For me, it goes without saying that Brendan Fraser was a huge part of my childhood and remains one of my favorite actors working today. Not everyone in the industry gets a fair shake though, such is the case with Mr. Fraser, who was mistreated by Hollywood and had to overcome many struggles throughout his career. Brendan always has been a great and versatile actor, and with Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale, Brendan successfully makes a big time comeback. In short, The Whale is about a reclusive morbidly obese English teacher who tries to make one last attempt to reconnect with his estranged daughter. I say without hyperbole that Brendan should win the Best Actor award for his powerhouse performance here. Brendan had the tough task of selling to the viewer that he’s this 600 pound man, barely able to stand, walk and even show his face on camera to his online college students. It cannot be praised enough the sheer range of emotions that Brendan is able to pull off as the character of Charlie, whether it be during scenes of him trying bring levity or moments of serious gut punching drama. Sadie Sink plays Charlie’s daughter Ellie and delivers genuinely an outstanding performance as a teenager who feels like her dad abandoned her family. She gives off a very rebellious teen vibe but with an extra dose of spite that adds to the believability of her fractured relationship with her father. Hong Chau does an excellent job as Charlie’s friend/nurse Liz and I’d rather not go too much into her role as it would venture into spoiler territory. Ty Simpkins plays a missionary attempting to save Charlie’s soul and their back and forth conversations about faith are really well done. Their wildly different perspectives and debates of God and religion are thoughtfully executed and reminiscent of the divide in today’s society between believers and non-believers. The tone is very bleak and the 4:3 aspect ratio plays a part in giving the film a grossly claustrophobic feeling. Not all the underlying attempts at political commentary come together cleanly and this movie does the unnecessary thing where a character is watching television in the background with modern news reporters talking about contemporary politics and politicians. I sort of get what they were trying to go for with it, but for me it felt so separate from the rest of the film that it could’ve been completely cut out. What really makes this a movie worth watching is that at its core, it’s about an unkempt, unhygienic, and disgustingly obese man who is making every sort of effort to make amends with his daughter. The scenes between Charlie and Ellie are genuinely touching and will no doubt hit home for any parent, especially those who have been in the same sad situation as Charlie. The last act is truly heartbreaking and I’ll admit, Brendan brought a tear to my eye. This won’t be for everyone, so if you’re uncomfortable with movies showcasing extreme eating disorders, severe depression, and realistically dysfunctional family dynamics, then I would advise to sit this one out. Overall, while some of its more lofty thematic ambitions don’t fully come together clearly, Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale is an emotionally moving and deeply touching father/daughter reconnection story that showcases the versatility, range, and brilliance that Brendan Fraser can bring to an otherwise ordinary narrative.
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