Engrossing. Revolting. Emotionally taxing. Acting… acting… acting…
Post It notes we scribbled while watching Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale” make its way across what is essentially a one-room set, a low-key but gripping parade of talent coming off as the play it once was and reintroducing one of Hollywood’s Lost Stars along with some up-and-coming new ones.
The Whale stars Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, and Samantha Morton. The story focuses on Fraser as Charlie, a reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher desperately trying to reconnect with the teenage daughter he abandoned in favor of a gay love interest eight years earlier.
Aronofsky’s camera never wavers as we see Charlie in his natural state, well over 400 pounds and maintaining relationships with those who bring him food and English students he declines to reveal himself to – citing web cam problems.
His nurse and only friend Liz (Chau), scolds Charlie while warning him of his impending death, then enables him by bringing him double meatball subs. We also meet Thomas, a missionary for the New Life Church, who’s convinced he can save him from himself. Aside from Charlie’s remote relationship with his students, he develops one with his pizza delivery man – who leaves pizza outside on his porch, Charlie stuffing bills in his mailbox so the two never have to meet face-to-face.
Along with his suicidal pursuit of more and more food, Charlie craves a relationship with his estranged daughter Ellie (Sink), lost to him after he blew up the relationship with her mother. He reveals that he has been saving money for years and offers Ellie the entire $120,000 in his bank account if she spends time with him without her mother’s knowledge. Ellie agrees on the condition that he completes all her homework for her, though he also asks that she writes in a notebook he gives her – seeking some of the same elusive truths he requests of his students.
The Whale moves along at walker-speed until Charlie finds some of his truths, finds something in himself and manages to develop something of a relationship with the odd squad of people either related to him or with whom he has managed to establish some sort of kinship. And that’s where we’ll leave him for you to find out for yourself.
The Whale premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival and grossed $57.6 million against a budget of $3 million. Although critics agreed with us that Fraser, Chau and Sink shined, some have said the film’s stark portrayal of obesity-related issues missed the mark. For his performance, Fraser won the Academy Award, Critics’ Choice Award and SAG Award for Best Actor, Chau was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and the film won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
We found it worthy and recommend it to you.
Currently available in theaters and various streaming services, including Amazon Prime.
I watched this 2 nights ago on Prime Video – very good movie and Brendan Fraser’s performance was outstanding.
Btw, forgot to mention, @NEWS24-680, excellent review and description of the movie.
Most kind of you to say so, John… thank you and glad you liked the movie!
I’m sure you’re plenty busy, but I wouldn’t scoff at a (more) regular feature, maybe even some classic noir and/or journo films. In keeping with the general vibe of the place. Focus on local showings and classic titles available on Kanopy and similar platforms?
Hey, Matt, thanks for the input! Kinda busy, yes, but we like movies and short films and other works so we’ll see what we can do!
Although we’ve removed some of the archived ScreenShots features you might try a site search for some of the genre you mention – which happen to be favorites of ours, as well.
Thanks for writing!
Spoiler alert! Don’t proceed if you want to watch the movie.
In keeping with the metaphor of the movie, I am thinking that the whale is not the central character of the movie but rather the daughter with the biography of a sociopath. Slashes tires. Sends incriminating video to parents/authorities knowing NOT what the outcome will be for the well-intentioned, clueless missionary she secretly records after hectoring him mercilessly. Lecturing, demeaning, manipulating everyone she comes into contact with. “Evil” says the mother who should have the best perspective on this. Who harbored the angry violence to shatter the plate with the apple bits? If “the author was just trying to save us from his own sad story for just a little while longer”, it ended when Mr. Positivity was uplifted to glory under the delusion that his daughter was his one best accomplishment. I found the notion that the daughter was transformed by any of this in his final moments to be not credible.
That said, the whole cast was excellent, imho, and it was engrossing drama in a very small set.