Gobbledygeek episode 464, “West Side Story (2021),” is available for listening or download right here, on Spotify, and on Apple Podcasts.
Somethin’s comin’, somethin’ good: this week, Paul and Arlo pirouette through a discussion of Steven Spielberg’s new take on West Side Story, nominated for Best Picture at this year’s Oscars. Is it a spoiler to say they love it? The boys discuss how Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner’s changes enrich the text, why choreographer Justin Peck’s bold choice to discard Jerome Robbins’ iconic choreography was the right move, what it means for the Sharks to be played by Latinx actors, and the joy of watching Spielberg treat every musical number like his and Janusz Kaminski’s playground. Plus, Taco Bell sends Arlo spiraling into an existential crisis, and the boys chat about this year’s other Best Picture nominees.
NEXT: Si Spurrier and Jeff Stokely’s Six-Gun Gorilla is locked and loaded for this month’s Four-Color Flashback.
BREAKDOWN
- 00:00:53 – Intro
- 00:06:39 – Interminable Oscars Discussion
- 00:37:43 – A Look Back to Episode 402
- 00:47:04 – West Side Story (2021)
- 02:14:52 – Outro / Next
LINKS
- How ‘West Side Story’ Reset Itself by Jackson McHenry and Helan Shaw, Vulture
- How Tony Kushner and His Collaborators Brought ‘West Side Story’ Into the 21st Century by Andrew R. Chow, Time
- ‘West Side Story’s’ Iris Menas Brings New Dimension to Old Character by Carole Horst, Variety
MUSIC
- “Something’s Coming” by Ansel Elgort, West Side Story (2021 Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2021)
- “Somewhere” by Rita Moreno, West Side Story (2021 Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2021)
GOBBLEDYCARES
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
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- Support Black Lives Matter and find anti-racism resources: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
- The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ youth: thetrevorproject.org
- Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/
- US (877) 565-8860
- Canada (877) 330-6366
- National Center for Transgender Equality: transequality.org
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- Help teachers and classrooms in need: https://www.donorschoose.org/
- Do your part to remove the burden of medical debt for individuals, families, and veterans: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/
- Register to vote: https://vote.gov/
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