Reviewed by Colin Jacobson (July 13, 2023)
After 1999’s The Mummy became a big hit, Brendan Fraser looked like he’d become an “A”-list actor. This didn’t really happen, and within a decade, he saw his career fade.
As such, no one predicted his resurgence with 2022’s The Whale. Though the movie didn’t sell a lot of tickets, Fraser earned a Best Actor Oscar, an achievement that gives him a clear boost.
Set in Idaho circa 2016, Charlie (Fraser) teaches an online college English course. He keeps his webcam turned off because he weighs 600 pounds and fears judgment from his students.
Charlie remains housebound and only sees his friend Liz (Hong Chau), a nurse whose medical advice Charlie ignores. Charlie uses food to “self-medicate” his emotional issues and seems self-destructive.
Charlie’s world starts to change due to two visitors. A young missionary named Thomas (Ty Simpkins) prompts Charlie to reassess his life, and this also leads him to attempt to reconnect with his estranged – and angry – teen daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink).
As someone who likes to root for comebacks, I found myself pleased with Fraser’s win. That said, I don’t think he offered the best performance of 2022’s nominees, as I clearly favored Bill Nighy for Living.
At the risk of sounding cynical, I suspect Fraser earned his trophy for reasons beyond his performance. For one, the Academy enjoys comebacks as well, and Fraser’s return to prominence likely influenced votes, especially since issues related to an alleged sexual assault he suffered also derailed his career.
In addition, Oscar loves a handsome actor who “goes ugly”, and that includes major weight gain. Of course, Fraser didn’t actual eat himself to 600 pounds – prosthetics do most of the work – but we still get a former matinee idol type who allowed himself to be painted in the least favorable light possible.
None of this means I view Fraser’s performance as weak or flawed. Indeed, he does a fine job in the part.
However, Charlie simply offers a limited character without the dimensionality that would allow Fraser much room to do much. While the core role comes with complexities, particularly given Charlie’s status as a once-closeted gay man whose choices led to major repercussions.
Whale deals with these on the surface, but it never opens up the role and scenarios in a particularly rich manner. Charlie remains a not-especially-developed character whose issues and traits stay on the surface.
This means that while Fraser does just fine in the part, he can’t really go beyond that. The simplistic script just doesn’t allow for true complexity.
The same goes for the rest of the underdeveloped characters and circumstances. The movie’s other three main participants – Liz, Thomas and Ellie – all come with their own failure to turn into anything substantial.
And that remains a shame, as those parts offer ample room for exploration. For instance, while Liz nags Charlie to improve his health, it also appears that she enables his obesity.
Why not get into that domain more? Because Whale prefers to lean toward weepy melodrama, that’s why.
Though never a subtle director, I didn’t think of Darren Aronofsky as someone who’d embrace the tear-jerking side of the street as much as he does with Whale. While not soap opera level of mawkishness, the movie does go down that path more than I’d like.
Of course, Aronofsky being Aronofsky, he needs to utilize clever-clever cinematic techniques. Actually, he keeps much of the photography and editing pretty simple, but Whale goes with a 1.33:1 aspect ratio.
I get it: Aronofsky wants the frame to convey the “caged” and claustrophobic nature of Charlie’s life. However, this ratio comes across as just a gimmick, and not one that actually improves the movie.
Whale tends to seem maudlin and transparent in its manipulative nature. Rather than attempt honest emotions, the movie goes for the easy plot points instead.
Buried in here, we can find an evocative drama. Unfortunately, The Whale ends up as a sensationalistic and simplistic take on its subject matter that doesn’t fulfill its goals well.
