was so nervous about this film. But then waking up Saturday morning, I realized it was, um, a really beautiful way to honor the original stage production as well as the 1961 version.
But it definitely is its own story. And it's beautiful. There were a couple scenes that were a little overacting and over-produced for me. Um, but I think that for what they were trying to accomplish, I think they did a great job. I am a little disappointed about the box office numbers, so I don't know what's going on there.
Um, but I think, you know, you might've nailed it on the head too, with people being hesitant about going to the movie theater, I'm going to give it an a minus. Maybe a B plus.
Mario: I like it. So overall we both really liked it.
Julia: Yeah. I think, I think I want to see it again in the theater. Cause you know, it takes three times to really form an opinion in my mind about something, you know, you see it once to like take it in, you see it twice because now, you know, what's going to happen and you can watch it differently.
And then you see it a third time and you really get a full picture of what your opinion is going to be. Yeah. So I don't, I don't know if I'll have time to see it three times
Mario: coming out and there's only three weeks left of the year.
Julia: I know there's so much coming out. It's ridiculous. I can't, I can't hang, I don't have that kind of time by.
I wish I did. Um, but yeah, I think that it was a very beautiful way to honor both the original stage production, as well as the 1961 version. They brought back lines from the Broadway version into this version that I think was really important to, to do. Um, and then. As well as, you know, um, like the costumes, they really did honor their costumes of the, of the 61 version with the more, um, updated version, like Maria's dress, um, at the dance.
I didn't like Anita's dress for the dance though. I was like, really? We went with black and red,
my own personal issue. I'll work on that. Um, Mario. I'm so happy that you, you agreed to come live on Instagram with me to talk about this movie because west side story is my favorite Flint musical of all time.
Mario: I love it too. It's probably one of my top five. Yeah. Thank you for having me. This was fun. I've never done an IgG live, so
Julia: neither have I.
I mean, in this capacity, I've done them for work a lot. Um, so friends follow movies with Mar oh my gosh. Friends follow movies with Mr. Mario. So that way you can stay up to date on all of your movie reviewing needs, because he literally reviews all the things and grades them, and it helps. Make decisions on what you should and should not be watching, um, and also tune into our show wherever you find your podcasts.
Mario is a regular guest yet, and we are so excited and happy for, um, that you joined us tonight and we will talk to you all soon. And until next time friends. So, I guess we should say, go see the movie,
Mario: go see the movie. It's so good. You guys will all love it. Even if you don't like musicals. It's great.
Just to see top tier filmmaking and.
Julia: We didn't talk about themes. We didn't talk about, there's so much that we didn't talk
Mario: about and it's like a two hour conversation we get out of there.
Julia: And again, I need to see it one more time before I can do a full in-depth. My initial reaction is mixed. Right? Maybe we'll get there. Maybe we'll do a, a movie recap.
Um, what am I trying to say? Maybe we'll do in like, um, A movie Roundup movie review Roundup for the year, and then we can get more in depth about it. And I'm seeing all the white hairs in my bangs and sprints. We feel old anyway, Mario, thank you so much for joining me tonight on Sunday. I really appreciate your time.
Everybody follow movies with Mr. Mario, download our show wherever you find your podcasts. And we will, we will talk to you guys. At some point, Merry Christmas. If you celebrate Christmas, all the things, all the holidays. I love all the holidays. All right. Have a good night, everybody.
Again, thanks for listening. If you like our show, please subscribe, download wherever you get your podcasts. Leave a review. That'd be the greatest Christmas present you could give me after relistening to my conversation with Mario. I think I want to change my grade of the film. I. Originally said a minus, maybe B plus, I think I'm going to go with a B minus the cinematography, like we said, was amazing and beautiful.
The technical side of things were so good, but in terms of performance, I think. Did not meet my expectations. Like subscribe, download wherever you get your podcasts. It would be the greatest president of all time. If you left a review of the show until next time.
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