West Side Story's Mike Faist on Riff's Nihilism and His Self-Preservation

West Side Story co-star Mike Faist sits down with Awards Daily's Joey Moser to discuss his acclaimed turn as Riff in Steven Spielberg's re-imagining of the classic musical West Side Story.
#MikeFaist
#WestSideStory
#StevenSpielberg
#Riff
#Musicals
#BestSupportingActor

[@jcm1776]

I am slightly embarrassed to admit I’ve watched every west side story 2021 interview available online and this interviewer is awesome! they get asked the same questions every time while joey asks fantastic questions and inquires in a way that makes the actors go deeper. as a huge fan, you can tell joey is as well and it makes for fascinating conversation!! all of his WSS interviews deserve more views!!

[@BucyKalman]

It is ironic how the Jets song talks about how as a Jet "you are never alone", "you are a family man", etc., but, when the police arrives at the rumble, the Jets ran away and just leave Riff's body lying there, alone in the middle of all that salt, as Diesel later remarks to Ice at Doc's.

[@kathyditondo1175]

great interview. Rooting for that oscar nomination for Mike's incredible performance as Riff.

[@hm2011100]

This is the single most insightful & interesting interview I’ve seen about ‘West Side Story’ or with Mike Faist. You 2 do honour to Ohio’s history of artistic excellence. Please keep it up!

[@writerpb]

Such a great interview, because it feels like a conversation between two people who understand the musical rather than an entertainment reporter just asking the same old questions. I’ve been part of the press in those situations and it’s tedious. This was great and felt so authentic. My husband is from Ohio and went to Ohio State so I also love the Columbus connection.

[@lilas7294]

really loved this interview, it was so grounded and interesting. great interviewer and great questions!! (also mike faist is the most effective clickbait)

[@LightGE]

There's an interesting shift in perspective in the relationship dynamic between Tony and Riff in this version. Although Tony's time away from the neighborhood is in prison, he has seen and experienced a new world so to speak and a glimpse outside the only life he had ever known. Whereas Riff remains inside a life view limited to his surroundings. Tony's incarceration has caused a divergence (forgive the unintentional pun) between Riff and Tony. Tony understands this. Riff, obviously not had the benefit of that experience, can't understand it. The path he is on is the only path he knows, while Tony now sees potential for a positive future that he seeks and has come to expect, and Maria is a tangible representation of that expectation.

[@ldbrow00]

This was lovely. I agree that interesting questions lead to such interesting and heartfelt answers, so thanks for that. Delightfully refreshing!

[@snazzybean]

This was so good. The questions and insights both from Mike and Joey were compelling and heartfelt. Watching Joey express his love for the film, at times almost in tears, while Mike was so happy & humbled seeing the joy that his hard work has generated was a thing of beauty. A very special and unique interview. Thank you so much!

[@whippetphan]

Omg so good, first just to get ~24 minutes with Mike but also the amazing questions and conversation that ensued. It made me come up with even more questions I'd like to get his take on! I cannot get enough of this film!

[@jenniferkerr2343]

It is so interesting to listen to Mike talk about this movie. As someone who worked backstage on a high school production, the interviewer asked great questions.

[@kathringlazova4942]

Thank you so much for this extraordinary interview! It deserves more views!

[@CranberryMonster]

Amazing interview! Thanks for the conversation and giving the actor a platform and time to share actually meaningful insights about the movie.

[@ra3mme]

The best way to describe this is just intensely charming, it was sweet to see two people be excited and connected by the same things (also, as an Ohioan, the first question was ridiculously relatable)

[@jennifer5512]

Great job with the interview, sir!

[@Sarah-tu4bu]

These are the kind of questions I longed for discussions of! Well done! So refreshing. And I am so thankful for this time to introspectively look at Riff through Mike’s lense. I absolutely loved this. Thanks

[@Roxxenne]

wow thank you so much for the interview, really thank you

[@jilly0315]

Great interview. Thank you for sharing.

[@AdrianaDiFranco]

Wonderful conversation. Thank you for this.

[@raymondruiz5839]

Terrific Interview

[@janiceweaver6945]

For those of us no where near the Midwest - thanks for the proper pronunciation.

[@sorcha209]

Really need the name of that book

[@calmitkiller]

how did you get the chance to talk to him????

[@brinleefrazier7711]

How old are all the characters in WSS supposed to be?

[@hongruellamisser]

according to the 2021 screenplay, jets are around 18-13 (baby john is either 13 or 14 apparently), valentina is in her 70s, bernardo, riff, maria, tony are 18, anita is 21 and chinos early 20s

[@sregan5415]

they all looked much older in the 1961 Film compared to the new one

[@emmaedelmann220]

I say gahanna