Read Mixed User Reviews for The Whale (2022)

6

HerickDienerFeb 25, 2023

"The Whale" é claramente um filme para os seus atores brilharem, mas, nem sempre isso é suficiente, e não da para julgar quem quiser problematizar seu roteiro. Hong Chau mostrou o porque de existir categorias para atores coadjuvantes nas"The Whale" é claramente um filme para os seus atores brilharem, mas, nem sempre isso é suficiente, e não da para julgar quem quiser problematizar seu roteiro. Hong Chau mostrou o porque de existir categorias para atores coadjuvantes nas premiações. Ela transforma em seu espetáculo cada cena interpretando uma amiga atenciosa ao mesmo tempo que negligente, como todos os personagens.

Por outro lado, Sadie Sink me fez questionar se ela é uma péssima atriz ou seu texto e enredo foi extremamente mal escrito. Terminei o filme preferindo acreditar na segunda opção. Brendan Fraser está realmente ótimo. É admirável quando um ator consegue nos passar emoção com tanta maquiagem à sua volta. Darren Aronofsky é um diretor com um excelente histórico, mas dessa vez "Tha Whale" foi salvo por algumas boas atuações, que nos fazem esquecer de diálogos expositivos ruins e portas iluminadas sendo abertas.

Ah, alguém entrega nas mãos de Samantha Morton um grande filme para protagonizar. Ela é fantástica!… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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5

bertobellamyMar 1, 2023

In Darren Aronofsky's films, the body becomes the enemy of his protagonists. Just as Nina fights a painful transformation in 'Black Swan' and Robin forces his heart in 'The Wrestler,' Charlie faces death because of his morbid obesity. TheIn Darren Aronofsky's films, the body becomes the enemy of his protagonists. Just as Nina fights a painful transformation in 'Black Swan' and Robin forces his heart in 'The Wrestler,' Charlie faces death because of his morbid obesity. The choice of portraying this condition is controversial, let alone the decision of using a fat suit for it. But the most baffling thing about it is realizing how regular this movie is despite some stellar performances. Not counting the borderline caricature acting of Sadie Sink as a rebellious and mean teenager, everyone does a good job here. Brendan Fraser gives his best performance yet as a kind-hearted man that desperately tries to make everyone see the good things in life. Hong Chau also shines as a frustrated woman looking to ease her pain by trying to save his friend. And Ty Simpkins and Samantha Morton also have notable interventions throughout the film as a troubled missionary and a defeated mother, respectively. The problem, without a doubt, is the story.

Although some passages ring the right notes with emotional and introspective moments, the focus on the morbid is very distracting. Also, the stagey production doesn't work well; the original material suffers from superficiality. Aronofsky and playwright Samuel D. Hunter look so desperately trying to find symbols in everything and giving them to the audience in search of artificially elevating their work. And with that, it falls into Fraser's shoulders the responsibility of shining a light on this very problematic work. 'The Whale' poses a troublesome question: does an extremely obese man deserves to be loved? By making Charlie a man who lives apologizing all the time and converting his eating disorder into a spectacle, Aronofsky and Hunter seem to 'forgive' him of his "sins." Whatever they think they are.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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4

WireDreamMar 6, 2023

The Whale was two hours of misery-porn, without a release. Instead of trying to find the humanity in its subject, director Darren Aronofsky is more fascinated with the grotesquerie of the morbidly obese Charlie character (played by BrendanThe Whale was two hours of misery-porn, without a release. Instead of trying to find the humanity in its subject, director Darren Aronofsky is more fascinated with the grotesquerie of the morbidly obese Charlie character (played by Brendan Fraser) - treating him more like a circus freak for the audience to gasp and gawk and repulse at - rather than as a three-dimensional human being. Beating the Herman Melville “Moby Dick” metaphors to a pulp that you want to harpoon yourself out of misery, the screenplay is histrionically melodramatic, leaving no room for nuance, and negating any attempt at depth.

I know Fraser will never be compared to one of the “greats” (or, for that matter, even the “that-goods”), but he’s always been a likable, reliable presence on screen. Here, he’s committed, and, I surmise, effective as Charlie, but you never really forget that it’s Fraser behind the fat suit and makeup. I’m not sure if the fault is on the actor himself or the overwrought screenplay. Maybe it’s both, but I think his probable Oscar win will be more for the return of a beloved and nostalgic Hollywood nice guy, rather than anything resembling transcendence. (MVP of the film is Oscar nominee Hong Chau, who is excellent as Charlie’s long-suffering friend/nurse/sister of Charlie’s dead lover.)

