Movies: West Side Story (2021)

Spielberg’s remake of the Robert Wise production is bleak, leftist propaganda

Steven Spielberg’s new movie completes a full circle in the director’s career. Like his other gruesome, pacifist film, 2005’s Munich, which depicts Arab terrorists as morally equivalent with Israel, Mr. Spielberg’s remake of 1961’s brilliant West Side Story is written by leftist Tony Kushner. It’s uninvolving.

The male lead is fine. Some of Steven Spielberg’s cinematic skills come through, especially in the scene depicting the purchase of a weapon, which shows a leading character’s death premise, which is also a credit to the actor. Whether you’re a fan of the original Broadway musical or the captivating original Hollywood adaptation, with powerful music by Leonard Bernstein, insightful lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents and choreography by Jerome Robbins in a movie directed by Robert Wise, you might be tempted to see this multimillion dollar movie.

Let me forewarn you. For reasons stated above, the original movie’s a uniquely marvelous experience in spite of its plain…