Film: Spielberg finds his rhythm with new take on Bernstein classic

For his first musical, Steven Spielberg has revisited the themes of racial and social integration and the power of mutual respect with an updated West Side Story

Ariana DeBose as Anita and David Alvarez as Bernardo in West Side Story, directed by Stephen Spielberg. Picture: Niko Tavernise

West Side Story

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Nationwide, 12A

Rating: ***

The Unforgivable

Directed by Nora Fingscheidt

Netflix, 15

Rating: **

The original West Side Story might have topped the box office on its way to winning ten Academy Awards in 1962, but it’s not much talked about these days – even among musical devotees. The old reliable Singin’ in the Rain, which took home zero Oscars a decade previously, is probably more widely seen ...