Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins direct Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer and Rita Moreno in this Oscar winning musical where the Sharks and the Jets fight for dominance of their street while two star crossed lovers fall for each other.

Another movie revisited in preparation for the big Christmas blockbuster releases that are imminent. This one was just a smidge better than even I fondly remembered. The songs are fantastic, the pacing wonderful, the colours overwhelming. The weird mix of sweaty masculinity and modern ballet creates a tangy flavour. There are edits and framing included here that feel truly groundbreaking… fuck the Nouvelle Vague. There are in-camera effects that are magical… belonging more in a fantasy than a urban dance flick. Rita Moreno is a genuine powerhouse as Anita. OK… so it can seem a little creaky and dated in corners and edges but the whole epic thing has a thrust and a confidence that makes it feel ultimately timeless. Wonderful. All the finger clicks.

9

Perfect Double Bill: In the Heights (2021)

Check out my wife Natalie’s Point Horror blog https://cornsyrup.co.uk

We also do a podcast together called The Worst Movies We Own. It is available on Spotify or here https://letterboxd.com/bobbycarroll/list/the-worst-movies-we-own-podcast-ranking-and/