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After receiving a six-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale was suddenly added to everyone’s must-see list. But while audiences may be eager to see lovable Hollywood underdog Brendan Fraser in this career-reviving lead role, this definitely isn’t the kind of film that made audiences fall in love with him in the first place.
The Whale searches for meaning in life with Charlie (Fraser), a reclusive English professor who teaches writing courses online. Since his partner’s death, Charlie has eaten his way through his pain, leaving him obese and miserable—and now his body is clearly shutting down. He refuses to go to the hospital, relying instead on his friend, Liz (Hong Chau), who checks in on him every day. But Charlie is aware that his life is almost over, so he reaches out to his estranged daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink), desperate for a connection.
As Charlie begs Ellie to spend time with him, bribing her with money and well-written English assignments, he gets little more than hatred and manipulation in return. Yet he takes it all with a smile on his face, eager to find the slightest hint of hope in this angry, bitter teen. But that’s just part of the agony of The Whale, this painful story of misery, hopelessness, and self-loathing—of this man who’s convinced that he has no worth, that his cruel teenage daughter is the only thing in his life that wasn’t a complete failure.
Fraser definitely gives an outstanding performance, transforming himself into this character and breaking audiences’ hearts in the process. Yet, at the same time, you can’t help but feel sorry for him for agreeing to a role that seems to take pleasure in turning him into something bordering on grotesque. Charlie isn’t just overweight; he’s obese in an exploitative, reality TV kind of way. Aronofsky focuses on the wheeze of each breath, on the sweat stains on his shirt, on the slurping sounds as he gorges himself on fried chicken and pizza.
Some aspects of this film are done so well, so brilliantly. Yet it’s all such a painful experience that it’s difficult to recommend sitting through it.
With his truly heartbreaking performance, Brendan Fraser has earned every bit of the Award Season buzz that’s currently swirling around him. It’s definitely a winning turn. But even his most devoted fans will struggle to endure the film’s constant misery.
Following a limited release rollout, The Whale expands to a wide theatrical release on December 21, 2022.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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