daviddcannon

Sitting down to watch it I tried to figure out if I'd gone to the wrong theater. The cast appeared to be hesitating and embarrassed to be there. The quality of the cinematography seemed dull and washed out. The script was stylized like imitating a low budget mystery but then there are all these high powered stars who seem to barely believe the lines they are performing. The script, the acting, the plot is built on farce and poorly delivered punch lines. I dozed off in the middle and tried to like Daniel Craig's weird accent but kept remembering him as the macho Bond and it was so sad. I think all the good reviews must be fakes. I almost walked out.

Watching west Side Stiry in a cold theatre with a mask, I was having a difficult time warming up to the movie. I kept thinking "why bother" with a remake. Then I realized the movie was still set in the 60's. And Spielberg wanted to set the record straight. The new West Side Story is about race.

In this production the Puerto Ricans were really Latino and spoke Spanish (no subtitles). The white kids were mostly sort of clueless, without much reason for being there. The Puerto Ricans had all the good lines, the believability, the energy.

I actually liked the performances a lot. Rachel Zegler as Maria was stunningly pure, almost unrealistically romanticized like a virgin princess. Ariana DeBose was tormented and fiery, and David Alvarez was the stealth show stealer of the production with his sexy, macho Bernardo.

The singing was outstanding. Rita Moreno sang and she still has a decent voice. But in retrospect, I was mist impressed with Ansel Elbert as Tony, who has been getting mediocre reviews for his lack of "soul". Ansel Elbert was hot! Elbert was singing tenor, sweet, clear and very emotional singing from his heart. What a concept.

It's not a common occurrence for a young person to sing so innocently these days, about true love, and Elbert, with his pouty lips and lanky working class presentation was so much fun to watch! Nobody believes in true love anymore. So it was a bit anachronistic to see this production based on the idea of true love. At the end when Maria cries her heart out over Tony laying in the street she is not only crying about the loss of her love. She also seems to be crying to the gang members looking on snd crying about their loss of innocence. In that regard she was crying for the audience, for me, Who cries about true love these days? True Love? It's actually counterrevolutionary.

The Movie "Being the Ricardos", now showing on Amazon,has generated a lot of controversy. Is it accurate? Is it relevant? Are the original characters cast appropriately? After watching it spellbound, expecting the worst, because of the bad press, and when it's finished the only question, amateur movie critic thst I am, I have to have to ask myself is: "is it a good movie"? Is it entertaining? And the answer is unequivocally "Yes". Absolutely. Without a doubt. It's terrific. I loved the casting, the history, the jokes, the inside scoop, the professionalism. Watch it and enjoy. It's great entertainment just in time for the holidays.