Ultimately, the reason Cats (2019) didn’t work is that it never took itself seriously.
You may say “well, how could they possibly do that? The premise is ridiculous.”
Yes, the premise is ridiculous. But the show didn’t earn (at one point) the honor of “longest running show on Broadway” by simply being ridiculous.
People singing and dancing, dressed as cats, only works by suspension of disbelief.
You can’t suspend disbelief if the narrative isn’t trying to take itself seriously.
Will everyone enjoy the show, even when done right? No. There is, thus far, nothing everyone enjoys. We’re all different that way.
But this
Is not taking itself seriously.
They look more anatomically accurate and cost much more money to make, but that’s how they come across as less convincing.
Having the physical attributes. The exaggerated features to play off of is INVALUABLE to a Cats performer and their performance.
Cats (2019) doesn’t try too hard for feline mannerisms, but when they do, it doesn’t work. Why? Because there’s nothing actually there to play off of except imagination.
Imagination is a powerful thing, yes, but practical makeup, costumes, and effects are very useful. CGI is more beneficial when trying to create fully fictional or dangerous to film in landscapes. The ocean, an asteroid field, etc.
While humanoid cats aren’t a real thing, they have been created with practical means on stage for decades.
You can stack a cast until they reach the moon. You could have the absolutely most talented singers, dancers, and actors. It will all be meaningless if the overall production is not being taken seriously. Individual actors taking the project entirely seriously (Ian, Judi, etc.) will not make up for others (editing, effects, producers, etc.) not doing the same.
This absolutely goes for anything, with or without a ridiculous premise.
These are ALL the Black female Oscar winners. Ever. So happy for them, but this is so few Black actresses. Hattie McDaniel, the first Black Oscar winner, won in 1940. Ariana DeBose won most recently in 2022. In 80 years, only ten Black actresses have won Oscars and only one of those women, Halle Berry, won Best Actress?
The songstress and producer, who has an Emmy, Grammy and Oscar, became the 17th member of the esteemed EGOT titleholders after “A Strange Loop” won Best New Musical.
Hudson also made history as the third Black EGOT winner to take the crown, and the fifth woman to receive the distinction.
BREATHE trailer
...a sci-fi thriller starring Jennifer Hudson, Quvenzhané Wallis, and Milla Jovovich coming to theaters, digital, and demand on April 26th.
Idc what anyone says, Effie was the victim and I’ve always believed this since I was a kid.
Deena and Curtis did her so wrong and everyone pissed me off when they not only replaced her without her knowledge but also gaslit her about everything and tried to solely make everything her fault
Curtis Also pissed me off when he kept complaining about her weight and the fact that Effie continuously said that she was in deep pain physically, it’s like no one cared to see what was really going on and was just dismissing her