Does Spielberg get this ‘Story’ proper?
It’s a disgrace that Ashley Lee wanted to smack down the brand new “West Aspect Story” so pointlessly [“‘West Side Story’ Is Out of Step,” Jan. 4]. Films aren’t good at defining any given group. The concept this work is a “basic case of cultural appropriation” is depressingly anti-art.
Steven Spielberg’s new movie is fantastic — full of life, vitality, romance and a strong drama. Each his model and Robert Smart’s 1961 basic are distinctive musicals. Cultural appropriation is a type of ideas that finally result in ghettoizing the humanities. Are we now to imagine that solely members of 1 cultural group can communicate to the considerations of that group?
“West Aspect Story” is beloved not for its insights into the specifics of Puerto Rican tradition — or into the tradition of white gangs in New York. It’s a dramatic work that makes a plea for tolerance, understanding and acceptance between two totally different communities. Isn’t that a worthy and related message for right this moment?
What can 4 middle-aged, homosexual, Jewish white guys (the creators of “West Aspect Story”) presumably should say about bringing two warring communities collectively? Rather a lot, truly.
Harrison Engle
Los Angeles
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Greater isn't all the time higher. I noticed “West Aspect Story” initially in New York in 1957. The truth is, I noticed it thrice, I used to be so enthralled with it. Being a younger actor learning in New York, I'd get standing room. I’ve seen many different productions of the present right here in Los Angeles and elsewhere. It was a type of exhibits that even when the forged was less than skilled stage, it nonetheless labored.
Steven Spielberg’s adaptation works, however I feel that’s despite a few of his gildings.
Just a few issues that bothered me.
These aerial views of New York for me add nothing. West Aspect Story to me is a really intimate story.
The unique “America” takes place on the roof of one of many tenements. Now the entire neighborhood is partaking within the choreography.
The “One thing’s Coming” music is a really private feeling for Tony, however now he’s filling cabinets within the retailer and singing it to Rita Moreno. This doesn't add to his feeling that one thing momentous is coming, it diminishes it.
“I Really feel Fairly” was initially performed in Maria’s bed room as she is discovering that possibly she is fairly. Now Spielberg has made it into one other huge manufacturing quantity in Gimbels. It doesn't improve the emotion she is feeling. It once more diminishes the emotion to make it right into a manufacturing quantity.
Now now we have Doc’s retailer run, apparently, by his widow who's Puerto Rican. It strains credulity to suppose the Jet’s would frequent a retailer run by Puerto Ricans.
“Gee Officer Krupke” quantity all the time labored, I feel, as a result of we get to see the Jet’s relationship with him. However now we see this quantity at an empty police station about an individual now we have by no means actually seen them have any sort of relationship with. It didn’t make a lot sense to me, and I’ve seen the present many instances. I ponder what people who find themselves not too aware of the present suppose.
Rita Moreno sings “Someplace” in a really low-key method. Right here is the place Spielberg ought to have opened it up. This can be a music of hope and reconciliation, the place all of them needs to be partaking, for finally the entire group is realizing the tragedy and waste their collective habits has introduced.
Bix Barnaba
Van Nuys
A rock ‘n’ roll star
Concerning Mikael Wooden’s appreciation of Ronnie Spector, “In Awe of Her Heroic Stance” [Jan. 14]: I’m sufficiently old to recollect when the Ronettes’ “Be My Child” first aired on the radio. On the time, I favored the music however didn’t suppose far more of it. Lately, the loss of life of Ronnie Spector introduced it to thoughts and I noticed that the ability of Ronnie’s voice had created a nice earworm so highly effective that I can simply hear her hovering voice time and again in my thoughts.
I wasn’t conscious of the extent of the affect that Ronnie had on subsequent musicians in rock ‘n’ roll, however Wooden defined it effectively in his piece. He additionally completely captured the ability of her singing and made me respect it much more.
Wooden nailed it.
Dan Branstrom
Desert Sizzling Springs
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Ronnie Spector’s vocal is spectacular. Phil Spector’s manufacturing is magnificent. However the basis of “Be My Child” is the music itself. I feel it’s remiss not mentioning Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Ship Spector because the writers of this timeless, nice music, and numerous others.
