There are people to whom the rules don’t apply, and one of them, at least in the cinematic realm, is Steven Spielberg. Oh, he wants to remake one of the all time great classic films and musicals? As far as 20th Century Fox is concerned, he can go right ahead.
Deadline reports that honchos at Fox have removed the HANDS OFF, KEEP AWAY tape from Robert Wise‘s “West Side Story,” because Spielberg “is interested in making it.” That’s it. For all we know, he could’ve said, “Yeah, huh, that might be neat” and here we are. It’s certainly worth pondering especially since the usually prolific Spielberg is currently in project limbo, with “Robopocalypse” on hold, and other projects such as “Montezuma” and the continually promised “The Adventures Of Tintin” percolating potentially in the background.
One thing in favor of “West Wide Story” is that Spielberg has never really done a musical, and it’s something a holy grail for filmmakers, and perhaps an itch he wants to scratch. It also helps that his longtime producing partner Stacey Snider is rumored to leaving DreamWorks — where Spielberg has made his movies for years — and headed to Fox. Could the stars be aligning?
Seems to early to say, but let us know below what you think about Spielberg taking this on.
I'm ready for the abuse but 'hands off keep away'? West Side Story, the movie, is a total bore, and almost laughable, I mean what kind of street gangs are they? Post Cabaret maybe they could have seen a way to give the film some edge but as it stands it's more schmaltz than sacred. The musical itself is fine and as long as Spielberg keeps it set in the same era and doesn't update it, he could do no worse than Wise.
Spielberg is washed up.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Next we'll have George Lucas wanting to remake "Singing in the Rain", Scorsese will probably want to remake "On the Waterfront", and James Cameron will want to remake "Metropolis". The industry is already going under but shit, is nothing sacred, is there really that great a lack of originality?
Watched the original 1961 West Side Story the other night for the 100th time, but 1st time in years. What strikes me is the design, the color and more than anything the dance. It's well acted on many fronts, especially George Chakiris, who delivers a dramatic performance as brilliant as his dance performance. Not a false note. And singling him out is like awarding the gold medal based on a 1/100 of a second difference. But it is a performance art movie. A jazz music/dance movie — It's all about the movement and expression from that movement. That includes camera movement. The Saul Bass design. The technicolor pallet. The story is ultra-familiar, it's a re-imaging itself. Look how the more recent Romeo & Juliette did at the box-office… not great. We know the story. It's the design and mood and dance that makes West Side Story brilliant and unique. I wonder what someone like Steven Spielberg could bring to it to make a new version as unique. Jerome Robbins choreographed and co-directed the original. I have to think that the choreographer directed was essential. Spielberg is no stranger to action sequences, so I wonder if that expertise translates to capturing dance. I wonder if dance will even be central in the new version, should it happen. All I can think is: that cool cat form of essentially 1960 beat jazz ballet that Robbins created is what makes West Side Story tick, before all else. How will that jazz sound and look now? Will it be period? It inherently is by its sound. If so, what's the point. Curious.
What an unbelievable waste of time and artistic energy that would be. He will never direct this, thank god. Let's hope he lines up something interesting before long