One of the leading men of blockbuster releases in the 1990s such as *George of the Jungle* (1997) and the *Mummy* trilogy (1999 to 2008), Brendan Fraser was absent for nine long years in Hollywood. “I started in this business 30 years ago, and things, they didn’t come easily to me. There was a facility that I didn’t appreciate at that time until it stopped,” he said in his acceptance speech during the Academy Awards. Brendan Fraser in 'The Whale'
How sweet it was that director Darren Aronofsky had Brendan in mind when he got the movie rights of Samuel D. Hunter’s critically acclaimed play, *The Whale*, a decade ago. The long wait has been worth it for the Canadian-American actor who played Charlie, an obese English teacher who wants to make amends with the daughter he left behind. Brendan was a sure winner at the Critics’ Choice Awards, Hollywood Critics Association Awards, Las Vegas Film Critics Society, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the Toronto International Film Festival—Tribute Award. Fil-Am cinematographer Matthew Libatique has shot six of Aronofsky’s previous features and is back with *The Whale*. The two met at the American Film Institute in the early 1990s and have since worked in partnership with films like *Requiem for a Dream* and *Black Swan*. According to the American Cinematographer website, “Libatique’s shooting strategy included operating the camera remotely—to keep the crew and performers safer during the pandemic and to get the actors’ eyelines closer to the camera.” Oscar Best Supporting Actress nominee Hong Chau
Charlie is a serious online writing teacher who does not show himself on class. We learn that he is a 600-pound man who has a lot of comorbidities. His devoted friend and nurse, Liz, played by the talented Hong Chau, has stood by him through thick and thin, visiting him every day, bringing food, cleaning up the apartment, and even getting him a supersize wheelchair. Charlie insists on a “no hospital” policy, thinking that his money would be put to good use if he gives it to his only daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink). The relationship between Charlie and Ellie is a bit sour. Ellie has a lot of anger and resentment. The bait for her to visit her father is the $120,000 offer to spend time with him, with an agreement not to inform Charlie’s ex-wife. But he is also tasked to do her essay assignments as dictated by his rebellious daughter. The desperate father is willing to do anything to rekindle his relationship with Ellie whom he left before for a new-found life partner. A young Christian missionary, Thomas (Ty Simpkins) visits Charlie hoping he can help him spiritually. But Liz is so protective of his friend. “He doesn’t need saving,” she blasted. “In a few days he’s probably going to be dead, so what he needs is for you to leave him alone.” Liz believes she is the only one who can help. Mary (Samantha Morton), Ellie’s mother, comes to visit and a heated argument occurs when Liz learns that Charlie’s bank account is solely for his daughter. The nurse walks out feeling betrayed by the lie that Charlie is financially challenged. Charlie confronts his ex-wife about the money he will leave behind, hoping that his daughter would be all right. “That she’s going to have a decent life, where people care for her and she cares for other people... She doesn’t have anyone else, Mary,” he muses. But Mary heads toward the door. Brendan’s wheezing desperate cry of this line, for me, nailed him the Oscar nod when he anxiously said, “I need to know I did one thing right in my life.” Boom! Charlie has been judged for his being overweight, his being gay, his appetite for pizzas, and for “abandoning” his daughter. His obesity is due to the demise of the love of his life. He is, after all, a human being. With the two Oscar wins, *The Whale* is back playing at local cinemas.