The Whale | Review & Score

About: A reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.

Brendan Fraser is back and the best he's ever been.

THE WHALE is a straight up somber, complex story that deserves the raves of reviews it's been receiving. Fraser is absolutely a rollercoaster of emotions and complexity that it will drain you by the end of the film. He's simply astonishing as the obese English teacher Charlie. Charlie will have you angry, confused, heartbroken and chuckling here and there with his sense of humor, self awareness and odd gratitude for his unfortunate situation. Fraser commands your attention in every scene, even going as far as haunting you.

He's brilliant and it's his best performance in his career so far.

Director Darren Aronofsky is at the top of his game. Supporting stars Sadie Sink and Hong Chau are terrific, with Sink carrying some scenes on her back. Chau is as good as she's ever been. The whole film is meant to be a somber, rollercoaster of emotions type of idea that will drain you by the end, whether it be in a good hearty way or a clunky hot mess of a way. Either or, it's a ride you should wanna be on.

Behind 'Top Gun: Maverick', 'The Whale' is the best film of the year. Fraser won the Oscar for his role and there was just no way around that - he earned every bit of it. What a performance. What a movie.

5/5