RAd views The Whale

TBA Studios/A24

So much has been said about Brendan Fraser's critically acclaimed performance in The Whale. Not only has it cemented his return to the Hollywood A-List, it has also put him in the running for a Best Actor trophy at the upcoming Academy Awards.

In The Whale, Fraser reminds audiences that he is not just an actor who starred in blockbuster flicks such as George of the Jungle and The Mummy. He has also showcased his acting chops in dramatic roles in movies such as School Ties and Gods and Monsters.

Brendan Fraser

TBA Studios/A24

Fraser portrays Charlie, a reclusive English teacher whose relationship failures has led him to spiral into morbid obesity. He is regularly checked upon by Liz (Hong Chau), his nurse and probably the only friend he has left. Liz's genuine concern for Charlie is continually put to the test as ignores her persistent pleas to seek proper medical care when his health turns for the worst.

Upon realizing that he may not have much time left, Charlie desperately tries to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink) who has harbored resentment towards him for the past eight years. But Charlie blindly clings on to his perceived image of his daughter as someone who is capable of great things and that he will damn everything to ensure her of a great future.

Add to the mix, the door to door missionary Thomas (Ty Simpkins) who believes that it is his calling to save Charlie and Charlie's ex-wife Mary (Samantha Morton) who has long accepted her failure as a parent for raising such an evil daughter.

Hong Chau

TBA Studios/A24

The Whale is clearly a comeback vehicle for Fraser. The unforgettable scene when Charlie feels elated believing that her daughter Ellie, despite being called evil by her mother, has finally done some good shows Fraser at his finest. The complexity of his portrayal in this scene, where his elation could have also been a moment of delirium, might have sealed the Oscar Best Actor for Fraser.

There are also clear stand outs in the cast like Hong Chau whose Liz reflects the frustration and the eventual resignation the viewers might feel as Charlie's health declines. Also remarkable is the brief, single scene Samantha Morton had that gave unexpected doses of humor in the film.

The Whale is directed by Darren Aronofsky with a screenplay adapted by Samuel D. Hunter from his play of the same name. It is produced by A24 and distributed locally by TBA Studios.

The film opens in Philippine cinemas today, February 22, 2023.