One of the best films of the year

My review: West Side Story (2021) is a triumph, a remake that is even better than the original (which was itself pretty darn great). Masterfully directed by the great Steven Spielberg, this is an entertaining and well crafted musical. The song and dance numbers are fantastic and I loved the costumes and sets. The ensemble is mostly terrific. Rachel Zegler gives the best performance and really shines. Mike Faist is another standout who brings a lot of dynamic energy to Riff. Rita Moreno is wonderful and makes the most of her limited screentime. Ariana DeBose has some really strong and effective moments late in the film that sell me on her performance. The weakest link for me is Ansel Elgort, who I feel was miscast. He has a pretty singing voice but his acting is just alright and he isn't always convincing in the role. Even with his mediocre performance, West Side Story is still one of the best films of the year. My rating is a 9/10.