The Whale Review

8.5/10

I have been a fan of Brendan Fraser since I was a kid. I remember first seeing The Mummy on VHS at the dentist. I had the choice of films to put on to distract me during a scheduled clean and that one caught my eye. I would watch it most times I was there. So, in a way, Brendan Fraser helped me get over my fear of going to the dentist. He has a real sense of warmth in his performances which I love. His earnestness shines through no matter how wacky and absurd the films can get. I already knew he was excellent in dramatic roles after seeing Gods and Monsters and The Quiet American. I’m happy to see him getting so much praise for his role in The Whale. It is praise well earned. He is brilliant in the film.

            Let’s get the so-called “controversy” out of the way. I realize that what is and isn’t offensive is usually completely subjective. The vitriol against this film that the media has tried to propagate is ridiculous. It follows the usual cycle of outrage that journalists have been pushing for a while. A few people on social media voice their displeasure at something, a few journalists see they can get attention and clicks by shining a spotlight on this vocal minority, and they start writing think pieces about this supposed outrage.

Once this happens, more people on social media see these articles and become enraged. That leads to even more think pieces by journalists who love feeling morally superior. As the manufactured outrage blooms, it creates the illusion that the perpetual hand-wringers are the primary discourse. In reality, they are a tiny percentage of the conversation. Eventually, the keyboard warriors get bored and move on to something else. Then the cycle begins again. This has been happening for years and there are no signs of us ever learning to not fall for it.

             I do not think The Whale is fatphobic. Nothing in the film comes across to me as hateful or fearful of obesity. I can understand why some may think it is since the film can be quite uncomfortable to watch. Brendan Fraser’s character Charlie is a man suffering from the trauma of losing his partner Alan. He has retreated into himself and smothers the pain by eating. I have seen the perspective that the film is harmful because it says all people suffering from obesity are that way because of past traumas. The film never makes that statement. It portrays Charlie that way because he is dealing with insurmountable anguish. At no point does The Whale claim every obese person is like that.

It is impossible to create a list of definitive objective rules as to what is and isn’t appropriate when it comes to which actors can play specific roles. The only reasonable way to approach the topic is on a film by film basis. I fully support diverse casting and proper representation. However, I also think actors can play characters who are not exactly like themselves. Non-serial killers can play serial killers, Straight actors can play gay characters, gay actors can play straight characters, etc.

If you approach the role with honesty, respect, and truth, then the performance will be convincing. Of course, whether a performance is truthful or not is down to an individual’s interpretation. We are also still far from having equal opportunities across the board in casting, so I’m aware my views here are more idealistic. Drawing universal lines as to who can play certain kinds of characters is not possible because that line is subjective and will shift depending on the cultural climate. Artists will always find ways to defy boundaries to create something transcendent.

            The boundaries for who can play which roles have changed over the years. Eli Wallach as Tuco in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is one of my favorite performances ever. Wallach was not Mexican though, so quite rightly he would not be cast today. Generally, I would say changing your ethnicity for a role today is iffy. There are some exceptions, such as Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder. Some may frown on that role today, but I and many others still consider it a fantastic satire of method actors. One strange example is the film Cloud Atlas. One that I adore, though it is quite divisive.

In that film, most of the main actors play different ethnicities in a story that spans hundreds of years, including changing their eyes to look Asian and altering their skin color. That one was a tad jarring at first, especially turning white actors Asian. It does make sense in context. The future society in one part of the film is one where all races and ethnicities have merged to create an ethnically ambiguous look. Cliff Curtis is another interesting example. He is a New Zealander of Māori descent, yet he has played characters from across the world. He was Indian in A Thousand Words, Middle Eastern in Three Kings, and Latino in Training Day, among others. There is no easy answer to the ethics of casting. It is a debate that will rage indefinitely.

            There are countless complexities to this topic that I won’t delve into here. I want to move on to the actual review. The Whale is a remarkable film that will linger in my mind for a long time. Most of the film takes place in Charlie’s apartment, with occasional flashbacks to a beach. Here he spends his days watching TV, eating, and teaching a remote writing class online with his webcam turned off. Before seeing the film, I was apprehensive about how the fat suit would look. They have a reputation of mostly being used for comic effect such as with Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor movies and Mike Myers as Fat Bastard in Austin Powers 2 and 3.

            Thankfully, Fraser looks convincing in the suit. I have a theory as to why some people are uncomfortable with his portrayal in the film. I am not familiar with Samuel D. Hunter’s original play, so I don’t know if it was controversial at the time. In a play, the audience Is usually further away, and this can create a distance from the performers and the distressing truths of the character. You can focus more on the bigger picture and emotions rather than the details of the fat suit. With a film, the actors are right in your face, and you are confronted with the reality that you were able to stand back from before.

            Part of what makes The Whale effective is its focus on empathy. Every character has flaws and struggles. Charlie’s only true friend is a nurse, Liz (Hong Chau). She comes over to monitor Charlie’s health and spend time with him. She is a kind person and does whatever she can to help him. It could be argued that she also enables his bad habits by bringing him unhealthy food. Chau is wonderful in the role. She is one of the best parts of the film. She is open and honest with Charlie, even when her words can be brutal. Even a less favorable character like the visiting missionary Thomas (Ty Simpkins) is shown to have good, albeit misguided intentions. He truly wants to save Charlie, though his messaging and methods end up being far from helpful.

            Sadie Sink is fantastic as Charlie’s estranged daughter Ellie. She is furious at her father for abandoning her to be with his partner Alan. She is a deeply wounded person who lashes out and hurts those who care for her. This is a difficult character to play since she could have easily come across as unlikeable. Sink gives her depth and nuance by giving us glimpses of the character’s soul, hidden in the darkness. Her dynamic with her father is confrontational and jaded, yet we gain an understanding of her throughout the film.

            I also want to highlight Samantha Morton as Charlie’s ex-wife Mary. She only has one scene in the film, but she is fantastic. Despite not seeing Charlie for many years, there is still a tenderness between them. Everybody in the film is trying to heal from their past. Nobody is perfect and the film does a great job of showcasing the power of empathy and seeing the good in people. It does feel a bit stagey at times since it takes place in one location. The constant entering and exiting of various characters can make it feel more like a filmed play than a cinematic experience. These moments do drag down the pacing a tad. Despite that, I think The Whale is an exceptional film and one of Darren Aronofsky’s best.