Rating of
3/4
People are amazing
Matthew Brady - wrote on 04/16/23
"Do you ever get the feeling that people are incapable of not caring?"
The Whale is a movie that evoked mixed reactions from people. Some saw it as beautiful and tragic, while others saw it as an offensive, cruel film. Even praising any merits of the movie can be controversial.
On the other hand, I liked the film and connected to it. Not an easy watch but with a subject matter like this would not be. With a film marker like Darren, he approaches his movie's themes with discomfort, almost like the message is punching you in the face. Not that it's beating you over the head with it, but how it is delivered feels like a rock-hard whiplash.
Although it can feel stagy as it takes place in one setting in an apartment, and yet, everything feels real and raw. There's so much hurt here that it bleeds off the screen. Every character is flawed and awful in their human way.
Sadie Sink was great as Ellie, Charlie’s daughter. However, I think her character was a bit one-note, as the writer only gave her one angry emotion throughout. Not Sadie’s fault, as she still managed to shine through.
Hong Chau, who has been on a winning streak recently, is fantastic in this movie. She plays Liz, Charlie’s best friend, and nurse, that comes in and out of the story. We are aware of how bad his health is through her, and despite her many pleads for him to go to the hospital due to dangerously high blood pressure of 238 over 134, they both know it would not make a difference because he doesn’t have long to live.
Samantha Morton only has one scene but makes every second memorable. She was superb.
The supporting cast was all solid. But we all know the star of the show.
Brendan Fraser delivers a devastating performance that is one for the ages. I knew beforehand he would be brilliant in the role just by the fact he's working with a solid director for actors and how in interviews, Brendan sounds/looks like he is about to cry. Fraser himself has had a rough couple of years which has become public knowledge, often leading to either sympathy or mockery. I can easily imagine that that experience helped fuel his performance during scenes that I could suspect would be difficult for any actor to perform. Just thinking about it can easily make me teary-eyed. He deserved that Oscar!
Fraser has accurately described Charlie as a superhero because if he had any powers, they would be strength and human compassion. He quite literally carries his weight, limiting his movement around the apartment. His weight also makes him an easy target for ridicule and judgmental stares. He has mental issues and an unhealthy opinion of himself. He eats when he feels down or out of comfort. But his strength is the determination to keep going, and he sees the good in people no matter what they think of him. He has a positive attitude to life. It may seem a weakness to weak-minded people, but it only makes him resilient.
Speaking of that, I don't understand why people call this movie fatphobic or misery porn. Aronofsky always approaches his themes and ideas but in a harsh way. This movie aims for people to be more respectful to others rather than dehumanize them.
During my screening, two idiots wouldn't shut up and made fun of Charlie when he wasn't doing anything. After the film was over, they made terrible Whale puns. The movie harshly shows people's attitude towards overweight people rather than "torturing" Charlie. The movie is not saying, "Eww, look at him", but rather Eww, look at those fatphobic people. Those two dipshits only proved the movie's point.
Overall rating: It was an exceptional movie experience for me. I watched it with my mum, and we hugged each other at the end. This has never happened to me before after the end of a movie. The Whale is the most heartfelt and (at times) funniest movie Darren Aronofsky has made.
