#Sathya Sridharan

[karlrincon]

Brendan Fraser wins Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Oscars for THE WHALE

[onenakedfarmer]

Currently Watching

MINOR PREMISE Eric Schultz USA, 2020

[demifiendrsa]

The Whale | Official Trailer #2

Synopsis

From Darren Aronofsky comes The Whale, the story of a reclusive English teacher who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter. Starring Brendan Fraser and based on the acclaimed play by Samuel D. Hunter.

[scenesandscreens]

The Whale (2022)

Director - Matthew Libatique, Cinematography - Matthew Libatique

"Who would want me to be part of their life?"

[jayfinch]

The Whale

[abs0luteb4stard]

W A T C H I N G

[porquevi]

"A Baleia" (the whale) - cinema.

Filme ficou conhecido pela transformação de Brendan Fraser, ele ganhou muito peso e ainda usou próteses para interpretar o personagem principal dessa história. E esses processos costumam render prêmios aos atores. Com ele não foi diferente e sua carreira que parecia estagnada ganha novos capítulos. Fui ver sabendo basicamente isso, nada sobre a história. O diretor Darren Aronofsky já fez coisas boas, mas suas últimas escolhas são bem ruins.

depois de ver: Fraser está realmente muito bem e é a força do filme. a direção exagera na mão e até atrapalha em alguns momentos, um filme mais sóbrio seria mais forte. 

[nuthnfiner]

The Whale - A Movie Review

The Whale – A Movie Review

A reclusive English teacher attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter. Director: Writer: Samuel D. Hunter MPA Rating: R; Release Date: Dec. 21, 2022; Runtime: 1hr, 57 mins. Cast: Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Ty Simpkins, Hong Chau, Samantha Morton, Sathya Sridharan, Jacey Sink **There could be spoilers** Lay was dying to see this. I admit to feeling a bit less enthusiastic and a…

[moviesandmania]

COME HOME Cabin in the woods horror - review, trailers and release date

‘This land must be fed’ Come Home is a 2023 horror film about two New York couples, seeking tranquillity in the remote Adirondack Mountains, who come into contact with spirits imprisoned in the woods. The movie was directed and co-produced by Nicole Pursell and Caitlin Zoz, making their feature directorial debut, from a screenplay co-written with Paton Ashbrook, Audrey Elaine Hailes, Bill…

[kermodefan94-blog]

Thoughts on The Whale

The Duffer Brothers were able to utilise Sadie Sink better for a series of more effective mental health/ mortality metaphors in 4 minutes and 11 seconds then Darren Aronofsky can in a piece that's roughly 28 times as long.

There are probably far more articulate writers than this one with thoughts on this wildly divisive but successful A24. awards best play. How much of this relates to the ongoing Brandon Fraser Hollywood redemption arc and what percentage is related to the positive or negative merits of the piece itself remains to be seen. Nevertheless, when the film had its first festival screenings it was nice to…

[somosorigen]

La Ballena… Magnífica

Un solitario profesor de inglés que tiene obesidad mórbida y vive recluido intenta reconectar con su hija adolescente para tener una última oportunidad de redención. Sin duda alguna una de las cintas más esperadas del año y que de entrada se merece toda la atención que ha tenido durante su promoción, pues es perfecta. (more…) “”

[randomrichards]

THE WHALE:

A recluse teacher

Tries to heal the lives he’s hurt

To write honestly

[rookie-critic]

The Whale (2022, dir. Darren Aronofsky) - review by Rookie-Critic

I have conflicting feelings about The Whale. On one had, I find director Darren Aronofsky's more grounded character studies, like this film and The Wrestler from 2008, to be his best work. The performances he pulls from his cast for these films are unbelievably great. On the other hand, I feel the film's message of endless positivity and empathy isn't necessarily a great one, but let's start with the good first.

Brendan Fraser is incomparably amazing as Charlie, a 600+ pound man trying to reconnect with his daughter in the wake of finding out that he is dying due to congestive heart failure, bringing about as much charisma and lovable charm as you can bring to a character in a film this sad. Fraser is truly the draw here, and I'm almost willing to forgive the problems I did have with the film just based on his performance alone. I'd also like to shower praise on the production design of the film, which almost entirely takes place inside Charlie's apartment. The space feels unhealthily lived in, and the nature of Charlie's situation is reflected in every square inch of his living space, the tragedy spelled out in every cluttered surface, empty pizza box, and in one instance, a single completely spotless room. The Whale plays out more like a stage production than a film (which is probably because its based off of a play), and the claustrophobic and closed in world that Charlie lives in is maddeningly apparent, made even more so by the choice to present the film in an 4:3 fullscreen aspect ratio as opposed to the normal 16:9 widescreen format. All of these things about the film are wonderful and done very well.

Where I started to have issues with the film is in its messaging, which, based on how I interpreted the movie, I'm ok with half of. Charlie, beautiful soul that he is, is positive to a detrimental degree. The film's central focus revolves around the fact that Charlie sees the best in people. This, on the surface, is fantastic. We should want to see the best in everyone and try to connect and have empathy for everyone, but Aronofsky is here to push the boundaries of what we're willing to accept. I won't say so much as to spoil the film for anyone, but a lot of the people Charlie finds himself interacting with, one in particular, are really quite horrible, and it seems that for about 95% of the film his generosity, empathy, and overall goodness goes largely unreciprocated, and at times even actively punished. The big scene that closes out the film didn't feel particularly indicative of any real payoff or change outside of what happens in that exact moment, and the main person that Charlie is trying to help is, in my honest opinion, not really deserving of it. I get that this is largely the point of the whole thing, but I'm not sure I agree that every person, regardless of how horrible they are, is worth empathizing with. That sounds pretty horrible when said plainly like that, but it's true, at least for me.

