Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (2021)

[A24 4,327]

10 hours ago, TheUlyssesian said:

 

He's a fast shooter absolutely. On set he's not Finchering - looking to find the film or something. 

 

He has every single take, edit, shot, set-up figured out.

 

When he gets on to the set, he's just quickly shooting economically exactly what he wants.

 

He does not have to do re-shoots. He knows exactly what he wants.

 

And his movies cut together quickly because he edits "in camera". 

 

In short, he's a proper old fashioned genius filmmaker.  Even with this being more ambitious, Speilberg would absolutely be able to turn this around for this year. So I do agree with those stating it's a studio mandated date and not his choice.

 

Knowing exactly what you want doesn't mean you'll get it on the first take. Maybe he's just quickly satisfied these days? His own yes man?

[Holko 9,499]

46 minutes ago, Jay said:

Um

 

 

3 hours ago, The Illustrious Jerry said:

 

Cremeritis!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

25 minutes ago, Alexcremers said:

 

Knowing exactly what you want doesn't mean you'll get it on the first take. Maybe he's just quickly satisfied these days? His own yes man?

 

Spielberg has been known to shoot fast since Raiders.

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

He's the fastest shooter in west LA.

[mrbellamy 6,272]

Yeah he rethought his process after 1941. And by “no reshoots” I think Ulyssessian meant filming again after production wraps, not multiple takes. He’s not quite Clint Eastwood by all accounts.

 

I think the editing mentions are a little overstated in that post though. Spielberg’s talked about how he’s always surprised by what Kahn finds or how he will often shoot random inserts in case he might need them. It’s not that he knows every cut in his head because you can’t really until you learn the footage but he can prepare for most of the land mines by now, and naturally developed a flair early on, anyway, for filming stuff that cuts together well.

[Corellian2019 384]

1 hour ago, Jay said:

 

 

Um

 

 

Well, I meant an option among the "reactions" on the post itself

[Jay 37,323]

Ahh!

Yea I was wondering if I should add more reaction options or not.  We can have unlimited options I think

[A24 4,327]

45 minutes ago, Stefancos said:

 

Spielberg has been known to shoot fast since Raiders.

 

I'm sure Empire Of The Sun wasn't a fast shoot. 

[The Illustrious Jerry 3,356]

5 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Geez, does Jerry have to fix everything on this site?

Huh?

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

21 minutes ago, The Illustrious Jerry said:

Huh?

 

Just a joke indicating you're the only one assuming responsibilities around here. I thought you would like it! 

[Nick Parker 3,040]

58 minutes ago, Jay said:

Ahh!

Yea I was wondering if I should add more reaction options or not.  We can have unlimited options I think

 

I'm fine with what we have. And I don't want anything to potentially usurp the existing vomit emoji. I wish I could use it for texting on my phone.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

51 minutes ago, Alexcremers said:

 

I'm sure Empire Of The Sun wasn't a fast shoot. 

 

Spielberg has shot on schedule and on budget since 1980. He learned from his mistakes on Jaws, Close Encounters and 1941.

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

9 minutes ago, Nick Parker said:

 

I'm fine with what we have. And I don't want anything to potentially usurp the existing vomit emoji. I wish I could use it for texting on my phone.

 

There's no vomit option on the posts themselves.

 

2 minutes ago, Stefancos said:

 

Spielberg has shot on schedule and on budget since 1980. He learned from his mistakes on Jaws, Close Encounters and 1941.

 

What does he do if there's any money left?

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

We need a George sleeping under his desk reaction.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Buys the whole cast and crew a drink?

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

But what if there's more money left after that?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

He could have done more.... filming?

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

Make a sequel!

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

1 hour ago, Alexcremers said:

 

I'm sure Empire Of The Sun wasn't a fast shoot. 

 

Fast shoot? You never heard of the Arri Alexa?

[Bilbo 3,709]

Hopefully he gets this crap out of the way quickly so he and Hanks can move onto Masters of the Air for HBO.

[TheUlyssesian 2,473]

3 hours ago, mrbellamy said:

Yeah he rethought his process after 1941. And by “no reshoots” I think Ulyssessian meant filming again after production wraps, not multiple takes. He’s not quite Clint Eastwood by all accounts.

