The Whale – A Movie Review
A reclusive English teacher attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.
Director:
Writer: Samuel D. Hunter
MPA Rating: R; Release Date: Dec. 21, 2022; Runtime: 1hr, 57 mins.
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Ty Simpkins, Hong Chau, Samantha Morton, Sathya Sridharan, Jacey Sink
**There could be spoilers**
Lay was dying to see this. I admit to feeling a bit less enthusiastic and a little uncomfortable. There’s a part of this movie that I was apprehensive about even before going in. Is it exploitative? More than probably, yes. Is it phobic in a certain way? It isn’t impossible to think that. It was a hard film to watch. Not because of any exploitation but because of the deep emotional impact and intensity of the story and the actors. It was stunning in nearly every way, and to a one, the actors were outstanding.
Critics have been relatively hard on this film, and I understand that. I think there are some good reasons to criticize this film. First, I think it was clear “Charlie” (the main character) had an eating disorder, and this was way overplayed at points during the film. It’s a stage-bound adaptation of a play. That’s not always a bad thing. In many cases, staging a film similar to the way the play was staged accentuates what works about the play. That works for this film as it pulls you into the closed-off life led by Charlie.
“The Whale” is a profoundly moving story about redemption, loss, and trauma. It revolves around a morbidly obese middle-aged man who goes into complete shock and denial after losing his boyfriend and starts to gain weight uncontrollably. After his boyfriend tragically passes away, Charlie gives up hope and becomes pessimistic and nihilist.
He uses food as a coping mechanism to suppress his deep-rooted feelings. This insatiable hunger lasts eight years until his rebellious daughter Ellie shows up. Charlie wants to reconnect with his estranged daughter, whereas his daughter feels differently. The title references Herman Melville’s novel “Moby Dick,” which plays an essential part in the movie’s narrative.
All of the actors fully embraced their characters and were utterly believable. The film was full of intense scenes, but the final scene was profoundly moving, thanks to Brendan Fraser’s incredible performance and his instant chemistry with Sadie Sink. I wouldn’t be surprised if the film garners Oscar nominations in the best actor and best-supporting actress categories for Brendan Fraser and Sadie Sink, respectively. Hong Chau is a knockout, as well.
Lay would likely give it a 9 or 10. I’m going to pull back just a little to an eight, given that the eating disorder was literalized a bit more than necessary.
(1 votes, average: 8.00 out of 10)
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