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Who would have thought that the charming nineties star Brendan Fraser, would make a Cinderella-like return with The Whale? Fraser was where every other Hollywood star ends up – Oblivion. A far cry from his old muscular self, Fraser had been sidelined since 2009, though not totally forgotten.
Why is self-destruction so compelling to watch on the big screen? The latest successful Indian movie that championed self-destruction to a celebratory grunge guitar score, taking off from the numerous Devdas adaptations, was Kabir Singh, a Hindi remake of the same director’s Telugu hit Arjun Reddy.
Darren Aronofsky has often chronicled the fall, cruelty and darkness of the human spirit, and as in The Wrestler (2008), Aronofsky extracts a terrific heart wrenching lead performance in The Whale.
Brendan Fraser with the help of some terrific make-up, plays an extremely obese middle-aged online English teacher, ex-husband and a grieving gay man, who attempts a final fling at redemption with his separated daughter. This is a Cinderella-like acting comeback from Fraser.
Limited setting? Not an issue! Despite the almost-play like set up, the art blokes ensure that the single room setting, where most of the movie takes place, never feels one-dimensional. In fact, I forgot that most of the proceedings occur at a home, and mostly in a room, because Brendan Fraser, and his whale like frame is riveting.
What is not seen as poetry: Writer Samuel D. Hunter adapts from his play, even as Aronofsky uses minimalist settings to poetic effect. The sea is heard but seldom seen. The regular pizza delivery guy is only an outline. The rain is a background, but a constant rhythm. A bird outside the window, a nice touch.
Love how the Moby Dick essay extract is all at once a symbolism for the lead’s physical state and sexual orientation, about why literature resonates, and eventually reveals a family bond. Also, liked how each character’s layered graph kept the story moving and immediate.
Acting chops: The ensemble is good too, though Fraser is destined to loom over them like a kind, mammoth sea creature.
Sadie Sink is the right kind of ruthless as the rebellious daughter. Ty Simpkins does a nice ‘man from the church’ cameo. Hong Chau is consistently believable as Charlie’s (Brendan Fraser) helper and friend. Samantha Morton barely bas any screen time, but leaves an agonized, exasperated stamp.
Artful lights and camera: The Matthew Libatique cinematography uses dim indoor lighting and limited colours to great effect.
Andrew Weisblum’s editing is good, couple of scenes needed sharper cuts. Rob Simonsen’s music is effective in complimenting the scenes, never overpowering them, even the final surge to the end credits is spot on.
Downers? I need a flashback magnifying glass for this one.
Uh, maybe the obese body make-up needed more work, more texture? How about a few seconds more of razor-sharp editing? But these so-called faults, I found to be minimal, there only if minutely probed on.
The Whale review: The Whale is an impressive, realistic drama on love, loss, family, obesity, self-destruction and the levitating quality of love, despite the human messiness and coldness around it. At once a father-daughter story, but also of man’s fight against his own demons.
Afterword: Brendan Fraser went on to win the 2023 Best Actor Oscar for his performance in The Whale. The movie also won an Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Hong Chau was nominated for Best Supporting Actress Oscar, she plays a nurse, and the main character’s only friend in the movie. She lost to Jamie Lee Curtis, who won it for her turn in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Hi, i liked the review