Twelve films for Christmas, or at least ones I associate with the Holidays, listed between now and through the New Year. I had originally hoped to complete this list for Christmas Day, but a family emergency changed that plan. These are not in any particular order.

Day 1: West Side Story (2021 dir. Steven Spielberg)

Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story is as much about the joy of filmmaking as it is about its story, and it needs to be. Leonard Bernstein’s music and Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics are already well-loved, but those alone do not guarantee a successful film. What Spielberg carefully and seamlessly creates here is an unforgettable vision of shadows, color, and movement, elevating it into one of the greatest of all movie musicals ever produced. It is an astonishing achievement.

During the late 1950’s two rival gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, fight for territory on Manhattan’s lower west side, an area soon-to-be refurbished as an artistic neighborhood forcing out the area’s long-term residents and recent immigrants. Amidst this growing rumble, Tony (Ansel Elgort) a former Jet hoping to live a more peaceful life and Maria (Rachel Zegler) the sister of the Sharks’ leader fall in love, further complicating the street level warfare. It famously is a less complex, but emotionally resonant, retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet.

The acting from everyone, yes everyone, is on point. Carefully watch Mike Faist (Riff) and his wiry, almost skeletal, visage always ready to pounce while his unemotional gaze belies a passionate resolve. Ariana DeBose (Anita) gives such a complex characterization that even though I am familiar with this story, her eventual choices about loyalty and love gave me genuine suspension of disbelief. The anguish on Ansel Elgort’s (Tony) face when told The Big Lie is an image straight from Edvard Munch. And Rita Moreno (Valentina), her delivery of the monologue to The Jets is particularly touching given her history with this material, and she could get an Oscar nomination for that tragic turnabout.

And this is a tragedy, make no mistake. No one cleanly escapes the violent, bloody final act. Life, innocence, and optimism are all at stake and I could feel the drama, sense the affection, and almost touch the admiration this company has invested in this project. The film is a joy to behold.

Having just seen it this past Saturday night I will gratefully forever associate it with the Holidays. Give yourself a gift and see it on the biggest screen you can find.