The Whale

Starring: Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Ty Simpkins, Hong Chau, Samantha Morton, Sathya Sridharan
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
2022

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary:
An incredibly obese man (Brendan Fraser) struggles with his body shutting down as he reflects on his life and tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter (Sadie Sink).

Review:

Tim: Darren Aronofsky has long been one of the most interesting directors in Hollywood. When he delivers, his films are forgettable and outstanding (Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan). However, his films have also been good, decent, and atrocious (Mother). He has nearly unlimited upside, though, which is on display with The Whale. I loved so much about this film. It's brutal, heartbreaking, unforgettable. I couldn't look away from the screen when everything in me desperately wanted to. This is the kind of film that resonates so powerfully, that feels unique in a sea of endless films. It's absolutely one of the best movies of 2022 and a movie I'll never forget.

The film focuses on a morbidly obese protagonist, Charlie. What you first notice about him is his unfathomable weight. Obsessive comfort eating and lack of exercise has made him a shut-in. It takes everything he has to lift the weight of his body off the couch or bed, then lumbers painfully to the bathroom or kitchen, before collapsing under his weight again. It's heartbreaking, a shattering reminder that many human beings (too many, especially in America) live like this. It's nearly unfathomable, to watch a person a prison of their own body. The film never flinches away from this- it's transfixed on what it would be like to be hundreds of pounds overweight, how everything in life would take too much effort. It focuses our attention on the mental, physical, and emotional toll of immense obesity. I'm swallowing a bit hard right now, just contemplating how this would alter every aspect of your life. Living would be so incredibly difficult, moment-to-moment. And, because of this horrendous existence, you see the escape into food. Eating food not for sustenance, but as a lifeline. We watch a human being slowly killing himself to feel good when his coping mechanism is to shovel massive amounts of food into his body. It's all so tragic. I love that the film put this character front-and-center. We need to acknowledge that this is the reality for some people. I loved this film for showing this aspect of humanity.

But here's the brilliant thing- the film treats Charlie with respect. As a character, he calls himself disgusting and he knows that's how people see him. They can't see past the weight. We all tend to do this, to focus on an ailment instead of the human being behind it. The nearly 2 hour movie focuses on who Charlie is, outside of his affliction. His story is beautiful and as heartbreaking as where his unhealthy coping mechanism has led him. We learn about his tragic past, which spurred him onto the trail of immense obesity. We learn about his ex-wife, his struggling daughter. Charlie suffers so much and has so many reasons to be miserable, yet his humanity, his kindness, his positivity is what lingers longest in our minds. We see his closest friend and learn of their connection. We see her simultaneously pleading with him to change his life, which reluctantly feeding his obsession. This isn't a movie that flinches away or pulls any punches. It shows the complexity of situations like this. Aronosky deserves immense credit for the way he stages this film, the way the story unfolds.

I've gone on about the story long enough. I need to talk about Brendan Fraser. I've long been a huge Fraser fan- The Mummy is one of my all-time favorite films, and Fraser's run on Scrubs was one of the most heartbreaking I've ever seen. I've never understood why he spent so much time on the outside of Hollywood. He is a talented guy, by all accounts, a great person, but his career has never been what it should have been. Wow, how to describe the performance he delivers here? You might be awed just by the fact that he dons this fat suit, 300+ pounds crushing his frame. Watching him fight against the weight is stunning. However, that's not what makes his performance special. It's what he does with his face, his eyes, his expressions. It's the emotional gut punch he delivers in some of the most powerful, brutal scenes I've ever seen. Fraser makes you love Charlie, even as your heart breaks for him. It's one of the more complicated, amazing performances I have seen. He takes a role that could have been "Actor X wears a fat suit" and delivers a mesmerizing, beautiful, disgusting, complex performance. Fraser has always been great, but he's never been better than here. In a stunning comeback story, Fraser won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Academy Award Winner Brendan Fraser. Amazing. I'll just add here that the film also won Best Makeup and Hairstyling, which was so well deserved. It transformed Fraser into this character. While he wouldn't have won without his stunning performance, he looked the role, so I was so thankful the film won for that category, too.

This movie isn't just about Fraser, though. Sadie Sink gives a shockingly good performance, too. I've enjoyed her work on Stranger Things, but I had no idea she was this talented. Her character will make you angry, but she plays it perfectly. She's a contrast to so much of who Charlie is and Sink brings all these things to life. I left the movie so impressed with her as an actress. Ty Simpkins is good, too. His role involves the weakest subplot of the film. It's never bad, but it's odd and a bit disjointed from the main storyline. He acts well, so no complaints from me. I'm so excited to talk about Hong Chau here. Chau has quietly been building a truly effective resume. I've liked her in everything I've seen her in so far. That was all setting the stage for her performance here, which is simply brilliant. Chau makes this character feel so complex- her actions contradictory, her emotions all over the place. Acting opposite Fraser in this role, you'd be forgiven for expecting Chau to be overshadowed. That never happens. She is an absolute force in this film and the scenes between Chau and Fraser are among the very best in this movie. Chau was outstanding and reinforces what a great actress she is. She was deservedly nominated for Best Supporting Actress. I also enjoyed seeing Samantha Morton here. I've never been a huge fan of her, but she is undoubtedly talented and I felt very impressed with the screen time she has. As a whole, Aronofsky assembles the perfect cast for this film and helps them all give career-best performances.

The Whale is brilliant, emotionally devastating, a movie that does so much right. It forces us to consider an aspect of humanity that most people have never considered, and don't especially want to. I've had a bit of a closer look at morbid obesity than most people and I can vouch that this film treats the subject with respect and authenticity. This movie is simply incredible.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Black Swan, Requiem for a Dream, The Menu, Driveways