"The Whale": Movie Review
Written By Alex Greenbaum
Similar in tone to Darren Aronofsky's prior work ("The Wrestler", "Requiem For A Dream"), his new film "The Whale" analyzes a 600-pound man on his last legs as he tries to make amends for his past mistakes. Written first as a play by Samuel D. Hunter and now adapted for the screen by Hunter, the play-like structure is an apparent influence, as it all takes place during the last week of Charlie's life (Brendan Fraser) inside his dreary abode.
The score by Rob Simonsen ("Foxcatcher," "Spectacular Now") deserves the highest of accolades. It's beautiful, as almost every physical movement by Charlie and emotional narrative slice is guided by each subtle melody. For the most part, it's a quiet film, but when the score ramps up, it's hard not to get goosebumps as you become more connected to Charlie.
And Fraser's performance will undoubtedly win him a Golden Globe and Oscar (unless there's a shocking upset). Four-plus hours of prosthetic makeup (each shoot) were slapped onto him, yet his acting is never hindered by it. This will go down as a truly outstanding acting portrayal and will forever be at the forefront of Fraser's legacy.
But there are a plethora of annoyances that hold the film back from being exceptional. The play-like structure forces the writing and delivery of lines to be stilted, creating contrivances amongst its small cast of characters. Charlie's teenage daughter remains the worst offense, as her unbelievable motivations and actions detract from the overall meaning (overwritten is the word that kept coming to mind).
Underlying all of its touching premises is a burning anger about modern-day culture. "The Whale" relishes in slamming religion and our educational system (which it does pretty effectively for the most part). Unfortunately, that anger causes the film to spiral into many hit-or-miss moments. But the show's star is so brilliant it's impossible to look away. Pair him with a director and composer who care deeply about their craft, and you have a film that wrestles past its glaring flaws.
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