A visceral, claustrophobic tale of redemption as a morbidly obese man desperately looks to reconnect with the teenage daughter he has not spoken to in years.
Barely moving from his chair, holding court with his online English literature students, Charlie (an extraordinary Brendan Fraser – The Mummy, Killers of the Flower Moon) struggles with guilt and profound grief. Having walked out of his marriage for a former (male) student, Charlie now finds himself alone with only his nurse, Liz (Hong Chau – Downsizing, The Menu), showing any concern for a man with a blood pressure of 238/134. The arrival of his estranged daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink – The Glass Castle, TV’s Stranger Things) provides Charlie with hope.
Adapted from the stage play by Samuel D. Hunter, The Whale is the perfect companion piece to the alcoholic self destruction of Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas. Director Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler) cautiously explores issues of loneliness, grief, guilt, fat shaming – with the latter undoubtedly the elephant in the room as Charlie slowly eats himself to his death. It’s not always an easy watch – and with Ellie a one-dimensional angry teenager, sometimes grating. But The Whale, if nothing else, confirms the renaissance of Brendan Fraser.
Nominated for 3 Oscars in 2023 including best supporting actress (Hong Chau), won 2 for best actor and makeup/hair.
Rating: 66%
As the storyline unfolded (not having read any reviews), my initial response was that Jennifer Lawrence was nuts. The powders she kept in the bathroom didn’t help me change my mind. But husband Javier Bardem’s increasingly rash and illogical egocentric decisions made me wonder…
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