I think the only way you could have missed the waves The Whale was making (plenty more puns where that came from) earlier this year during awards season would have been to be living inside the belly of an actual whale (like Pinocchio). Anyway, following Brendan Fraser’s return to the public eye as he exposed the way Hollywood had treated him during the 00’s, he announced his return to the big screen in his largest role yet (literally), from the beloved but depressingly twisted mind of Darren Aaronofsky. The critics loved The Whale, they loved it so much that it’s basically all anyone was talking about for weeks. I unfortunately missed the theatrical run, and with the end of the year fast approaching I made a point of sitting down and finally watching the film that was so good it won Fraser an Oscar for Best Actor. Did I have a whale of a time?
Charlie (Brendan Fraser) is dying. Following the suicide of his partner a number of years ago, Charlie has been slowly eating himself to an early grave. With his heart failing, and his body destroying itself from his gluttonous lifestyle, he decides to spend the remaining time he has left reconnecting with his estranged teenage daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink).
Charlie (Brendan Fraser) is dying. Following the suicide of his partner a number of years ago, Charlie has been slowly eating himself to an early grave. With his heart failing, and his body destroying itself from his gluttonous lifestyle, he decides to spend the remaining time he has left reconnecting with his estranged teenage daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink).
Based on the kind of response Fraser’s performance got from critics, my expectations were high. But if you are going to watch The Whale for any reason at all, let it be for Fraser, because he truly delivers a career best performance here. A far cry from all the running and jumping around he used to do in The Mummy films, here Fraser is largely restricted to the sofa of Charlie’s living room and yet he delivers a truly powerful and moving performance as a man who has allowed himself to lose the will to live.
Charlie’s deteriorating health is so hard to watch because of Fraser’s powerful performance. He’s a man who has allowed depression and self-loathing to take control of his life, and it’s incredibly sad to watch him suffer like this. But The Whale also never allows Charlie to be a victim, he’s the operator, he did this to himself because he allowed himself to wallow in self pity rather than confront his problems.
The supporting cast are also excellent here. Sink has been making a name for herself on Netflix’s Stranger Things and she gets to flex her dramatic muscles so much here. Ellie’s a nasty piece of work, but through Sink’s nuanced performance we see so many layers and explanations as to why she’s so guarded and filled with hatred.
Charlie’s deteriorating health is so hard to watch because of Fraser’s powerful performance. He’s a man who has allowed depression and self-loathing to take control of his life, and it’s incredibly sad to watch him suffer like this. But The Whale also never allows Charlie to be a victim, he’s the operator, he did this to himself because he allowed himself to wallow in self pity rather than confront his problems.
The supporting cast are also excellent here. Sink has been making a name for herself on Netflix’s Stranger Things and she gets to flex her dramatic muscles so much here. Ellie’s a nasty piece of work, but through Sink’s nuanced performance we see so many layers and explanations as to why she’s so guarded and filled with hatred.
Cinematographer Matthew Libatique presents the film in a 4:3 aspect ratio which I feel amplifies the gargantuan size of Charlie, whilst also making the single room that the film takes place in feel even smaller.
It’s impeccably put together thanks to Andrew Weisblum’s editing, but it’s Rob Simonsen’s moving score that ties the visuals and the dialogue together beautifully.
Whilst the Moby Dick references went way over my head as someone that’s never read it, I thought The Whale was a magnificent film to behold. The dialogue is superb, and everyone brings their best, especially Fraser who steals the show.
This is a film I’m going to be recommending to everyone I meet and it’s going to make me sound like such a pretentious idiot but I don’t care, The Whale was fantastic and it needs to be seen.
It’s impeccably put together thanks to Andrew Weisblum’s editing, but it’s Rob Simonsen’s moving score that ties the visuals and the dialogue together beautifully.
Whilst the Moby Dick references went way over my head as someone that’s never read it, I thought The Whale was a magnificent film to behold. The dialogue is superb, and everyone brings their best, especially Fraser who steals the show.
This is a film I’m going to be recommending to everyone I meet and it’s going to make me sound like such a pretentious idiot but I don’t care, The Whale was fantastic and it needs to be seen.