REVIEW: The Whale (2022)

Movie Reviews

Originally, I wasn’t planning to see The Whale. I love Brendan Fraser, and it’s been awesome seeing him on the screen again, but it looked too drab and dire for me. This movie has received rave reviews, particularly for Fraser’s performance as a depressed, morbidly obese teacher. I saw it on a whim this past weekend, so I figured I’d talk about it. Let’s have a look. 

Based on Samuel D. Hunter’s play of the same name, The Whale follows online English professor Charlie (Fraser) in the week following a troubling prognosis. Charlie contacts his estranged daughter (Sadie Sink) and begins helping her with homework. He also makes friends with a missionary and a pizza delivery boy and reconnects with his daughter’s mother (Samantha Morton) in what may be his last days. 

Although this is an intimate story confined to Charlie’s apartment, I never once felt bored or distracted. Another main character is Liz (Hong Chau), Charlie’s nurse friend with deeper ties we discover throughout the film. The relationship between these two is interesting enough to sustain the story until Ellie (Sink) shows up. It’s immediately apparent that they’re great friends, but I wanted context, which is indeed provided. We also learn more about Charlie’s past and Ellie’s mother later in the movie. I’m beyond impressed that a film with so few characters and only one setting is so engaging. The dialogue and acting carry the first act, at least. This comparison may be unfair or counterintuitive, but I spent much of The Whale thinking about The Fabelmans. The Fabelmans’ story was very different from The Whale’s, but the dramatic tone and realistic story approach remind me of it. Bear in mind that I don’t watch a lot of family dramas, so that may very well be where the similarities end. Regardless, I found this claustrophobic and bare-bones setting far more engaging than the cities, homes, and schools in which The Fabelmans took place. Especially after The Whale ended, I realized that many people could find this movie stressful like I did The Fabelmans. The Whale does have some scenes that are hard to stomach; I will come back to this. And I feel that Charlie’s overall arc is a depressing one, and this is a character study that slowly reveals information about him. None of this bothered me or deterred my enjoyment; this is merely an observation that The Whale, like The Fabelmans, may not be for everyone. 

This is one of the best-directed movies I’ve seen in a while. The performances are excellent across the board, and I found myself forgetting I was just watching a movie. I really felt like I was in Charlie’s world, like I was part of it in an uncomfortable way. You sort of feel like a voyeur when Charlie dresses himself or struggles to get to the restroom. As I said, this didn’t bother me (too much), but it’s easy to imagine this disturbing some people. I only realized after the movie had been over for a while that it takes place entirely in his apartment and mostly in his living room. When we see Charlie’s room or the interior of a locked room, it’s like a treat, a swift glance at something forbidden. Although the subject matter may not suggest as much, the camera work is sublime for what Darren Aronofsky is going for. 

And, of course, this all comes back to the performances from an outstanding cast. Brendan Fraser is just as good, as heartbreaking, and as pitiful as you’ve heard. They’re calling this the performance of a lifetime, and he said he gave it everything. I don’t know about you, but that sends me in with pretty high expectations! He absolutely deserves the hype he’s receiving for this role. I’ve loved him in fun romps like The Mummy and his quiet cowboy persona in Trust, but I’ve never sensed so much emotion from one of his performances. Hong Chau is captivating as Liz; every time she’s on screen, I want to know more. Even when she’s screaming at a hapless young missionary, I just have to laugh. I can’t say I liked Ellie, but Sadie Sink is good in the role. She’s convincing, and that’s all she needs to be. The movie wouldn’t really work if she was a sweet, devoted daughter, would it? Part of Charlie’s tragedy is that he lives in denial. He truly believes that his life can have some deeper meaning through his daughter. But from what little we know, she’s a terrible person who takes photos of dead dogs and bullies her schoolmates. Charlie’s insistence that his daughter is wonderful, kind, and empathetic reeks of desperation. He so badly wants his life to have some higher purpose that he’s willing to lie to himself and those around him. But the most frustrating thing about The Whale is watching Charlie refuse to seek medical attention and stuff himself sick. 

This comes back to the scenes that did make me at least somewhat uncomfortable. The film opens with one, and to put it briefly, Charlie is watching porn. This caught me off guard, but it’s not offensive to me. I just didn’t expect it, especially so early on. This is nothing compared to what comes later as Charlie piles food on top of a pizza and shoves it in his mouth. Charlie’s compulsive eating is the hardest part of The Whale for me to stomach, pun intended. Don’t eat right before your showing. I don’t begrudge the movie for this because Aronofsky is clearly making a point, and it works. 

The Whale is an exercise in frustration and self-pity. Charlie is interesting and sympathetic enough to sustain this movie, not in spite of his condition but because of it. I can’t say if I’d recommend this movie or not because I’m not sure who would enjoy it. I’m sure by now, you know if you want to give it a chance. At least we can all (or most) be happy for Brendan Fraser.