Notes

The Whale Movie Review
Darren Aronofsky has made a name for himself with his intense films, but the director’s latest, the whale movie, takes things to another level. Starring Brendan Fraser as a reclusive man with a life-threatening illness, The Whale is an unflinching drama that examines the way trauma can either empower or debilitate a person. The film’s newest trailer has just hit the web, and it gives audiences a closer look at Charlie, a writing instructor who is a shut-in with an addiction to food.

The first shot of the film is of Charlie, sitting in a chair with his walker nearby and looking down at his body. The camera zooms in on his massive frame and the soundtrack of doom-laden music plays to add to the feeling of dread. This is a film that is both terrifying and captivating, but one that is also incredibly difficult to watch.

As the film progresses, we learn more about Charlie, who teaches online writing classes while living alone in his cramped home with shelves full of books and boxes of food. He tries to reach out and reconnect with his estranged daughter, Ellie (played by Stranger Things actress Sadie Sink), but is unable to do so. He spends his days in a state of self-loathing, and the trailer constantly reminds viewers of his grotesque appearance.

ซีรี่ย์ ’s a shame that The Whale is viewed as a grotesque film when it doesn’t fully recognize how much of the blame should go to the film itself. The director and his team seem to revel in the ugliness of Charlie by constantly framing him in such an ugly way, with a sound mix that includes the grating noise of fried chicken being chewed. The movie also seems to keep hammering home how he’s “just so fat” by making him the focal point of several of its shots.

However, what saves The Whale from being a voyeuristic film is the performance of Fraser, who makes Charlie into a complex character that we both empathize with and hate. He’s a man that wants to live with dignity, but is unable to do so on his own. It’s a heartbreaking and powerful performance that deserves to be recognized for its merits, not as a step forward for fat acceptance or a damning blow against it.

Adapted from a stage play by Samuel D. Hunter, The Whale was directed by Darren Aronofsky and also stars Samantha Morton, Ty Simpkins, Hong Chau and Sadie Sink. It hits theaters on Dec. 9.

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