A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Whale” (2023).
So, how’s your New Year ‘get fit’ resolution going? With my weekly circuit training, pilates and dance fitness class, my abs are killing me! The alternative though, when taken to extreme, is to head down the route that Brendan Fraser’s character Charlie has followed in “The Whale”. A life totally crippled by extreme morbid obesity.
Bob the Movie Man Rating(s):
Plot Summary:
Charlie (Brendan Fraser) lives alone in the upstairs apartment of his two-storey building. He teaches online literary classes to his pupils with the web-cam off (“broken”). That is because he is absolutely gigantic. A nurse, Liz (Hong Chau), visits regularly, continually concerned about Charlie’s failing health. Aside from a Christian evangelist (Ty Simpkins) and the knock of the pizza delivery guy, she is his only visitor. This is despite having his divorced wife Mary (Samantha Morton) and teenage child Ellie (Sadie Sink) living just across town,
How did Charlie end up this way? And with his time running out, is it too late for a reconciliation with his family?
I saw “The Whale” at a Cineworld Unlimited preview showing. It is fully released in the UK on February 3rd 2023.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC: “Strong language, sex, drug misuse”).
Talent:
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Hong Chau, Samantha Morton, Sadie Sink, Ty Simpkins.
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky.
Written by: Samuel D. Hunter.
Twitter Handles: #TheWhale; #TheWhaleMov.
A stunning Oscar-nominated piece of acting by Hong Chau as Liz. (Source: A24).
“The Whale” Review:
Positives:
- Top credits here must go to two amazing (and Oscar nominated) performances by Brendan Fraser and Hong Chau.
- Fraser manages to act his socks off despite being buried under a mountain of latex. Despite this make-up, there is SUCH a depth of emotion in his eyes. A couple of Oscar-reel-worthy outbursts are so raw and emotional that they take your breath away. In any other year, the performance might have easily grabbed the Oscar. (He is up against Austin Butler for “Elvis“, Colin Farrell for “The Banshees of Inisherin“, Paul Mescal for “Aftersun” and Bill Nighy for “Living“). And I personally wouldn’t rule him out. Hollywood loves a comeback story. After “George of the Jungle” (1997); the first two “Mummy” movies (1999 and 2001) and “Extraordinary Measures” with Harrison Ford in 2010 he’s been on pretty much a 12 year acting drought until this film.
- Hong Chau is also simply brilliant as Liz. The chemistry between the pair is phenomenal. And her character adds some much needed warmth and comedy to what is a pretty heavy (no pun intended) film. In her category she is up against Angela Bassett for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever“; Kerry Condon for “The Banshees of Inisherin“; and Jamie Lee Curtis and Stephanie Hsu, both for “Everything, Everywhere All at Once“. It’s a really tough list to call. But I’ll probably put my money on either Chau, Bassett or Curtis for the win.
- Darren Aronofsky as a director is not afraid to be controversial. His most famous films – “Requiem for a Dream”, “Black Swan” and “mother!” have all had their ‘moments’. Some of the scenes in “mother!” were certainly some of the more memorably disturbing I’ve seen at the cinema. But my fellow film reviewer Andy Godfrey commented that “The Whale” is “arguably, his most easily accessible film”. And I would agree with him. The film is based on a stage play and as such is largely based around a single set, as was the case for “Fences“, “One Night in Miami“, “The Outfit“, etc. But Aronofsky’s camera is always giving us different views and perspectives of the set, such that it doesn’t get dull. The film has a non-standard 4:3 ratio. I would normally write such tricks off as being pretentious. But here it actually helps the film to feel more claustrophobic, reflecting the locked-in world in which Charlie finds himself.
- The subject matter of the film is novel. Although as a population the UK seems to have been catching up in recent years, I was always appalled by the US obesity problem. At Disneyworld, I always notice the huge bulk of a sizable proportion of the visitors, unable to walk and scooting around on their motorised chairs. But it’s no wonder. Look at the fast food options available, the portion sizes dished out and the limited vegetable options (normally one tiny stalk of broccoli!). This movie tackles the subject head-on. Charlie is painted as the victim: a man who’s poor mental health has taken him to this place of no return. It will probably make uncomfortable viewing for some cinema-goers. But if it snaps some overweight people into taking more control of their health, that has to be a good thing.
- The third Oscar that the film is nominated for is for Make-up and Hairstyling. And you have to think it has to be one of the favourites, purely based on its dramatic transformation of Brendan Fraser into Charlie. How long must Fraser have needed in the make-up chair each day? It’s a phenomenal job.
- Rob Simonsen delivers a haunting, cello-rich score that suits the action perfectly.
Negatives:
- It’s a small but wonderful ensemble cast. But the one act that didn’t really work for me, I’m afraid, was Sadie Sink as the daughter Ellie. I’ve been trying to make sure I separate my HATRED for the despicable and just plain nasty character from the acting of Ms Sink. But I think I have. I’ve seen others comment positively about the role of the “Stranger Things” actress. But it just wasn’t for me.
- The drama was a little over-melodramatic for my personal tastes. (Given that, though, I loved the dramatic final shot).
Summary Thoughts on “The Whale”
This is a really interesting work. A work that delves into a difficult and unaddressed world affecting a small, but still important, proportion of the population. Charlie is one of the most interesting characters we are likely to see on the screen this year. A man wracked with guilt, trapped in a spiral of self-loathing gluttony he is unable to escape from. And he’s grasping for any optimism he can find in every situation (everything is “Amazing!”, whether it is or not).
Although desperately sad (it’s yet another awards-season ‘Father Ted film‘), it’s very well worth seeing. Brendan Fraser gives us a fabulous performance. I will be behind Colin Farrell to pick up the Best Actor Oscar on March 12th. But frankly, I will still feel a pang of disappointment for Brendan Fraser if he does.
By the way, the illustrious Mrs Movie Man enjoyed this one even more than I did, giving it 4.5/5: praise indeed.
Trailer for “The Whale”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D30r0CwtIKc . A neat, spoiler-free teaser trailer.
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Thanks for the translation and repost!