The Whale
A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption.
- Released:
- Runtime: 117 minutes
- Genre: Drama
- Stars: Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Samantha Morton, Ty Simpkins, Hong Chau, Sathya Sridharan, Huck Milner, Ryan Heinke, Ryan Heinke, Huck Milner, Jacey Sink
- Director: Darren Aronofsky
Comments
- vigneshvv-99358 - 30 June 2024
I rewatched most of scenes again and again and again repeatedly
While i watching this movie I cried after a long time in a positive way ... Wonderful movie ,amazing story, amazing screen play , everyone acted very well ... That church boy's scene wow ... And their conversation wow...it's the reality we're living in ... Charlie and his friend's scenes are greatly developed I rewatched most of scenes again and again and again repeatedly ... And Moby dick essay... wow -No word's to say ...we never satisfy at anything even we achieved everything... And pizza delivery guy scenes... And their colleagues expressions at the end Clicmax white screen scene Wow ... One of the best movie I ever watched in my life time ...and i cried only for 2 movies 1 is Grace of the fireflies 2nd is The whale ... This movie. - suziep-73841 - 23 April 2024
Own Worst Enemy
This movie was just ok. A man's partner dies and he ends up eating himself into oblivion over the years. He ruins all his relationships with just about everyone along the way and becomes a recluse. He doesn't want any professional help nor isn't going to help himself either, so why should we feel sorry for him?? If you haven't had a serious weight problem in the past, you probably can not empathize or how could you?
It's either get busy living or get busy dying. You have to do better for yourself.
We find out he had a ton of money saved to help himself but he chooses to eat himself to death- selfish.
Meh... it's no masterpiece. - montanaromichael - 23 March 2024
misunderstood masterpiece
The Whale is a masterpiece. It's amazing how a movie about Charlie, an obese man dying to be a professor at home, can wrap you up for the duration of the movie, keeping you on track and making you love the characters and get excited. Because this is precisely the goal of the film: to make you reflect with emotions. One thing that I really liked is the choice to shoot the film in the old 4:3 format to encourage more attention of the viewer: it seems a small detail, But I think it's one of the things that makes the movie great. Another incredible thing is that the film is shot only inside the house of Charlie and the only movements that you notice are those of his carer and his daughter who enter and leave the house, also because Charlie is practically always sitting on his sofa. The costumes, the setting, the sound and the makeup are something incredible. Brendan Fraser has done a perfect job, when I think of the actor I think of Charlie, because he seemed to me not only a character in a movie, but someone real. Sadie Sink's performance is also excellent as her character, Ellie, is characterized and written perfectly. The photography and the direction are beautiful. Aronofsky has done an excellent job on the organization of the film and on how to manage not to make everything seem heavy: in fact, the two hours fly. The ending is simply perfect, emotions in a thousand with an organization, a photograph and an incredible sound. After the end of the film I could not move a muscle or simply look away from the screen, the film had influenced me so much that I could not leave, I wanted to stay in the room forever. The Whale is without ifs and buts a wonderful film and in my opinion it is the most underrated film ever, there is too little talk about it especially for the social importance it has.
. Rating: 9.8/10. - cgearheart - 11 January 2023
A mean version of The Wrestler (2008)
I had an incredibly hard time knowing what to write for this movie, but after giving it some long and hard thought, I'm torn. Brendan Fraser gives a career best performance and hits all the right notes, as does the rest of the cast. The issue for me was how the material was handled. I heard so many critics saying how "kind" and "empathetic" this movie was and how it was Aronofsky's first movie since The Wrestler to accomplish such a thing. The only thing I can say is that this movie is basically a carbon copy of The Wrestler, right down to the ending, but it was anything but empathetic and kind. Unfortunately, one of my biggest complaints of this movie was how mean spirited it was. The only kindness we really get is from Fraser's Charlie. Even Simpkin's ever sweet character succumbs to cruelty. I also understand that the filmmakers want so bad to show food as an addiction, but it got way too over the top. The whole movie, even down to the title, feels more or less like a sideshow attraction to Fraser's character. Plain and simple, it's as much a dramatic character story as it is a deeply cynical body horror film. I'm disappointed.
C. - eli-88690 - 8 January 2023
An outstanding work or art
I found it to be an exceptional and groundbreaking work of art. A heart-wrenching journey of hope and faith with one of the most intense spiritual breakthrough scenes of any film I've seen. The Whale is the Rain Man of morbid obesity.
I found it to be an exceptional and groundbreaking work of art. A heart-wrenching journey of hope and faith with one of the most intense spiritual breakthrough scenes of any film I've seen. The Whale is the Rain Man of morbid obesity.
