West Side Story (2021) — OVERINVESTED

Claire and Gavia delve into Steven Spielberg's acclaimed 2021 adaptation of West Side Story, a musical about two young lovers caught in a turf war between rival gangs. Among other topics we discuss Spielberg's unique technical expertise, West Side Story's complicated political legacy, the lost art of movie-musical filmmaking... and Claire's passionate love for Mike Faist, who earned widespread praise for playing the charismatic gang leader Riff.

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Links:

“Mike Faist Tries to Keep His Cool as Riff in ‘West Side Story’,” David Itzkoff, The New York Times

"West Side Story Can’t Be Saved," Andrea González-Ramírez, The Cut

"A Puerto Rican filmmaker on ‘West Side Story’: ‘It’s hard to think that this is still what we’re talking about’," Rachel Hatzipanagos, The Washington Post