I've started this review a number of times, changed my mind, re-written it etc. I'm still completely undecided on 'The Whale'. I don't often publish my reviews if I'm undecided...but I figured, "what the hell" (quoting a certain Doctor Emmett Brown)!
Whenever I see a film noted as 'Oscar worthy', I find it hard to leave that pre-conceived notion at the door. I wish I didn't know this information. I like to go into any film without any bias, without having seen that 'one trailer too many' which might give something important away (they quite often do), without having read reviews and others opinions which I may carry with me, intentional or not. I also don't want to follow the crowd. Just because everyone says it's Oscar worthy, then do I have to agree? The same too that if everyone else hates it, I might still like it. I've done my best to ignore some of the things I knew before seeing it.
I want to watch everything at the cinema. Always. Surely that's where most filmmakers want their work to be seen. So I was pleased to catch 'The Whale' on said silver screen. If you pay any attention to films at all you can't escape the 'buzz' going round about Brendan Fraser's performance in this film... Oscar worthy, performance of a lifetime...etc. So, what did I think?
I haven't watched a film which has made me feel so uncomfortable and unsettled for a long time. Maybe right back to 'The Duel', perhaps, but this was different. Set in just one location, the intensity and claustrophobia are palpable. You shift uncomfortably in your seat. You feel drawn into that one room, right there with them. I honestly felt nauseous on at least couple of occasions.
It's a film (also a play) about love, loss, guilt, self-worth, loneliness and denial.
We meet Charlie (Fraser), towards the end of his life. Not through old age, but through his lifestyle, food and heartbreak following the loss of his partner. You go from feeling huge sympathy for him, to being shocked and appalled at how he treats friends, family and of course, himself.
Fraser is stunning in this role, there is no doubt. He's vulnerable, sad, stubborn, angry, heartbroken, sometimes at the same time and going from one to the other very quickly.
There are some good supporting roles. Sadie Sink plays his estranged daughter, Ellie, full of anger and teenage angst, however, I found her too nasty in some scenes. I understand why but it felt a step too far for me anyway. This approach would have worked well on the stage with her nastiness muted somewhat by the scale of the stage. It was good to see Samantha Morton as his ex-wife, Mary. Also still holding anger from their broken relationship. I liked her performance a lot. His friend, carer and only confidant it seems is in his friend Liz and also sister of his partner, played by Hong Chau. Again, a character who was very grounded, loyal but taken for granted by Charlie.
I still don't know what I think about 'The Whale'. It certainly had an impact that's for sure and there's no denying the work put into the central performance by Fraser of course. I don't know though. Perhaps that's the point.
Have you seen it. What did you think?
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