But whether or not Fraser’s performance is award-worthy, it’s a performance that deserves a better movie than this calculating claptrap.… Expand

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5

MarkHReviewsJan 25, 2023

In “The Whale,” actor Brendan Fraser (“Crash,” “The Mummy” series) is transformed by prosthetics into a character so morbidly obese that simply rising from a chair represents superhuman effort. Director Darren Aronofsky (“The Wrestler,”In “The Whale,” actor Brendan Fraser (“Crash,” “The Mummy” series) is transformed by prosthetics into a character so morbidly obese that simply rising from a chair represents superhuman effort. Director Darren Aronofsky (“The Wrestler,” “Black Swan”) confronts us with this spectacle, then dares us to look away. Aronofsky also injects a few familiar elements into the proceedings – an anguished protagonist, surrealism and a general sense of melodrama.

In this chamber piece, Charlie (Fraser) has congestive heart failure. He’s literally eating himself to death. In Idaho. He’s unable to leave his claustrophobic, poorly-lit apartment. He spends his time teaching online classes in creative writing and receiving caretaker visits from Liz (a fantastic Hong Chau – “The Watchmen TV series). Realizing that he is in his last days, Charlie makes a final effort to reconnect with his daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink – TV’s “Stranger Things”). As they story unfolds, the moviegoer learns that Charlie abandoned Ellie when she was eight because he fell in love with a male student. Unsurprisingly, Ellie has some anger and abandonment issues.

One of the fascinating elements of this film is Charlie’s steadfast optimism. When Ellie’s mother describes her as evil, Charlie rises, metaphorically, to her defense. It’s an intended irony that Charlie is able to offer powerful grace and absolution (there are a fair number of theological themes here) to nearly everyone but himself.

Throughout, “The Whale” feels much more like a play than a movie. It was originally a stage production, with playwright Samuel D. Hunter acting here as the screenwriter. Some of the “action,” dialogue and staging are never translated effectively to this different medium. It becomes a distraction when the actors sometimes seem restricted to broad movements and loud voices, mannerisms that don’t work well with Aronofsky’s camera inches from their faces.

It’s hard to know how to react honestly to Fraser’s performance. It’s a long Hollywood tradition to respect, even revere, actors who go through dramatic physical transformations. Think Christian Bale in “The Fighter,” Charlize Theron in “Monster,” Joaquin Phoenix in “The Joker,” or most recently Glenn Close in “Hillbilly Elegy.” Here, Fraser does a wonderful job of showing the humanity and humor of a character who could easily be singularly unappealing. But I’m not sure it’s worth the Oscar buzz generated by many professional critics.

Ultimately, “The Whale” is a study in inconsistency. Its paradoxes can be summed up by one of the key scenes where Charlie earnestly applauds and encourages the members of his online class who have made the effort to reveal themselves by expressing their own hard-earned truths. It’s ironic that this exhortation comes from a character whose enormous bulk is clearly used to keep everyone away.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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6

ccateniDec 20, 2022

When the film ended, the cinema was in silence.
I'm not sure if this is a good thing...
I personally thought it was a well made film, but with little rewatchability due to being so depressing to watch.

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6

JLuis_001Feb 18, 2023

Isolation. No self-esteem. Basically unable to move. Heading for death.

The Whale abuses drama to a level of emotional manipulation that I personally have always denounced, especially since so much of what this film initially offers is thatIsolation. No self-esteem. Basically unable to move. Heading for death.

The Whale abuses drama to a level of emotional manipulation that I personally have always denounced, especially since so much of what this film initially offers is that one is simply supposed to feel sorry for Brendan Fraser's character, and even that might be a natural reaction in real life, it doesn't feel quite right, you know?
The whole concept of this tale is based on that, so there's a number of limitations in that plot.

We're watching a man who has completely abandoned himself, who knows his hours are numbered and who evidently no longer has any yearnings in this life except to resolve his last conflicts before dying all alone.

Brendan Fraser is tasked by Darren Aronofsky to carry the full weight of the drama and he, as you can see from the results, rose to the challenge, and dramatically speaking delivers the best role of his entire career.

Unfortunately, the film, based on a play, shows limitations caused by its unique location.
Between misery and agony, The Whale teeters a fine line between genuine emotion and what may seem like voyeurism from the viewer to see how far he falls as he annihilates himself.
It's not repulsive, but it's morbid and that point of the story, I cannot redeem it in any way.

Aronofsky shows nothing new. His habits are already well known, but the work is at least thorough.
The Whale is a slow film that builds itself from the ground up on the performances delivered by its actors.

