Movie Review: ‘West Side Story’
Bob GarverSpecial to Valley NewsI first saw 1961’s “West Side Story” in a middle school music class. My opinion at the time was mostly focused on how the street gangs looked none-too-tough with all that stagey dancing. As I got older, I gained more appreciation for the film and show, not just for its excellent singing and dancing, but also its exploration of issues like immigration, race relations and the criminal justice system. When I heard Steven Spielberg was updating the property in his first-ever full-blown musical, I was worried that some of that thoughtfulness would be lost. But it turns out that Spielberg’s version is just as thoughtful as ever. It may even outdo the original by throwing gentrification into the mix. And the singing, dancing and most of the acting i