After neglecting him for more then a decade, sometime in the last couple of years the collective zietgiest rememberd that it loves Brendan Fraser and has promoted him to a sort of secular sainthood ala Keanu Reeves. Interestingly this collective love hasn't really corolated with much new work for the actor. He played the villain in the 'Batgirl' movie, but new management at Warner's has decided to chuck that film, now slated to be released never.
The awards buzz, and I'll say now it's deserved, has been centered around 'The Whale', a new film that combines Fraser's public likability with director Darren Aronofsky's tendency to polarize. But Aronofsky's always at least interesting, even when his films don't really work, which is about half the time. I am pleased to report that I really thought 'The Whale' worked, and might even be the directors best film.
'The Whale' is based on a play of the same name by Samuel D. Hunter, the film takes place over the course of about a week in March of 2016, and like much of Hunter's work it is set in Idaho, seemingly around the Moscow area. I did not know going in that this was based on a play, but with the small cast and being set entirely in a single apartment, as well as the quality and heft of the writting, this quickly became apperent.
Lite spoilers
Fraser plays Charlie, a 600 lb, reclusive English professor, who teaches courses online from his apartment with the web camera off. In the first scene of the film Charlie suffers what may be a heart attack while pleasuring himself watching gay porn on his computer. His life is saved by the well timed knock of an evangelical missionary (Ty Simpkins), who contacts Charlie's only friend Liz (Hong Chau) a registered nurse. Liz emplors Charlie to go to the hospital, he refuses even after being warned that he may only have days to live. This news however does prompt Charlie to try and reconnect with his estranged daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink of 'Stranger Things' fame). Now a high school senior Charlie has not seen Ellie since she was eight, when he left her and her mother to peruse a homosexual relationship with a former student who subsequently died.
Starting from an intentionally off putting low point the film slowly unravels the history and interrelationships between its five characters, six if you count the pizza delivery guy. Glancing at summaries of some of Hunter's other plays his main themes seem to be interpersonal alienation and the short comings of religious faith, themes very much on display here. There are also thematic similarities to Aronofsky's 2008 film 'The Wrestler', so much so that the movies are really companion pieces. What sets Fraser's Charlie apart from Micky Rourke's Randy "The Ram" Robinson is the formers capacity for hope.
This is a powerful film, an empathetic and even charitable one. It's about the struggle to find grace amidst our worst failures. It is both atheistic and Christian. Strong performancs all around. While I have some mixed feelings about Fraser's fat suite the characters obscene weight is actually central to the story, not just a gimmick. Fraser really does some career best work here and is the obvious favorite for a best actor Oscar next year.
Clearly this is a movie that lacks a big tent appeal, but if your open to it there is a lot here, many layers to be appricated, much to be unpacked and interpreted. An exceedingly different kind of movie that is a window onto people, places and themes that aren't explored much on screen. One of this year's greatest cinematic achivments. ****
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