 

I think the editing mentions are a little overstated in that post though. Spielberg’s talked about how he’s always surprised by what Kahn finds or how he will often shoot random inserts in case he might need them. It’s not that he knows every cut in his head because you can’t really until you learn the footage but he can prepare for most of the land mines by now, and naturally developed a flair early on, anyway, for filming stuff that cuts together well.

 

No these modern garbage directors, they have like 12 cameras running and they cut everything together and what not and they are trying different things and ad-libbing.

 

-

 

Take a great European director like Michael Haneke. No second unit cameras at all. There is only a single camera and the script is filmed word for word - literally not a single word can be changed by the actors. Every shot is meticulously choreographed and directed to the very last detail and most of the shots are very long takes. So a film like that - you could cut together in a week.

 

Luis Bunuel could literally have a cut ready 2 weeks after shooting. Speilberg is not quite to that level of formal control, though he could if he wanted to, but he's in the same territory. John Ford edited in camera too. Literally shot exactly what he needed and the footage just cut together very logically and seamlessly.

 

Some film-makers are born film-makers, they just have that gift. Speilberg is definitely one of them, atleast when he wants to be.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

Sounds awful. Who would want to be an actor where there is no acting just recitation.

[John 2,032]

I still don't understand why Spielberg and co. are following through with this film. The 1961 original is a classic. What is there to improve by remaking it?

[JoeinAR 1,949]

Just now, John said:

I still don't understand why Spielberg and co. are following through with this film. The 1961 original is a classic. What is there to improve by remaking it?

Hello!

 

This guy gets it.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Better technology. 

[Thor 7,478]

I'm sure it will be fine, but I agree -- I'd rather see him devote his talent to more original material. And use as much of the precious time that JW has left.

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

1 minute ago, Thor said:

I'd rather see him devote his talent to more original material.

 

Yeah, such as Indy 5. 

[Thor 7,478]

Well, I meant 'original' as in 'not based on existing films (or even books, although I'm more forgiving there)', not original as in 'groundbreaking' or 'new territory'.

[Fabulin 3,510]

.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

14 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

Yeah, such as Indy 5. 

If he redeemed himself with Indy 5 the way did Raiders after 1941(though 1941 is still remarkable in many ways, unfortunately it is still less than the sum of its parts) I would have no complaints.

[Jay 37,323]

Spielberg should have made The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara, Robopocalypse, Gods and Kings and the Montezuma movie instead of Ready Player One, West Side Story, and Indiana Jones 5

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488]

38 minutes ago, John said:

I still don't understand why Spielberg and co. are following through with this film. The 1961 original is a classic. What is there to improve by remaking it?

 

Because it would make too much sense if Spielberg were to do something people actually wanted to see.

[TheUlyssesian 2,473]

41 minutes ago, JoeinAR said:

Sounds awful. Who would want to be an actor where there is no acting just recitation.

 

Would then totally suck to be a Shakespeare actor. Or not.

[JoeinAR 1,949]

3 minutes ago, TheUlyssesian said:

 

Would then totally suck to be a Shakespeare actor. Or not.

To be or not to be. 

12 minutes ago, Jay said:

Spielberg should have made The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara, Robopocalypse, Gods and Kings and the Montezuma movie instead of Ready Player One, West Side Story, and Indiana Jones 5

Robopacalypse was not a good book and he probably dodged a bullet

 

[Nick Parker 3,040]

1 hour ago, TheUlyssesian said:

and they are trying different things

 

Why is that inherently a bad thing? It took Beethoven reportedly 24 tries to get that opening of the 5th Symphony the way he wanted, which is about how many drafts the original Star Wars screenplay had, as well. Williams has talked many, many times on how he'll do tons of drafts on themes, and even after committing to a certain way, would sometimes figure out another solution later (as in the case of Luke's Theme).

 

42 minutes ago, TheUlyssesian said:

 

Would then totally suck to be a Shakespeare actor. Or not.

 

Even though of course the stage has directors, it's still very much an actor's medium.

[TheUlyssesian 2,473]

He has had so many crazy just misses!

 

Kidnapping was ready to go. Apparently even the sets and costumes were done and it fell apart becuase they could not find the kid.

