Review of The Whale (2022) by Bertobellamy — 01 Mar 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. 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.