The Whale Review: A Stunning Performance By Fraser
Brendan Fraser's outstanding performance in The Whale is receiving praise. And the actor, whose career was put on hold for a period, is deserving of the praise for his portrayal of Charlie. Fraser's lead performance in Darren Aronofsky's most recent film, from a script by Samuel D. Hunter, is what makes it so potent. The success of the film depends on it. The movie is intent to dwell in the suffering experienced by and directed at its protagonist, yet there are also tender moments of vulnerability and introspection as it examines guilt, atonement, bereavement, and trauma.
English professor Charlie (Fraser) weighs 600 pounds and has congestive heart failure. He is mostly paralysed and lives alone. His friend Liv (Hong Chau), a nurse, and the frustratingly persistent missionary Thomas (Ty Simpkins), who is trying to save Charlie, visit him frequently. charlie reads from an article about Moby-Dick to calm himself down and feel better when he feels pain. But even though he is nearing the end of his life, charlie tries to make amends with his estranged daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink) before he passes away.
The Whale is a moving story about loss, repentance, and forgiveness. As death draws near, it shows charlie reflecting on his life — the good times and the mistakes he made along the way — while also thinking about parenting, sexuality, and religion. Brendan Fraser gives a compelling performance that elevates the movie, faithfully and sensitively capturing every feeling charlie experiences. He gives a solid, sincere performance that is lovely in the way the actor develops and humanises Charlie. Without Fraser, The Whale wouldn't be what it is, especially considering that some of the script's elements are at best superficial and at worst overly theatrical. However, Charlie's journey and his need to love and be loved arouse a sweet and sympathetic emotional response.
While The Whale never drags, some of the script's passages are aggressively melodramatic in The Whale's over-the-top theatrical production, which doesn't always work. Character discourse occasionally aims for excess when careful thinking would have sufficed, with Hong Chau as Liz serving as the one exception. If one can endure Charlie's suffering, The Whale is nevertheless noteworthy for the way it handles remorse, guilt, and grief. The movie is worth watching for Fraser's performance alone, despite the fact that it frequently delivers superficial readings about religion and father-daughter relationships in particular.