#OnTheBigScreen: Cats, Midway, Spies in Disguise

Cats

Based on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1981 musical of the same name, which was in turn based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, a book of poems by T.S. Eliot. Cats tells the story of a group of cats called the Jellicles. Over a single night, they must make the “Jellicle choice” and decide which cat will ascend into the Heaviside Layer – a metaphor for Heaven.

The film is directed by Tom Hooper, the man behind Les Misérables (2012), who co-wrote the screenplay of Cats together with playwright Lee Hall, whose previous credits include the film adaptation of Billy Elliot (2000) and War Horse (2011). Choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler (who choreographed Hamilton and the Broadway revival of Cats), and executive produced by Steven Spielberg.

“Cats is really about the power of community,” says Hooper. “It tells the story of this excluded cat Grizabella who’s on the margins of society, almost as if she represents someone in a state of homelessness. We see our tribe of cats viciously excluding her. It’s the innocent outsider, Victoria, who challenges the prejudice of the group. She shows that we are stronger when we are inclusive through the act of forgiveness, that when we include people on the margins of our society our society is stronger. So, at the centre of this entertaining, fun, comedic, fantastical and transportive musical is a timely story about the importance of inclusion and community, forgiveness and redemption.”

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Midway

Midway centres on the Battle of Midway, a clash between the American fleet and the Imperial Japanese Navy, which marked a turning point in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

The film, based on the real-life events of this heroic feat, tells the story of the leaders and soldiers who used their instincts, fortitude and bravery to overcome the odds. It’s a real-life story of brotherhood and camaraderie, and the determination and sacrifice of real-life military heroes, to secure an American victory.

“I’m thrilled that we had the opportunity to tell this story because young people today don’t always know the stories about those who fought for their freedom,” says director Roland Emmerich is a master of cinematic spectacle, with a legendary career ranging from science fiction blockbusters, like Independence Day, to historical epics, like The Patriot.

“I think that without the generation who fought in WWII, our world would be very different. There was a lot of hardship and a lot of people died for it, but they died for a reason. There was a real fight against fascism going on in the world. Today we sometimes forget about these things, but movies can serve as a vivid monument to them. We wanted to honour that fight and those who gave so much.”

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Spies in Disguise

Super spy Lance Sterling (voice of Will Smith) and scientist Walter Beckett (voice of Tom Holland) are almost exact opposites. Lance is smooth, suave and debonair. Walter is not. But what Walter lacks in social skills he makes up for in smarts and invention, creating the awesome gadgets Lance uses on his epic missions.

But when events take an unexpected turn, Walter and Lance suddenly have to rely on each other in a whole new way. And if this odd couple can’t learn to work as a team, the whole world is in peril. This animated comedy is set in the high-octane globe-trotting world of international espionage.

Loosely based on Lucas Martell’s 2009 animated short Pigeon: Impossible, the film is directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane.

Read more about the latest and upcoming film releases.