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Tom Hooper said something at the premiere ofCatsthat I have not been able to get out of my head.
The lights went down, andCatsbegan.
That is such an extraordinary statement that Ive spent the stretch since hearing it wavering between two theories.
Catsis not a metaphor.
It is not an allegory.
The whole point ofCatsis that it is entirely, improbablyon the level.
I know what youre thinking is this a sex thing?
Look, it is notnota sex thing.
To assessCatsas good or bad feels like the entirely wrong axis on which to see it.
It is, with all affection, a monstrosity.
Not everyone can sing, not everyone can dance, and not everyone can, well, be famous.
The film attempts to work around different cast members strengths with varying results.
Ian McKellen, as Gus The Theatre Cat, does wonderful things with a lesser song.
These are all valid questions, urgent questions, questions that remain unanswered to this day.
