While The Whale deals with a lot of familiar themes Aronofsky has explored before (addiction, a man at the end of his life facing regret, toxic father/daughter relationships), I still found it incredibly disturbing and quite emotionally affecting. For several days I couldn’t get it out of my head. But then again, one doesn’t go into an Aronofsky film expecting a good time.
Sadie Sink and Hong Chau are excellent as a supporting cast, and of course the star of the show is Brendan Fraser, who gives the performance of the year and possibly a lifetime.
One thing I noticed is how both the father and the daughter have a common ground in how their inner life conflicts with the way the world perceives them. Society sees Charlie as a obscenely fat monster, but doesn’t see him as the intelligent and kind person he really is. Likewise many dismiss Ellie’s savage behavior as sociopathy, when it reality she is a brilliant and compassionate person who uses cruelty as a shield after her father hurt her so deeply. Only Charlie’s immense empathy can see through it, and it what finally gives them
I know that The Whale was a play, but I was still surprised at how straightforward Aronofsky's take on it was. I kept expecting it to get into surreal territory, especially with the doom-saying missionary who comes knocking a few times. But he lets it be what it's meant to be, an acting showcase and literate drama, couched (pun not intended) in material pulled from the Bible and, most especially, Moby Dick. Brendan Fraser is incredibly sympathetic as a morbidly obese man, in physical and mental pain, whose heart is about to give out and knows it - that's one of the more obvious metaphors - and is well supported by a strong cast. Moby Dick also brings in the idea of obsession, which translates as both itself and addiction for a number of characters. And then there's a complex interplay of intention vs. result, with contradictory examples of cruel kindness and kind cruelty (epitomized by the monstrously angry daughter played by Sadie Sink), the idea that we can inadvertently cause harm while trying to do good very much at the forefront of the main character's guilt, but he's a victim of it as well. Protection by omission is only one aspect of this, and what we have here is a character who has omitted himself from the world to protect others.
Amazing, bit of weakness at the end. Fraser is just marvelous in this, but the real MVP of the movie is the girls dialogue, it's so harsh that make your stomach feel weird.
A couple of scenes were a bit much, but overall I liked it and Brendan was just that good. Sadie Sink as his daughter was an excellent character.
Would definitely recommend it, unlike Mother!
A Grand Achievement. This movie (originally a play) was written by someone who truly understand the human spirit.
Too often in modern movies i find myself losing interest because the characters don't act believably. (This is one of the things that made "Better Call Saul" amazing as well)
It very telling that whenever someone is honest (or tells the truth) that is transformative. While the times things are sugarcoated, nothing happens.
Truth is often stark, and cuts, and is not pleasant, but without it people just keep living in their illusions. Like every line of dialogue from Ellie cut like a knife.
I believe we humans have a detector in our soul or subconscious for truth, and when we feel something is BS or dishonest, we stop caring. This movie did the opposite, it made me care.
Interesting and serious to watch and there is so much going from start to end although all the activities take place in one apartment only. Overweight, parent child relationship, be yourself ...
There are other notable performances too next to Brendan Fraser and Hong Chau, like Sadie Sink as Ellie with her ambiguous behavior.
Any movie directed by Darren Aronofsky contains a lot of violent scenes that are unfamiliar and hard on the eyes to see. Darren Aronofsky is a director whose work must be eagerly awaited because one of his films, Requiem of Dream 2000, is one of my favorites.
The most important event in the movie The Whale is the star Brendan Fraser, after suffering from many health problems, especially with the spine, and was forced to perform surgeries, in addition to the withdrawal of lights and fame from him, and his playing movie roles that didn't achieve wide success.
Brendan Fraser played a terrible role that deserves an Academy Award due to his genius performance, and you do not expect this wonderful acting performance from him, especially since he is an actor who is very good at comedy roles. He did a lot of dramatic work, but he didn't reach perfection like the one in the movie The Whale.
This amazing drama was like a oneman show although the other actors did well but the main reason for my admiration for the movie is Brendan Fraser. It was the make-up and the way the breathing was unbelievable and it's mind blowing how someone can pull off such a role
The film was shot in only one location, with the exception of the flashback scenes. Sadie Sink It was provocative from the first minutes, getting on your nerves and pushing you to throw something on the visual medium through which you watch the movie, whether it is a mobile phone, a laptop, or even in theaters.
Hong Chau has an incredible charisma and addition to any work, even if she didn't appear much, and I wish to see her in many scenes, she is wonderful.
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Comments 1 - 14 of 14
SpacedJ
Darren Aronofsky is the master of making an amazing film that affects me deeply that I also never want to see again.Matt Addis
While The Whale deals with a lot of familiar themes Aronofsky has explored before (addiction, a man at the end of his life facing regret, toxic father/daughter relationships), I still found it incredibly disturbing and quite emotionally affecting. For several days I couldn’t get it out of my head. But then again, one doesn’t go into an Aronofsky film expecting a good time.Sadie Sink and Hong Chau are excellent as a supporting cast, and of course the star of the show is Brendan Fraser, who gives the performance of the year and possibly a lifetime.