Ken Hirsch
Los Angeles
Debating a Los Angeles film
Greg Braxton paints Lawrence Kasdan’s movie “Grand Canyon” as a paean to white privilege [“‘Grand’ Visions,” Jan. 9]. It sounds to me extra like a paean to white angst and concern than privilege.
In accordance with Braxton, in “Grand Canyon,” dark-skinned individuals are the enemy. Within the land of vital race principle, white-skinned individuals are the enemy.
As a substitute of vilifying each other, let’s start treating one another as legitimate human beings. No one is ideal and so they by no means can be. We will tolerate just a few warts, OK.
Nathan Submit
Santa Barbara
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Whereas many features of the movie might advantage reevaluation, the questions the movie raised on the portrayal of gun violence in films are extra related than ever as gun violence surges and over 100 individuals within the U.S. are shot and killed every single day.
Bridget McCarthy
Los Angeles
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Whereas Lawrence Kasdan is arguably considered one of Hollywood’s most profitable screenwriters and doesn't want me or anybody else to rise to his protection, Greg Braxton’s belated panning of “Grand Canyon” irked me sufficiently into doing so.
William Goldman as soon as mentioned, “There are not any good or unhealthy films. There are films that both work or don’t work on the time they arrive out.”
Addressing the movie’s dealing with of race relations, Braxton is 31 years late.
I feel an awesome movie ought to possess the humility to not declare to have all of the solutions whereas nonetheless being assured in its assertion that it has a novel and inventive method during which to pose the questions. By this measure — and Braxton’s critique sarcastically sufficient seconds the notion — “Grand Canyon” stays an admirable success.
William P. Bekkala
West Hollywood
Tears over closed Milk
Concerning “January Ennui Requires Ice Cream” [Jan.17]: Mary McNamara might get her ennui taken care of if all of the ice cream vans in Los Angeles determined to congregate as soon as per week for her.
However that wouldn’t remedy my ice-cream-versus-ennui downside. Each Wednesday for the previous variety of years I’ve replenished my week’s provide of Espresso Toffee ice cream at Milk
With me, it’s an dependancy that must be fed. However the final time we pulled up in entrance of the store the home windows had been shaded and the doorways had been locked. Milk is out of enterprise.
What’s an ice cream addict to do? Can anybody on the market assist me? Is there an ice cream truck or parlor that gives Espresso Toffee?
Bob Klein
Los Angeles
E book advice
Thanks for Thursday’s article recommending books addressing inequality [“Fight Inequality With These 10 Reads,” Jan. 13]. I’d such as you to think about one other e-book on an identical topic.
“Midway House,” by Reuben Jonathan Miller, addresses the various challenges dealing with previously incarcerated individuals that just about assure recidivism. There are systemic points I've by no means seen addressed that result in incarceration and its aftermath. The subject has been mentioned in bits and items earlier than, however Miller, who teaches on the College of Chicago Faculty of Social Service Administration, addresses the issue from each a scholarly perspective and real-life experiences of those individuals.
Whereas I'm sure parole officers and the social service community established to be of help have skilled frustration with noncompliant purchasers, this e-book places the scenario in human phrases and I feel it could be an essential learn for everybody concerned within the system.
Arlette Chew
Lawndale
When the drums cease
I'm sorry Sheriff Drumman‘s cherry crimson Ford F-350 pickup truck and its 13-piece drum set had been stolen [“Truck Theft Hit Hard,” Jan. 14, by Kenan Draughorne], however I'm not going to overlook listening to them lacerate the ambient peace of Friday afternoons at Hope and seventh Road downtown when I'm making an attempt to work.
Jim Moore
Los Angeles
Politics within the comics
I actually object to your persevering with to publish the Sunday Doonesbury on the cartoon web page. It's nothing however a hate-filled anti-Trump political hit piece that has no place among the many cartoons — nor anyplace else besides maybe you opinion web page, for my part.
Ed Martin
Los Angeles
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