The Whale - A Movie Review

Take a moment to reflect on all the amazing parts of the world.

The Whale opened in theaters in 2022. A morbidly obese man gets a visit from his estranged daughter. Attempting to reconnect with Ellie amidst his failing health, Charlie recognizes the good of mankind.

As soon as The Whale ended, I sat back in my seat moved by this powerful film. I was not alone there. The Whale is deep. Reflecting a provocative message, the film designates viewers to avoid making judgments too quickly.

Brendan Fraser delivered the most compelling performance. Fraser’s performance should not go unnoticed. Charlie is a flawed person. Due to unfortunate events, he wears his guilt on the outside. Despite the bad endeavors, it doesn’t ruin his positive outlook on the world.

Fraser was incredible, adding his own touches of humor and decisions for the character. The role was a physical challenge as well, wearing a heavy fat suit.

The cast for The Whale was excellent. I first saw Hong Chau in The Menu. Her nomination for Best Supporting Actress in The Whale intrigued me. Chau was magnificent. Never mess with Liz. Observant of all situations, Liz looks out for Charlie, heartbroken at the knowledge that there isn’t much she can do.

Why wasn’t Sadie Sink nominated for her performance? The Stranger Things star is branching out into more profound roles. Viewers are going to have mixed opinions about Ellie. Ellie has a lot of pent-up anger. She hardly cares about anything. Fraser and Sink did an exceptional job studying this difficult relationship.

I had mixed opinions about Thomas (Ty Simpkins) and his overall involvement in the story. In my opinion, this story is about Charlie’s relationship with Ellie. His character took away from this crucial development. In the end, Thomas’s main intent is to choose what religion and beliefs you choose to believe in.

Darren Aronofsky directs films with the highest purpose. Every camera angle distinguished the film’s tone, seizing the perspective of the character. Since Charlie is immobile or moves slowly, the camera emaculates that movement. In contrast to Ellie who always walks in sharp movements, Charlie can’t see her.

Remaining in the tiny corners of Charlie’s apartment, this space is used effectively. Most of the film is spent here. This apartment has a lot of history. And you can just sense it. The fresh air felt nice whenever we briefly went outside. And yet, I was sitting in a theater.

The makeup for The Whale deserves acclaim. It took hours to fit Fraser in the prosthetics and makeup. Making Charlie’s appearance genuine was achieved. Their first intent in the appearance was not to make it a distraction. Charlie’s weight is metaphorical. He is weighed down by grievances and past mistakes.

The Whale is not an easy film, tackling serious topics and Charlie’s debilitating condition. Charlie’s binge-eating scene is difficult to watch along with vomiting the food right after. Some scenes could be triggering, like Charlie’s condition, a choking episode, and the ending of the film.

Watching the climax with an audience was a raw experience. Aronofsky’s music choices were effective, cutting into you in the finale. Walking out of the theater, this film made me appreciate the little things in life. With all the chaos that has ensued in the world, take a moment to reflect on the positives.

I implore you, The Whale is worth the watch, notably for Fraser’s immaculate performance. This is a film I would love to partake in for the first time again. Put it on your watch list during awards season.