Spoilers ahead...
Plot of The Whale: A Depressing Story About Food Addiction
Charlie
(Brendan Fraser) eats and eats, not because he loves it, but as a habit formed
out of trauma from losing his love, Alan (one of his students during his
teaching days long back). The story unfolds over a week, starting from Monday,
with Charlie inching closer to his death, stubbornly refusing to visit the
hospital.
This is
the third movie of Aronofsky that I have watched, following 'Noah' and
'Mother,' neither of which I liked, although the latter had its moments of
craziness. 'The Whale' is a depressing movie showcasing how the life of an
overweight man is affected by the loss of his lover. I don't recall a food
addiction based movie where a person overeats due to grief and mourning;
usually, the opposite happens. Here, Charlie overdoes it to the extent that he
can't get up from the couch or walk without the help of a stand.
Brendan Fraser and Hong Chau Give Solid Performances
The
excellent Hong Chau (Liz) plays his nurse and close friend, taking care of him.
She believes his condition is worsening and that he won't last more than a week
if he doesn't listen to her and go to the hospital. Whenever the story focuses
on them, it's enjoyable and emotional, especially when we learn how Liz is
related to Alan, Charlie's lost lover. I also appreciate that Liz, despite
being a nurse, keeps bringing junk food for Charlie, perhaps having given up
trying to change his habits and wanting him to enjoy his final days as he
wishes.
I also
enjoyed the few online teaching scenes where Charlie lies about a non-working
webcam so his students don't see his overweight body or face. His interaction
with his wife, Mary (Samantha Morton), was good; it initially hinted at another
cruel character but evolved into a conversation about their old good memories.
While I
enjoyed Brendan Fraser's performance, who keeps you invested with his reactions
despite the poorly written subplots, I still wouldn't consider it Oscar-worthy.
It was tough to watch him manage all alone at home, struggling to get up and
walk. Charlie's additional burden of dealing with trauma makes it worse. I
loved how Charlie consistently views people positively, calling them amazing,
especially when most likely find him disgusting.
Ty Simpkins and Sadie Sink Characters Are Poorly Written
Where the
movie falters for me is in the subplots involving the Church guy, Thomas (Ty
Simpkins), and Charlie's daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink). Thomas serves no purpose
except to bring back old memories of Alan, whose death was connected to
religious beliefs. Without Thomas, the narrative wouldn't change much, as
Charlie is always thinking about Alan while slowly drifting towards his death.
Ellie, on
the other hand, has an impressive first scene where she coldly forces her
father to walk toward her, knowing he can't due to his weight. However,
subsequent meetings between them are disappointing, focusing on the
father-daughter bond. Ellie, whom Charlie left behind when she was eight
because of Alan, has a reason to be angry, but Sadie overplays it, underplaying
the 'I am so hurt you left me behind' aspect. Her role would have been better
if it had been less evil and full of anger and hurt. She does get a solid final
scene, revealing the origin of the 'Whale' poem that Charlie repeatedly wants
to narrate when he feels he is about to die.
Due to
the shortcomings in the writing of Thomas and Ellie, it becomes tiring to watch
a movie with no exterior locales. I've seen movies set in one room, but they
require strong characters throughout, which isn't the case here. The movie
might have worked better if it had started a day after Alan's death, showing
Charlie's slow self-destruction through overeating and flashbacks of good times
with Alan, with Ellie becoming part of his life in an interesting manner. I
know this differs from the director's intent, but it could have been more
engaging.
Over-eating in Anger Taken to a Whole New Level in The Whale
One of my
favorite parts of the movie is Charlie's interactions with Gambino's food
delivery boy. Charlie always asks him to leave the food outside, collecting it
once he feels the boy is gone. The thought crosses my mind—what if he decides
to open the door and collect it directly one day? It happens, but differently.
Charlie opens the door unknowingly while the delivery boy is still there,
trying to glimpse the man who never shows his face. The delivery boy's reaction
and quick departure suggest how hurt Charlie must have felt. This guy, who had
simple 'Hello' conversations for weeks (or months), would likely stop
interacting with him.
It's a
very painful feeling to go through, and no wonder we see Charlie get angry,
leading to over-eating pizzas and anything he can find in the kitchen/fridge.
This anger drives him to finally attend a class using his webcam, and we see
varied student reactions, mostly negative (with a few recording it), revealing
Charlie as an extremely overweight man.
Verdict on The Whale
Overall,
'The Whale' features solid performances from Brendan Fraser and Hong Chau but
lacks an engaging drama and becomes melodramatic.
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