One thing I noticed is how both the father and the daughter have a common ground in how their inner life conflicts with the way the world perceives them. Society sees Charlie as a obscenely fat monster, but doesn’t see him as the intelligent and kind person he really is. Likewise many dismiss Ellie’s savage behavior as sociopathy, when it reality she is a brilliant and compassionate person who uses cruelty as a shield after her father hurt her so deeply. Only Charlie’s immense empathy can see through it, and it what finally gives them
Siskoid
I know that The Whale was a play, but I was still surprised at how straightforward Aronofsky's take on it was. I kept expecting it to get into surreal territory, especially with the doom-saying missionary who comes knocking a few times. But he lets it be what it's meant to be, an acting showcase and literate drama, couched (pun not intended) in material pulled from the Bible and, most especially, Moby Dick. Brendan Fraser is incredibly sympathetic as a morbidly obese man, in physical and mental pain, whose heart is about to give out and knows it - that's one of the more obvious metaphors - and is well supported by a strong cast. Moby Dick also brings in the idea of obsession, which translates as both itself and addiction for a number of characters. And then there's a complex interplay of intention vs. result, with contradictory examples of cruel kindness and kind cruelty (epitomized by the monstrously angry daughter played by Sadie Sink), the idea that we can inadvertently cause harm while trying to do good very much at the forefront of the main character's guilt, but he's a victim of it as well. Protection by omission is only one aspect of this, and what we have here is a character who has omitted himself from the world to protect others.JG94
Amazing, bit of weakness at the end. Fraser is just marvelous in this, but the real MVP of the movie is the girls dialogue, it's so harsh that make your stomach feel weird.MetaBull
A couple of scenes were a bit much, but overall I liked it and Brendan was just that good. Sadie Sink as his daughter was an excellent character.Would definitely recommend it, unlike Mother!
SweetVanillaFreshness
A Grand Achievement. This movie (originally a play) was written by someone who truly understand the human spirit.Too often in modern movies i find myself losing interest because the characters don't act believably. (This is one of the things that made "Better Call Saul" amazing as well)
It very telling that whenever someone is honest (or tells the truth) that is transformative. While the times things are sugarcoated, nothing happens.
Truth is often stark, and cuts, and is not pleasant, but without it people just keep living in their illusions. Like every line of dialogue from Ellie cut like a knife.
I believe we humans have a detector in our soul or subconscious for truth, and when we feel something is BS or dishonest, we stop caring. This movie did the opposite, it made me care.
I highly recommend it
BLJNBrouwer
"I need to know that I have done one thing right with my life!"Sheer Brenaissance
boulderman
Great film, 8/10Fan drama, excellent story with brilliant characters who are fully developed and realised.
Grey cinematography tad annoying.
Companion piece to The Wrestler, very similar
samoan
I am not crying your cryinggreenhorg
'Requiem for a Dreamsicle'... 'Pie'
CodeV
Interesting and serious to watch and there is so much going from start to end although all the activities take place in one apartment only. Overweight, parent child relationship, be yourself ...There are other notable performances too next to Brendan Fraser and Hong Chau, like Sadie Sink as Ellie with her ambiguous behavior.
ucuruju
oof.ahmetaslan27
Any movie directed by Darren Aronofsky contains a lot of violent scenes that are unfamiliar and hard on the eyes to see. Darren Aronofsky is a director whose work must be eagerly awaited because one of his films, Requiem of Dream 2000, is one of my favorites.The most important event in the movie The Whale is the star Brendan Fraser, after suffering from many health problems, especially with the spine, and was forced to perform surgeries, in addition to the withdrawal of lights and fame from him, and his playing movie roles that didn't achieve wide success.
Brendan Fraser played a terrible role that deserves an Academy Award due to his genius performance, and you do not expect this wonderful acting performance from him, especially since he is an actor who is very good at comedy roles. He did a lot of dramatic work, but he didn't reach perfection like the one in the movie The Whale.
This amazing drama was like a oneman show although the other actors did well but the main reason for my admiration for the movie is Brendan Fraser. It was the make-up and the way the breathing was unbelievable and it's mind blowing how someone can pull off such a role
The film was shot in only one location, with the exception of the flashback scenes. Sadie Sink It was provocative from the first minutes, getting on your nerves and pushing you to throw something on the visual medium through which you watch the movie, whether it is a mobile phone, a laptop, or even in theaters.
Hong Chau has an incredible charisma and addition to any work, even if she didn't appear much, and I wish to see her in many scenes, she is wonderful.
devilsadvocado
Essentially Space Jam if Space Jam were confined to a single location. Fat Brendan really nails the Bugs Bunny archetype here.