• Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Lists
    • Yearly Top Tens
    • Trailers
    • Contact
    • Hire Me
    • About
Menu

World of Reel

Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
Home
IMG_5431.jpg
Kathryn Bigelow Involved in A24’s ‘Near Dark’ Remake Series
IMG_5428.jpg
‘Die, My Love’ Elevated by Jennifer Lawrence’s Extraordinary Performance [Cannes]
IMG_5425.jpg
‘Nouvelle Vague’: Linklater’s Homage to Godard’s New Wave is A Playful Hangout Movie [Cannes]
IMG_5421.jpg
Ang Lee “Struggling” to Make ‘Bruce Lee’ Biopic Due To Budget Concerns
IMG_5419.jpg
The Chronology of Water: Praise & Disappointment Greet Kristen Stewart’s Debut [Cannes]
Featured
Capture.PNG
Aug 19, 2019
3-Hour ‘Midsommar' Director's Cut Screened in NYC
Aug 19, 2019

This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

Aug 19, 2019

World of Reel

  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Lists
  • More
    • Yearly Top Tens
    • Trailers
  • About
    • Contact
    • Hire Me
    • About

‘West Side Story’ Plagued By Studio Fears of Backlash

October 27, 2021 Jordan Ruimy
103C7687-AF37-47CC-AA7A-6AF9CDC4B86B.jpeg

Yesterday, as I was emailing around, asking critics from major trades if they had seen PTA’s “Licorice Pizza” (none had), one of them replied to my message this way:

“No, I haven’t. Surely, it’ll be screened before the Spielberg, which I’m hearing has 20th century biting its nails in fear of backlash.”

The conversation went on, but I fear this seasoned trade critic is right. What is 20th Century going to do with Spielberg’s “West Side Story”? The film has been in the can for well over a year now and there was no reason for it to skip any of the fall festivals.

Of course, the backlash this film critic is referring has to do with two primary issues currently plaguing the film’s marketing campaign: the first is “canceled” lead actor Ansel Elgort and the second is representation. The latter concern has been accentuated ever since the well-reviewed “In the Heights” ended up getting fed to the dogs of Twitter earlier this summer, all due to lack of Latinx representation in the film and accusations of “colorism.”

The fact that a “white guy” is directing “West Side Story” will surely heat up a debate, yet again.

Meanwhile, Elgort was accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old. A Twitter user named Gabby claimed she was left “sobbing in pain” during the alleged assault and insisted: “He made me think this is how sex was supposed to be… I WASNT there in that moment mentally (sic). I disassociated myself and just felt like my mind was gone I was in shock I couldn’t leave.” He’s been MIA ever since.

It was already a major risk remaking the beloved 1961 classic, but its $100 million budget truly stands out as something of a concern for 20th Century Studios, as they will very likely need film critics to push this film into public approval. However, look at where glowing reviews brought “In the Heights.”

← Will Smith’s Oscar Problem?Kristen Stewart: “I’ve Probably Only Made 5 Really Good Films”; What Are They? →

FOLLOW US!


Trending

Featured
IMG_5403.jpg
Ari Aster’s ‘Eddington’ POLARIZES; Starts as Satire, Ends in Horror — Not Everyone’s Buying It [Cannes]
IMG_5383.jpg
‘Sirat’ Screens — Surreal, Chaotic and Unsettling [Cannes]
IMG_5352.jpg
‘Mission: Impossible 8’ Review Embargo Breaks — It’s A Mess [Cannes]
IMG_5328.jpg
‘Sound of Falling’ Gets Bogged Down by Heavy Symbolism [Cannes]
IMG_4571.jpg
David Fincher & Brad Pitt Reunite for ‘The Continuing Adventures of Cliff Booth' + Plot Details

Critics Polls

Featured
Capture.PNG
Critics Poll: ‘Vertigo’ Named Best Film of the 1950s, Over 120 Participants
B16BAC21-5652-44F6-9E83-A1A5C5DF61D7.jpeg
Critics Poll: Kubrick’s ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ Tops Our 1960s Critics Poll
Capture.PNG
Critics Poll: ‘The Godfather’ Named Best Movie of the 1970s
public.jpeg
Critics Poll: ‘Do the Right Thing' Named Best Movie of the 1980s
Critics Poll: ‘Mulholland Drive' Named Best Film of the 2000s
g4.jpg
Critics' Poll: ‘Goodfellas' Named Best Movie of the 1990s
Critics Poll: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road' Named Best Movie of the 2010s
World of Reel tagline.PNG
 

Content

Contribute

Hire me

 

Support

Advertise

Donate

 

About

Team

Contact

Privacy Policy

Site designed by Jordan Ruimy © 2023