Reviews often talk about a lack of chemistry between lead characters. Any version of a Romeo & Juliet story has to convince the viewer that these lead characters truly love each other whilst their families hate one another with deep intensity. In Zeffirelli's version these 2 criteria are met convincingly and also in the 1961 version of West Side Story to a lesser degree. On-screen chemistry must mean good acting since Natalie Wood disliked her co-star Richard Beymer but both managed to act like they were in love. The same can't be said about Rachel Ziegler & Ansel Elgort who can't seem to muster the chops to show real passion for each other. The new sequencing of the songs often weakened the excitement of the plot: I Feel Pretty - straight after climactic fight/murder scene and Crazy Boy - during Tony's lame attempt to take Riff's gun are a couple of examples. The Jets and Sharks didn't get each other in this version. In the older one their mutual loathing was fierce & obvious. In spite of the high standard of Tony, Maria & Anita's vocals this production is bland and unmemorable.
Review of West Side Story
