By Gary

An emotional rollercoaster and an absolute masterpiece from Director Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan).

The official synopsis gives you the plot of the film, “A reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher Charlie attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter Ellie.”

What it misses out on is the emotional rollercoaster that it takes you on.

The Whale is one of those strange films that is a 10/10 but I won’t be rushing to see it again, I was an emotional wreck coming out of this.

The acting is just so real and heart-breaking. Brendan Fraser (The Mummy Franchise) is just so amazing in this movie, he gives one of the best performances I have ever seen and I have watched a lot of movies.

Sandie Sink (Stranger Things) who plays Ellie, is an actress who I really believe is destined to be one of the biggest actresses in the future.

Because of his character’s severe weight, Brendan Fraser had to don a heavy prosthetic suit for the role that he wore for hours.

He told members of the media in attendance at the Venice International Film Festival (via Variety): “I developed muscles I did not know I had.

“I even felt a sense of vertigo at the end of the day when all the appliances were removed; it was like stepping off the dock onto a boat in Venice. That [sense of] undulating.

“It gave me appreciation for those whose bodies are similar. You need to be an incredibly strong person, mentally and physically, to inhabit that physical being.”

The film has no hero or villain. Everyone is made out to be both to an extent and it’s heart-wrenching to come to know these people throughout the film and watch them seek redemption.

The itinerant Jesus fan, Thomas (Ty Simpkins), is food for another essay but for now an effective emblem of the intricate characters supporting Charlie’s journey and Herman Melville lends figurative richness to the proceedings.

If I haven’t convinced you of the gold in this small film about a big man, go see it to witness my prediction that Fraser will be in the running for during awards season.

My Rating: 10/10