'The Whale' film review

Film The WhaleCast Brendan Fraser Sadie Sink Hong Chau Ty Simpkins Samantha Morton Sathya Sridharan Jacey SinkDirector Darren AronofskyRating Runtime 117 minDarren Aronofskys latest Oscar contender is a playtomovie adaptation that depends mainly on performances to provide for its high points Like in all his movies the psychological travails of the central character becomes pivotal to the tellingA morbidly corpulent 500 pound plus reclusive English teacher Charlie who has let himself go following the shocking death of his lover attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemptionIts definitely not easy watching Brendan Fraser the dashing swashbuckling adventurer of lsquoThe Mummyrsquo in his lsquoepochalrsquo career defining role fat suit and all grotesque in appearance and wallowing in selfdestructive eating habits while making his last ditch effort to connect with his estranged daughter who looks on him as a cash cowAlso Read20 Oscar facts and interesting trivia about the Academy AwardsThe Whale forces us to gawk at the central figure and in the process tries to work up some sentimentality in his favor But its quite a difficult ask Seeing someone selfdestruct in such fashion is really difficult for the viewer Itrsquos even more heartbreaking for Liz Hong Chau his friend and caregiver who has seen him through his most difficult times and tries to be nononsense and stoic at the same time while dealing with Charliersquos resignation regarding his own oncoming deathAlso ReadBrendon Fraser eats himself to death in Oscars favourite The Whale trailerWhile Charlie leads a sedentary solitary life boxed up in his cramped home he gets a few other visitors His teenage daughter Ellie Sadie Sink arrives and their first meeting exposes the deep rift that is symbolic of estrangement both emotionally and psychologically Charlie is hopeful of cracking the prickly awkwardness but Ellie is not an easy study in affection Charlie is clearly not interested in being saved but the contrivance of a new unexpected visitor to his home an earnest young missionary Ty Simpkins feels forced even though his entry perhaps triggers a buoyancy in the relationship between father and daughterThe script feels a bit incomplete the editing isnrsquot smooth and the dialogue feels rather forced Aronofskys longtime cinematographer Matthew Libatique lends oppressive porosity to the drama through his cinematographic craftItrsquos really the performances that grip you hereSink makes her presence forceful with her enactment of the sullen and unforgiving teen Chau is wonderfully compassionate and resigned and Ty lends some offbeat interest to the drama but essentially its Brendan Fraser who looms so overwhelmingly over this defeatist spiel His expressive eyes and facial movements lend weighty substance to Charlie and is definitely deserving of the Oscar nomination