The Mosley Review: The Whale
The most dangerous and destructive disease known to man is depression. It can keep you away from your loved ones, it can destroy your outlook on the world and it can destroy your life. It is more common place for people knowadays to a actually speak about their depression and seek help from others in their lives or help from a therapist. Some even find a hobby or outlet to deal with it, but not all are so lucky. Some destroy themselves with vices like alcohol, an assortment of drugs and sometimes food. This film tackles the latter and you see a man that truly has lost the will to live a normal life and has been trying to make amends in the most selfless way while physically destroying himself. I loved that the film wasn't glorifying the characters' decisions but rather showing the pain they have caused to those closes to them. To say it was heartbreaking and sometimes hard to endure would be the biggest understatement, but I was engaged the entire time and couldn't take my eyes off the screen from the amazing storytelling and outstanding performances.
Brendan Fraser is and has always been one of the most charismatic, charming and lovable actors ever to grace the screen. He has the ability to make you cheer for him and then make your heart shatter into pieces. As Charlie, he delivers an empathetic performance that is equal parts sad and powerful. The more layers that are revealed about the Charlie's past and why he is this way was fascinating and instantly relatable. His brilliant mind and broken heart are on full display as we see him struggle to reconnect with his family. This was definitely the most challenging character to watch Brendan portray and I couldn't have been more floored by his performance. Hong Chau was amazing as his personal nurse and only friend Liz. You see the pain and struggle to keep him alive when she knows the truth of his condition. The connection they have is something special and endearing. The emotional rollercoaster she goes through is amazing to behold as we find out how connected to she is to Charlie’s life. Ty Simpskins was excellent as the LDS missionary Thomas and I loved the conversations about faith he had with Charlie. As much as he would preach, you would get that perfect balance of someone trying to save another when the other doesn't want to be or can't be saved. He has his own skeletons in the closet that come out and I loved the development he goes through. Sadie Sink is one hell of a powerhouse and she shows how venomous and vulnerable she can be as Charlie's daughter Ellie. The amount of vitriol, pain and anger that comes out of her mouth was hard to watch and yet you see the slight glimmer of forgiveness in her eyes in a number of scenes. The chemistry between her and Charlie was excellent and I loved watching their tug of war of emotions. Samantha Morton was amazing as Charlie's ex-wife Mary and she destroys the scene she is in. She provides an outstanding and emotional performance and you see the chemistry between them erupt the moment she walks through the door of his apartment.
The score by Rob Simonsen was wonderfully emotional, haunting and soothing. It illustrated how powerful the entire story was and in one particular scene toward the last 10 minutes, it illuminates all the emotions and will of Charlie in one beautiful and painful moment. There were moments where I felt the blocking was a little strange and choppy. This film is an adaptation of the stage play and you can tell in some of the character entrances and exits. Overall, I still think this was one of the most heartbreaking films that dealt with depression and even though you may have seen some stories that were similar, it still is unique in its execution. This was a showcase of Brendan Fraser's immeasurable talent and it should not be missed. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
