Interview: Mike Faist on nihilistic teens, stardom, and "West Side Story"

by Nathaniel R

Mike Faist on his "transcendent" experience making West Side Story

The reinvention of West Side Story (2021) has been the subject of much conversation since it opened, from Spielberg's incredibly enduring career, to the health of the movie musical genre, to the complicated subject of its Oscar prospects since the 1961 picture was a sweeper. The one thing that's felt especially unanimous in the response, though, is the exciting work from a trio of Broadway breakouts making a very big leap into movie stardom: Tony nominees Ariana DeBose and Mike Faist and Tony winner David Alvarez (Bernardo). I had the pleasure of sitting down with our new Riff, Mike Faist a couple of weeks ago to discuss the movie and his career (well, sort of. Read on).

He was in great spirits, laughing frequently, and filled with praise for his co-stars. Coincidentally we had both just been back to a Broadway show for the first time since the shutdown. He describes theater as an important "communal empathy project" and West Side Story continues that tradition.

Faist is funny and thoughtful. He is also, as it turns out, self-deprecatingly aware of his caginess around certain topics, like, his future and stardom...

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Original Score Oscar Finalists: Listen to the Soundtracks

By Abe Friedtanzer

The fifteen finalists for Best Original Score are here, and I always enjoy this time of year because I have a constant playlist going whenever I’m not watching something so that I can familiarize myself with all the cited scores. I had hoped Benedetta (listen to this track) would make the finalist list, and also thought that Last Night in Soho (here’s the main theme) would be here, but overall it’s a decent list and worth indulging in to choose your five favourites. But for now, check out a track from (almost) every shortlisted film as well as some relevant stats for the composer behind them. For reference: a composer appearing twice on this list is not uncommon. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross beat themselves last year, triumphing for Soul (with Jon Batiste) over Mank...

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Critics Round 5: 'Dog' still has the power but 'CODA' and 'Mass' pick up a little love

UPDATED 3:55 PM For those who've been playing along with the seemingly neverending critics awards, in the Best Picture battle so far we've got:

11 for Power of the Dog (Philadelphia, NY Online, Boston Online, Chicago, SEFCA, which just more than doubled its total this week via Florida, OAFCC, Utah, Phoenix, Dublin, and Dallas)
3 for Drive My Car (NYFCC, LAFCA, Boston)
3 for Licorice Pizza (Atlanta, St Louis, NBR)
2 for Belfast (DC, Las Vegas)
1 each for: Cyrano (Detroit), Dune (Sunset Circle), The Green Night (Portland), The Lost Daughter (Gothams), Belfast (DC)

...and now King Richard (BFCC), Mass (IFJA) and CODA (Nevada)

Despite three first-time wins this week, we've hit the Power of the Dog coasting wave -- this happens each season. If one film hasn't thoroughly dominated in the early rounds something will by the midway point. There's another dozen or so orgs left (it's so hard to keep track these days with 30+...or are we at 40+ orgs now?) groups. So it's unlikely that Power of the Dog will be dethroned. Until the televised awards that is which are annual reminders that critics awards only tell about a third of the story, half at max.

The complete awards from the 9 latest critics groups to announce (Black Film Critics Circle, Nevada, Florida, Online Association For Female Critics, Utah, Indiana, Dallas/Ft Worth, Phoenix, and Dublin) are after the jump... 

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Best International Film: Bhutan & Panama

by Cláudio Alves

The Academy has announced its shortlists, and there aren't many notable surprises to point out. However, two exciting inclusions in the Best international Film front were Bhutan's Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom and Panama's Plaza Catedral. By coincidence, both pictures have powerful behind-the-scenes stories that might have helped boost their profile. Bhutan's case is a story of underdog perseverance, while Panama has a heartbreaking tragedy attached to its film.

Did the Academy make the right choice? Let’s find out…

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Original Song Oscar Finals: Listen to the Shortlisted Songs

Power couple Beyonce and Jay Z could fight it out at the Oscars this year.Last week, the Oscars published a list of 105 songs that qualified for the award. Today, that list has been winnowed down to 15 hopefuls, vying for the five Oscar nomination slots. Ten categories just got narrowed down today, and The Film Experience will be covering them all (such as International Feature). The Original Song category has gone through many ups and downs. It used to be the place for the biggest hits, such as “Last Dance” by Donna Summer and “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion. At its worst, it contained only two songs, one of which was “Real in Rio” from Rio. Will this year be a hit or a bust?

The fifteen shortlisted song includes songs from Grammy winners, Best Picture hopefuls, musicals and both Beyonce and Jay Z. Check them out after the jump.

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