Movie #18: West Side Story

-

West Side Story


Date Watched: 08/4/24

Format: Streaming on TV via Max

America!

Directing (⭐⭐⭐):

Fine.  As will all musicals and stage adaptations so far, it is tough to translate to screen.  Unfortunately, there are very few films that have done it well.

Writing (⭐⭐⭐):

Same as directing.  The story and concept is good and the writing moves you from one song to the other but it comes across flat too much.  Film has the benefit of showing so you don't have to tell.  That advantage should be used more in screen adaptations.

Acting (⭐⭐⭐):

This is not about the singing nor dancing, but the acting.  Everyone was OK but that is understandable.  They are casted due to other talents beyond acting.

Wildcard (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐):

This is about the singing and dancing.  Five stars for the classic music and the amazing choreography interwoven into the film.  Some of the best I have ever seen adapted.

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda:

Maybe The Hustler but ultimately I think it was good timing for West Side Story to take it home.

Ranking:

1) Forrest Gump (Movie #5) 20⭐

2) Platoon (Movie #17) 17⭐

3) Gladiator (Movie #11) 17⭐

4) Gone with the Wind (Movie #1) 17⭐

5) On the Waterfront (Movie #3) 16⭐

6) Rocky (Movie #14) 15⭐

7) The French Connection (Movie #15) 14⭐

8) West Side Story (Movie #18) 14⭐

9) Moonlight (Movie #9) 14⭐

10) Amadeus (Movie #4) 13⭐

11) Shakespeare in Love (Movie #2) 13⭐

12) Rain Man (Movie #7) 12⭐

13) The Bridge on the River Kwai (Movie #12) 12⭐

14) The Apartment (Movie #10) 11⭐

15) The Last Emperor (Movie #13) 11⭐

16) Wings (Movie #6) 10⭐

17) Midnight Cowboy (Movie #8) 9⭐

18) Hamlet (Movie #16) 8⭐

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Movie #3: On the Waterfront

-
On the Waterfront Date Watched:  05/20/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Prime Video "I coulda been a contender!" Directing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): Kazan did a wonderful job of bringing you into the Jersey shore.  You felt part of that time and that environment.  Some of the more action-packed scenes were a little rushed but overall, a very good job. Writing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): A sign of a good writer is bringing you into a story you know nothing about and making you want to learn more about it after the movie was over.  The struggles of the Jersey longshoremen is nothing we can understand in today's United States (thankfully).  It says something that the story was still so impactful to me 70 years later.  Well written. Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): I have a feeling as I go through more and more of these films, I will keep on coming back to Marlon Brando as one of the best performances in any Best Picture winner.  From the opening scene to the last one, he wore his emotion on his sleeve.  It was unfortunate that
Read more

Movie #5: Forrest Gump

-
Forrest Gump Date Watched:  05/30/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Fandago at Home Going into the challenge, it was only a matter of time before we ran into a movie like Forrest Gump.  There are a few movies on this list that I already consider perfect.  Obviously, they still deserve another watch which I will happily do.  The true task will be when I try to rank these "perfect" movies of mine. Directing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Rural and costal Alabama.  Washington DC.  The Vietman war.  Hospitals, plantations, shrimp boats, and cross country trips.  Robert Zemeckis had to do it all with this movie and I feel he executed perfectly. Writing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Like Zemeckis, the writing had to cover so much ground.  You had to grow with characters and their environments across three very unique decades.  The humor was on point and did not distract from the emotional rollercoaster of this great film. Acting  (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐): Unlike a lot of other features I have watched so far where we had either a great suppo
Read more

Movie #2: Shakespeare in Love

-
Shakespeare in Love Date Watched:  05/17/24 Format:  Streaming on TV via Max "Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?" Directing  (⭐⭐): The movie really fell short here, in my opinion.  I don't think there was anything special with Madden's direction.   Writing  (⭐⭐⭐⭐): I like what Norman and Stoppard did with this movie.  The story is original but still ties into the Shakespeare stories we know.  I did not find much wasted on this script, both action and conversation wise.  The only reason perfection was not achieved was due to the language the actors used.  It was this odd mix of period and Shakespearean.  It was a distraction at times. Acting  (⭐⭐⭐): A tale of two extremes.  An amazing supporting cast and two leads that just did not work for me.  Rush, Wilkinson, Dench, Staunton, and Firth.  I would watch this movie with this cast all day long.  I will continue to scratch my head about Fiennes.  Paltrow just reminded me of Claire Danes throughout the whole movie.  25 ye
Read more