A24 has released numerous awards-caliber films this year, but none were perhaps as highly anticipated as The Whale. The drama film is directed by Darren Aronofsky (mother!, Black Swan), stars Brendan Fraser (The Mummy, Crash) in an ultimate comeback role, and is based on a screenplay by Samuel D. Hunter, who adapted his 2012 play of the same name. The film also stars Sadie Sink (Stranger Things), Hong Chau (Watchmen, Homecoming), Ty Simpkins (Jurassic World), and Samantha Morton (Minority Report). It’s now in theaters and tells the story of an obese, reclusive English teacher who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.
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The Whale had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival earlier this summer, with a lengthy standing ovation for Fraser. It just recently hit some theaters across the U.S. Plus, a new trailer has dropped to showcase more of Fraser. It’s fair to say this film is the talk of the cinematic town. Indeed, Fraser has already been nominated for several majors awards this season, and the Oscars are just around the corner. His heartbreaking performance is magnetic — so, why the mixed reactions by viewers and critics? Here’s a closer look.
The Whale’s Cast and Plot
Meet Charlie, a 600-pound professor who works to reconnect with his estranged daughter named Ellie, while being taken care of by his nurse Liz. It’s a pretty simple premise — after all, it’s based on a theatrical play: one setting, one main character who occupies the screen almost the entire time. Aronofsky has said he’d been trying to get the film made for a while, but was blocked by the casting of Charlie — that is, until he saw a trailer for Journey to the End of the Night, which starred Fraser. And the rest is history.
“Beyond the creative challenges was the material itself,” Fraser recently told EW about the film and his character. “He’s a man living alone, having regrets for choices he’s made and choices that life has made for him, and in his profound sadness, which he wears on his body as a manifestation of the trauma that he has endured, which he’s been trying to cure with consumption. It’s important to remember that he’s a human being, a person who deserves dignity and respect. While his body type differentiates from my own at present, I’ve had my own fluctuations in body weight, but it was helpful to put the two together to create Charlie from an authentic standpoint and get it as near to him as it was safe for me to do.”
For the titular role, Fraser would spend four hours each day in makeup getting fitted with heavy prosthetics (via Variety). He even worked with a dance instructor and consulted with the Obesity Action Coalition. That’s dedication. The end result is a unique, heartfelt performance. In trying to connect with his daughter, and even in his scenes with his nurse pal Liz, Charlie is relentlessly optimistic, which is a clever plot device the viewers might not expect. So, why isn’t The Whale a critical success across the board?
Why The Whale Has Gotten Mixed Reviews
Protozoa Pictures
Firstly, it’s important to note that many critics found The Whale a successful, empathetic film carried by Fraser’s performance. Folks at the Toronto International Film Festival certainly praised Fraser and Sink’s father-daughter performances. Fraser’s turn in particular has been described as “lived-in” and “touching.” There’s no denying Aronofsky’s talents as a director, opting for a 1:1 aspect ratio to match the squares on Charlie’s computer screen that show the seemingly hopeless students he teaches remotely. And there’s the writing — make sure to bring a “hanky,” as they say. Charlie sees the beauty in life, but his story is utterly tragic and will make you contemplate your own importance on this planet. Plus, the reliably superb Hong Chau gives a memorable performance in a vital role that balances Charlie’s outlandish behavior.
But remember: reviews have been polarizing. First, there’s the widespread critique of the film’s portrayal of fat people. Some argue that it’s difficult to deny the film’s fatphobia. There are some who didn’t appreciate how the film virtually shouted its themes and motifs at them, opinions that are evident across social media. And besides the obesity component, some just didn’t buy Fraser in the role — which the major of critics don’t agree with, considering his praise since Venice.
Aronofsky recently told Yahoo that he had no idea casting Fraser would cause so much backlash. “Actors have been using makeup since the beginning of acting — that’s one of their tools,” he said. “And the lengths we went to, to portray the realism of the make-up has never been done before. One of my first calls after casting Brendan was to my makeup artist, Adrien Morot. I asked him, ‘Can we do something that’s realistic?’ Because if it’s going to look like a joke, then we shouldn’t do it.”
The Whale’s Chances During Awards Season
A24
In addition to his controversial Golden Globe nomination (since he had previously stated he would boycott the ceremony), Fraser has also just received a Critics’ Choice nod for the January ceremony. It seems he’s a shoo-in for an Academy Award nomination, though he may lose the trophy to either Colin Farrell (The Banshees off Inisherin) or Bill Nighy (Living). Chau hasn’t received any nominations yet, but the Oscars are usually reliable in thinking outside the box and not conforming to what the other award shows have chosen for their nods. Aronofsky is up against countless talented filmmakers this time around, so a Best Director honor may not be in the cards. In terms of recognition, it seems The Whale must rely on its acting talents. In my humble opinion, they are top-notch here.