 

Robopocalypse was ready to go but the last minute they thought the script wasn't right.

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

I guess he has the luxury to pull the plug whenever he's not completely satisfied.

[Jay 37,323]

2 minutes ago, TheUlyssesian said:

He has had so many crazy just misses!

 

You ain't kiddin':

 

A Decade of Steven Spielberg Not Making Up His Mind

[Thor 7,478]

1 hour ago, Jay said:

Spielberg should have made The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara, Robopocalypse, Gods and Kings and the Montezuma movie instead of Ready Player One, West Side Story, and Indiana Jones 5

 

With the exception of INDY 5 (which I really want to see), I agree with that sentiment.

[TheUlyssesian 2,473]

I kinda wish Speilberg had more courage on the musical front. For a jack of all trades kinda director, he always bemoaned that he missed a musical in his oeuvre. 

 

And yet when he finally does one, he does a remake?

 

He should have done a musical that's not been done before. Like maybe Book or Mormon of god knows any number of musicals that haven't been done for cinema yet.

 

He's remaking a classic blockbuster superhit acclaimed best picture oscar winning film with 10 academy awards that looks and sounds great, was filmed in 70 mm and is still regularly shown in movie screens etc and looks amazing on blu ray with great picture and sound.

 

What exactly is the big idea here?

[crumbs 14,305]

17 minutes ago, TheUlyssesian said:

 

He's remaking a classic blockbuster superhit acclaimed best picture oscar winning film with 10 academy awards that looks and sounds great, was filmed in 70 mm and is still regularly shown in movie screens etc and looks amazing on blu ray with great picture and sound.

 

What exactly is the big idea here? 

 

Worse still, he's been fortunate enough to have Williams (one of the greatest film composers of all time) as his closest collaborator for over four decades -- yet when the time comes to direct his long-awaited musical, said brilliant composer has no involvement.

[Thor 7,478]

Well, he tried with HOOK, as you all know, but that didn't pan out (no pun intended).

[Muad'Dib 1,801]

3 hours ago, Ghostbusters II said:

 

Because it would make too much sense if Spielberg were to do something people actually wanted to see.

 

Ready Player One promised a lot. Everyone wanted to see it, but then nobody saw it. The 80's Stranger Things nostalgia train had passed by, Spielberg missed his chance.

 

And the protagonist should've been the girl. 

[Thor 7,478]

1 minute ago, Muad'Dib said:

 

Ready Player One promised a lot. Everyone wanted to see it, but then nobody saw it. The 80's Stranger Things nostalgia train had passed by, Spielberg missed his chance.

 

Not sure where you get that from. The film was both a commercial and critical success.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

It’s the worst movie he’s ever made.  My honest opinion.  I’d rather watch Always and 1941 ten times each

[Muad'Dib 1,801]

Domestically it didn't even reach its budget. And its total gross was low for a Spielberg blockbuster riding on 80's nostalgia. 

[Thor 7,478]

Not sure how it did in the US, but here in Norway it was a smash. And great reviews all over the board. That seems to be the international consensus too. I thought the film was fine -- it got an honourable mention by me last year, right after the top 20. Although I wasn't as thrilled as my colleagues, and it was far away from the quality level of THE POST (which was my no. 1).

[Disco Stu 15,495]

1 minute ago, Thor said:

it was far away from the quality level of THE POST

 

Agree with this completely.  All of my issues with The Post are with the script.  The direction was masterful!

[The Illustrious Jerry 3,356]

I thought it was terrible. 

 

Yeah, it's admittedly gutsy, but I find next to nothing admirable in that in this case. It's not at all self-sufficient- it was extremely over dependent on the audience catching all, or some, of the Easter eggs. And even if one did catch them all it had very little to offer. The movie was an Easter egg, nothing more. And the battle finale looks awful, IMO. Don't like the graphics of the avatars and such.

 

Spielberg could've been doing much better things with his time, really. 

[Disco Stu 15,495]

He’s made two movies this decade that are in my top 10 Spielbergs (Bridge of Spies and Lincoln), so I’m not worried too much about a decline in quality.  But certainly BFG and RP1 are not at the quality level he was at earlier in the decade with Tintin.  Although I like BFG fine!  It was charming in parts ( but boring in others)