The Illustrious Jerry 3,356 Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Not sure about this one. I really like the original and I'd prefer if Spielberg would work on something original (and hopefully get Williams to join him too). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TownerFan 4,983 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Casting for Tony announced: https://variety.com/2018/film/news/ansel-elgort-west-side-story-steven-spielberg-1202964116/ Filming is set to begin next summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,306 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 I doubt this will ever see the light of day. Would Williams even have any involvement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Will Ben Horne and Dr Amp have cameos? Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TownerFan 4,983 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 12 minutes ago, crumbs said: I doubt this will ever see the light of day. Quote Spielberg has spent the better part of the year looking for stars for his movie, with actors needing to be able to sing, dance, and, of course, act their hearts out for the story that transposes Romeo and Juliet into a 1950s New York setting featuring white and Puerto Rican gangs. The search was taking so long that Hollywood observers worried the project would be shelved, just as casting challenges caused Spielberg to shelve The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara. The production looked at thousands of actors and dancers in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Puerto Rico, with many thinking Spielberg would cast an unknown in the lead. Elgort’s casting now puts West Side Story firmly on track for a summer 2019 production start. Spielberg, Kevin McCollum and Kristie Macosko Krieger are producing the film. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ansel-elgort-nabs-male-lead-steven-spielbergs-west-side-story-1148420 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,306 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Fuck it, just cast an actor that can't sing too well and hire a voice coach. It worked for Sweeney Todd. No Spielberg film is a go until the cameras are literally rolling. Edgardo Mortara had sets built, crew hired and locations booked, but it was still put on hiatus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,513 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 That's $20, and two hours that I won't be spending, at the cinema. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Score 770 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 4 minutes ago, crumbs said: Fuck it, just cast an actor that can't sing and hire a voice coach. It worked for Sweeney Todd. I don't think it would work for West Side Story. The vocal writing there is much more lyrical in the key points. Sweeney Todd has parts that are almost akin to what I would call "tuned speech" or even "tuned scream", which is appropriate to the topic of course. For West Side Story, you need real singers. SteveMc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,306 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 I'm not familiar at all with the film or play; is the main role specifically Latino? I know Spielberg struggled to find a young Italian boy to play Mortara; I'm a bit surprised it's hard to find a young Latino actor in LA who can sing, dance and has screen charisma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holko 9,516 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Nope, Tony's the polack lead. 56 minutes ago, Cherry Pie That'll Kill Ya said: Will Ben Horne and Dr Amp have cameos? Doc will constantly shout "Shovel yourselves out of the shit!" to them whippersnappers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,492 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 If Spielberg is no longer directing this; only producing, must he really spend that much time on casting issues rather than delving into his next directorial project? He's gotta keep those movies churning out there, so we can get as many Williams scores as we can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TownerFan 4,983 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Spielberg is directing this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,492 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Ah, sorry. I was confusing it with the Bernstein biopic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,306 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 I don't know why Spielberg is wasting his time with shit like this when he could be making original films for JW to score. Such a waste of talent in his twilight years. What happened to the director who wrote screenplays like AI and CE3K? Once 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Thteven Thpielberg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 I'm weirdly looking forward to this. A new adaptation of the stage musical that isn't so sound studio-bound could be really cool. Besides, there hasn't been a movie musical with music this good in many, many years. Sorry La La Land, you know I love you, but... Bernstein! Also, Ansel Elgort is a fine young actor and I think he'll do great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crumbs 14,306 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 When the fuck did Ansel Elgort enter equations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romão 2,274 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Well, anything goes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 44 minutes ago, crumbs said: When the fuck did Ansel Elgort enter equations? I thought that’s why the thread was bumped https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ansel-elgort-nabs-male-lead-steven-spielbergs-west-side-story-1148420 I wonder what, if anything, Tony Kushner brings to the table. Why hire one of America’s great dramatists for a straightforward adaptation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,346 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 31 minutes ago, Disco Stu said: I thought that’s why the thread was bumped It was 6 hours ago, TownerFan said: Casting for Tony announced: https://variety.com/2018/film/news/ansel-elgort-west-side-story-steven-spielberg-1202964116/ Filming is set to begin next summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick1Ø66 4,711 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 2 hours ago, Disco Stu said: Besides, there hasn't been a movie musical with music this good in many, many years. What do you have against Abba??!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jurassic Shark 12,054 Posted October 2, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2018 Disco Stu doesn't recognize good disco music. Such irony. The Illustrious Jerry, Nick1Ø66 and Holko 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Nick1Ø66 4,711 Posted October 2, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2018 3 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said: Disco Stu doesn't recognize good disco music. Such irony. That's GOLD!!! 