And yes, Hong Chau and Sadie Sink's acting work should be mentioned, but this film is all Brendan Fraser.
The quest of his character for legacy and dignity isn't pretty and while it wasn't what I expected, I wasn't disappointed either.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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4

Stream2BigScreeDec 30, 2022

Hey, Streamers! I hope you had a good holiday and you're ready for some more awards hopefuls. I was able to get to a theater to catch The Whale. I've been hearing a lot about an awards-worthy performance and comeback from everyone's favoriteHey, Streamers! I hope you had a good holiday and you're ready for some more awards hopefuls. I was able to get to a theater to catch The Whale. I've been hearing a lot about an awards-worthy performance and comeback from everyone's favorite man from Encino, Brendan Fraser. Here's whether the performance and the movie around it live up to the hype. (Spoiler Alert: It doesn't)

Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, Requiem for a Dream) directed the The Whale, which is based on a play by the same person who wrote the screenplay, Samuel D. Hunter. Brendan Fraser plays Charlie, a 600-pound man who is attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink), in his final week of life. Charlie has one friend, Liz (Hong Chau), who provides some care for him but she also enables his worst impulses at times. Other characters pop in and out of Charlie's cloistered apartment as he fumbles through teaching an online writing course while binge-eating himself to death. A barrel of laughs ensues, he said sarcastically.

The Whale desperately wants to be a tearjerker. Charlie is set up as a tragic figure, and the movie tells the audience that Charlie knocking on deaths door. Everything about this character says pity this man. The problem is that the movie is so overwrought that it leads towards the comical. The worst offense is the poor makeup job and fat suit that Brendan Fraser is encased it. On top of that, Brendan Fraser is doing the absolute most - and not in a good way - with his performance. He desperately wants that Oscar with the way he screams and cries throughout this melodramatic bore. Also, there is a bad performance by Sadie Sink as the angsty teenager. She is the worst person in the world, and Sink does nothing to humanize her. Both Charlie and Ellie become caricatures, which is ultimately very tiresome and off-putting.

There really isn't much else to The Whale. It is a movie that is very obviously based on a play since it is stuck in one location and characters come in and out of the scene. This material may work better on the stage than on the big screen, but the screenplay is pretty bad. The obvious metaphor with Moby Dick, which Charlie references constantly throughout, is so annoying that if you are not rolling your eyes by the end then you are better than me.

The one saving grace is that Hong Chau shows up every now and then and does her best to bring some real life to the film. In the scenes with Chau and Fraser, there is good chemistry, and there is a glimpse of the heartfelt and sensitive film that could have been.

Ultimately, The Whale is extremely melodramatic. Fraser goes for every Oscar clip he can and only lands a few when Chau is around. The fat suit is off-putting and Sadie Sink is bad throughout the movie. There is a small speck of a decent idea here, but not enough to make a trip to the theater worthwhile. Stream if bored, at best. One popped kernel.… Expand

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4

EBERTSBIGTHUMBDec 29, 2022

'If this wasnt a "Brendan Fraser comeback movie" it would be a schmaltzy made for T.V melodrama.

And in all honesty, he's not even that good in it. It's just Brendan Fraser and since he's been missed from movies for so long, the General'If this wasnt a "Brendan Fraser comeback movie" it would be a schmaltzy made for T.V melodrama.

And in all honesty, he's not even that good in it. It's just Brendan Fraser and since he's been missed from movies for so long, the General Public just missed him so any drama role would have gotten him the Oscar just because of the timing. Put me in a fat suit and I'll do just as good of a job if not better. And I'm not even an actor!

Don't get me wrong, Brendan is a nice guy. I like him, And he's definitely going to get the Oscar, but this movie is trash.… Expand

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6

AREXPFeb 26, 2023

Review: Entertainment: 1/5
Acting: 4/5
Story: 3/5 (depressing if you are a motivated individual) Score/Screenplay/Sound: 3/5 Length: 4/5 Is it worth watching a second time: No Watch it Alone or In a group setting? Alone Keywords: Obese,Review: Entertainment: 1/5
Acting: 4/5
Story: 3/5 (depressing if you are a motivated individual)
Score/Screenplay/Sound: 3/5
Length: 4/5

Is it worth watching a second time: No

Watch it Alone or In a group setting? Alone

Keywords: Obese, LTGB, Christianity, Mid-West and South, Depression, Anger

P.S. Don't watch it during Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve or NYE… Expand

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5

Jgo77Mar 19, 2023

It was ok, but probably 15-20 min too long. The entire movie is basically on one set so it gets a little tedious watching for 2 hours. Just a long drawn out movie with endless sadness and anger and not much resolution at the end…

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6

DunkaccinoMar 7, 2023

The performances here in The Whale are so fantastic that they deserve better material.

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6

diegorena8Mar 20, 2023

Brendan Fraser deserves a 10, but the movie a 6. The story lacks that, story. Yes, the story is beautiful, but it doesn't go much further, we see the case of a devastated person after a loss and how he tries, through rebuilding hisBrendan Fraser deserves a 10, but the movie a 6. The story lacks that, story. Yes, the story is beautiful, but it doesn't go much further, we see the case of a devastated person after a loss and how he tries, through rebuilding his relationship with his daughter, to redeem himself from his mistakes and "heal". But it doesn't go beyond that.… Expand

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