West Side Story Review: 7 Ups & 3 Downs

6. Rachel Zegler & Ariana DeBose Steal The Show

It's never easy for any actor to step into the shoes of a massively iconic role, and given that the parts of Maria and Anita - previously played by Natalie Wood and an Oscar-winning Rita Moreno - are among musical cinema's most recognisable, the pressure was especially significant.

But Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose both live up to their predecessors with terrific performances that could very well end up receiving Oscar nominations, despite their respective fields being rather crowded this year.

As Maria, Zegler is obviously a more appropriate choice compared to Wood, who as a Caucasian actress was kitted out in distracting "brownface" to portray the Puerto Rican character.

Zegler's incredible singing voice is matched by her dramatic prowess, even if she's unavoidably overshadowed - just as Wood was in the '61 film - by DeBose's brilliantly energetic performance as the feisty Anita.

There would've been no shame in either actress not quite measuring up to their forebears, but they assuredly deliver their own equally valid spins on these beloved characters. Bravo.