I found it to be an exceptional and groundbreaking work of art. A heart-wrenching journey of hope and faith with one of the most intense spiritual breakthrough scenes of any film I've seen. The Whale is the Rain Man of morbid obesity. - wittkecmission - 4 January 2023
Easy on the trans fats...
Oh my god. I came very close to crying and I don't easily do that. Brendan Frasier's character and performance deeply moved me and gave me a lot of perspective. He represents the frustration, despair, and loneliness that the vast majority of us experienced during the pandemic. The Whale is the story of a gay man who loses his lover, falls into depression, engorges himself with fast food upon fast food, blows up like a weather balloon and refuses medical attention because he would much prefer the sweet deliverance of a heart attack. But before he departs from Earth, he attempts to repair his relationship with his estranged daughter and to see if he has done one good thing in his life. It's a powerful tale that nobody is beyond redemption. If Brendan Frasier doesn't win an Oscar, I will be VERY upset. Also, I would like to address the woke mob criticizing the fact that a non-obese actor is playing an obese character and saying, "Don't even TRY to put yourself in their shoes because you could NEVER know!" First of all, the main point of acting is NOT being yourself for a few minutes, to gain perspective and experience. Second of all, should only obese actors play obese characters? Because a lot of them would not be comfortable doing that. Third of all, casting should be based on merit as much as accuracy. The best possible actor should be chosen for the role and Brendan Frasier has proven himself in this case, which is why The Whale merits a 10/10.
P. S. This film was surprisingly tame by Darren Aronofsky's standards. I was expecting at least three nightmarish scenes based on his previous films like Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan. - Poshlust - 2 January 2023
Great performance
The acting was some of the best I have seen. The shots were well done and the never got boring despite being set mostly in the same location. They maintained the theme of confinement and isolation in an inspired way. My only complaint is the ending was a bit goofy and kind of cut the tone short. However, the performances were so fantastic that I can forgive that flaw. I am not the biggest of of this director, but this film is easily one of the best I've seen in a while, and I will be rewatching it soon. There's the common themes of religion and spirituality he seems to like using in all of his films, however here I think it was handled well without being overly crude or on the nose. - jsnk86 - 31 December 2022
In 2022 it's no surprise there's so much praise for this film..
I honestly felt NOTHING after watching this movie. The way that Charlie is portrayed is indeed sad but also tacky too. Sound effects, grease stains and a lot of sweat will definitely get the intended message across, heck even the title name adds to the flair. I could not become emotionally invested in Charlie and his downfall caused by a relationship that should have never existed, it's actually maddening. The whole thing shot in the confines of a small apartment...doesn't translate to the big screen. A play is what it is. Fraser was great as were the other performers. They were just doing it in a not too great movie. The opening scene was so unsettling and in that instance my doubts were already setting in. I wish I passed on this because there's better stuff out there to fill seats at the cinema. - eugenefrd - 28 December 2022
Bloated and Underwhelming
Aronofsky is a curious director. The cumulative weight of his films has resulted in critical acclaim, but individually there is always something lacking to his work....maturity, a sense of place, groundedness...
The pros? Fraser's performance is amazing, the cinematography is wonderful and the vast array of shots within the confines of the home are masterfully handled.
The cons? Everything else. The characters are intensely unlikable because people are often unlikable ("let's all go and see the realistic film about realistic people") but their wild swings into comedy and surrealism is poorly handled, jarring and unrealistic. The portrayal of trauma is condescending and simplistic ("there's a scene of an overweight person crying and eating so the film must be trauma informed amiright?") and the ending? Wildly uninformed and inconsistent with the trauma porn that the flick had been portraying.
All in all, The Whale is not without its merits, overrated, immature and messy as it is. - marveltstodd - 27 December 2022
Very Good, another masterpiece for Aronofsky
This film does a terrific job telling a story of a human, Charlie whom decides to stop living his life when tragic strikes. Everyone has had moments in life when a loved one passes, a relationship comes to an end, or an unexpected diagnosis appears which tests our mind, body, souls, and heart. At these times some people go on living, some people strive to go above and beyond, while others may give up and count the hours. Charlie is a character who gives up on living his everyday life and because of this gives in to his vice of over eating causing his weight to spike resulting in dangerous obesity. Each day he does the minimum amount and apologizes excessively for his existence to the people in his life that care the most about him.
Fraser gives an Oscar worthy performance as Charlie, as does director Darren Aronofsky in presenting Charlie's world, a one-bedroom apartment presented to the audience in a small format. We feel trapped like Charlie does. The score by Simonsen is beautifully done, especially the end of the film with the track titled "Safe Return", it is an emotional rollercoaster.
This film shows the audience a reflection of either themselves or someone close to them that has given up on life and each day is just waiting to die by giving into over indulgence. The film shows how we want what is best for these people and how frustrating it can be to see someone who love in this state of being.