😂 Anyway, West Side Story only works when it's updated. If they really want to do this right, Spielberg should set it during the 2016 US election and have a Trump and Clinton supporter fall in love. Jurassic Shark, The Illustrious Jerry, SteveMc and 1 other 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,513 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 4 hours ago, crumbs said: What happened to the director who wrote screenplays like AI and CE3K? That's a good one. Spielberg never wrote a single word of CE3K, but...we've been over this. 48 minutes ago, Disco Stu said: I thought that’s why the thread was bumped https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ansel-elgort-nabs-male-lead-steven-spielbergs-west-side-story-1148420 I wonder what, if anything, Tony Kushner brings to the table. Why hire one of America’s great dramatists for a straightforward adaptation? Jews vs Arabs, of course. At least, its topical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,054 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 3 minutes ago, Nick1066 said: That's GOLD!!! 😂 Anyway, West Side Story only works when it's updated. If they really want to do this right, Spielberg should set it during the 2016 US election and have a Trump and Clinton supporter fall in love. A WSS set in the current political climate with deportation and so on would definitely be interesting! And it could potentially give Spielberg another Oscar, which he likes so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post tannhauser 101 Posted October 2, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2018 3 minutes ago, Richard said: That's a good one. Spielberg never wrote a single word of CE3K, but...we've been over this. Jews vs Arabs, of course. At least, its topical. He can call it West Bank Story! crumbs, Naïve Old Fart, The Illustrious Jerry and 1 other 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,513 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 With this new...re-imaganing (?) I can't help thinking that Spielberg is now, officially, a spent force, in cinema. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick1Ø66 4,711 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 4 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said: A WSS set in the current political climate with deportation and so on would definitely be interesting! And it could potentially give Spielberg another Oscar, which he likes so much. That's perfect! She's the refugee with a heart of gold and he's the Trump loving ICE agent! I see thing going places. Jurassic Shark and SteveMc 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romão 2,274 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 I'm curious about Tony Kushner's involvement. Why have a writer of this caliber if some significant changes won't be made? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Mr. Big 4,639 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Can't Spielberg just make that Peter Pan musical he's always wanted to make? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,054 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 19 minutes ago, Nick1066 said: That's perfect! She's the refugee with a heart of gold and he's the Trump loving ICE agent! I see thing going places. This practically writes itself! Spielberg, we're awaiting your call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tannhauser 101 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 This could be great if handled with care. The originally conceived West Side Story, as a piece of musical theatre, is as fresh as a daisy, and sounds as if it was written yesterday. The film adaptation on the other hand is horribly dated, and crying out for a remake. I just hope whoever has the job of adapting the music (Williams would be great, if he's still around) has more respect for Bernstein's score than the producers of the original movie did. Disco Stu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 What's wrong with the old one? Remaking Best Picture winners is now a thing?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tannhauser 101 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 My main gripes are with the music - the whole thing is horribly over-orchestrated (Bernstein hated it) and it's horribly micro-edited all over the place, particularly in the prologue. I'm also not at all convinced by the re-ordering of the songs and the changes to the lyrics (America in particular). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Ah, you see, the movie is all I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Generally the version I reach for when I want to listen to West Side Story Romão 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romão 2,274 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Me too 👍 Disco Stu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Just now, Romão said: Me too 👍 Essentially it's the author's preferred text! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,331 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 That was one of my mother's favorite CDs. Personally, I'm not a fan of classical trained voices doing musicals. It takes away all vulnerability and intimacy. IMO, I think musicals should lean more towards pop than opera. Unlucky Bastard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Amateurs can't hold a tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,331 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 3 minutes ago, publicist said: Amateurs can't hold a tone. Opera singers shouldn't sing pop music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Illustrious Jerry 3,356 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Just now, Alexcremers said: Opera singers shouldn't sing pop music. And... Steven Spielberg shouldn't remake West Side Story. A24 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romão 2,274 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 1 minute ago, Alexcremers said: Opera singers shouldn't sing pop music. West Side Story is not pop music, though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 I would personally prefer that Spielberg make a movie version of Wonderful Town since it's never gotten a movie adaption, but that wouldn't be commercially viable. I'm certainly not against this project, as others have noted it could be closer to Bernstein's original and (as I stated above) I think it could be really cool to stage this with actual location shooting. Incidentally, this new recording of Wonderful Town is pretty great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,331 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 8 minutes ago, Romão said: West Side Story is not pop music, though Sure it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 6 minutes ago, Romão said: West Side Story is not pop music, though Exactly. I have heard amateurs raping 'Maria' (thank god only acoustically) and it was not pretty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,331 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 3 minutes ago, publicist said: Exactly. Wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 Quote I have heard amateurs raping 'Maria' (thank god only acoustically) and it was not pretty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Illustrious Jerry 3,356 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 It's a whole thing unto itself. Jurassic Shark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,331 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 In a way, but it's also very close to pop music (and vice versa). And songs of West Side Story have been performed a hell of a lot more by non-classical artists then by opera divas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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