The other side of the film's messaging revolves around honesty, and how Charlie wants people to be authentically themselves. This is the side that I was very on board for, and the conversations and relationships between characters that focus a little more on this aspect ring a bit more true and, coincidentally, genuine. Ty Simpkins' character, a missionary trying to spiritually guide Charlie in his final days, gets a great arc over the course of the film, and it culminates in a crucial moment for the film's message on honesty and authenticity. I went into The Whale ready for it to completely knock my socks off, and it never quite did. However, I still think it's a film with a lot of merit and possibly the greatest singular acting performance of 2022.

Score: 8/10 (I have retroactively changed this to a 6 upon further reflection)

Currently only in theaters.

[gameofthunder66]

-watched 7/21/2023- 3 stars- on Netflixdvd

"I need to know that I have done one right thing with my life."

The Whale (2022), dir. Darren Aronofsky.

[neowitcher]

THE WHALE | FILM REVIEW

The Whale (2022) ★★★★

Drama, 1h 57m

Dir. Darren Aronofsky

Cast: Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, Samantha Morton, Sathya Sridharan, Jacey Sink

Summary:

A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption. (Letterboxd)

My review (slight spoilers):

Before watching The Whale, I had set some expectations that were only half met. My expectation for amazing acting fully came through, with an incredible comeback by Brendan Fraser that is absolutely worth the hype. But rather than my expected heart-warming goodbye story, it was very dark and cold most of the time. It was a great one-location film that wasn’t easy to watch but I still highly recommend it.

The story portrays the evils of depression and the addiction it leads up to and it is heartbreaking beginning to end. Even more so are the moments between Charlie (Brendan Fraser) and Ellie (Sadie Sink). Since I expected something more heart-warming, their toxic dynamic came as a great shock, especially as it just kept going. Whenever Ellie would reject Charlie’s advances to get to know her, something in Brendan Fraser’s facial expression would be so touchingly painful, I couldn’t help but feel so much for his character. He could act with his eyes alone which makes his performance worthy of that Oscar nomination. Ellie’s character isn’t easy to act out either as she is very conflicted, and it really showed Sadie Sink is a young actor to watch. The final scene became that much more heartbreaking after everything that was said and done between them both, I’m glad I wore waterproof makeup to the theatre.

Great acting isn’t just found between those two but with the whole cast, which consists of a pretty small number. The most outstanding performance to me was that of Liz (Hong Chau). I daresay she might have been my favourite supporting actress of the entirety of that year. Whenever she was on screen, my eyes were on her and the perfect way she delivered each and every line. The chemistry between her and Fraser on-screen was beautiful and if the film had been just about the two of them, it would already have been amazing.

I’m glad Charlie’s homosexuality was established early on because it made the references to queer literature (Moby-Dick, Song of Myself) a lot more valuable. As a literature student, it added more layers and points of interest to the story and makes me appreciate the writing more, even though it isn’t incredibly subtle.

The Whale is heartbreaking but with Charlie’s naturally positive personality, it still held on to some heart-warming moments and was surprisingly uplifting and empowering at times. Needless to say, its topics of death, depression and eating disorders are all quite triggering so it feels vital to be in the right headspace to watch. An incredible comeback that makes me excited for anything with Brendan Fraser and the rest of the cast in the future!

[spideyfan42]

2023 Movie Time No. 1 - The Whale

(Massive Spoilers)

I've actually seen Brendan Fraser, in person. He was in Belfast when I was young. He was the first picture we took on our new camera. However, it was from afar. My brother, sister and hell little young me couldn't believe it and didn't go up and talk to him.

I wish i had.

The happiness and warmth that man radiates would have quashed my fears, and I could've expressed my mother's love of him in the Mummy, or for an older me it would've been the geek cred of meeting freaking Robotman. And yes, whilst he is good in those roles, along with an illustrious career, very few things cold have prepared me for this.

The whale was the first film I watched in theatres this year. It wasn't Avatar 2 or Puss in Boots 2 or Ant Man 3 like I thought I'd end up watching first, but this.

And it blew me away.

I very often cry at films. I believe good art should move you, and quite frankly film is one of the most effective art forms. But Dear God, something about this film made me sorrowful and melancholy, in a way that the film would, I hope, be proud of.

My favourite line in the film was spoken by Charlie (Brendan), close to the film and protagonist's, end.

"Do you ever get the feeling that people are incapable of not caring"

This line made me cry. It's a sentiment I believe in wholeheartedly. A beautiful idea that mankind as a whole is fundamentally good, even though as you see in this film life takes relentlessly. Every character, from Charlie to his daughter Ellie, to his caretaker and lover's sister Liz, they have suffered. And whilst most of them are jaded cynics, Charlie believes the best. He sees his daughter's anger as passion and views her as good even when her mother is angry and outwardly claims her as evil.

Every performance in this film is fantastic. with only 7 members to its cast, with one only being a character seen for a total of around a minute with flashbacks, this film really allows you to feel each character's struggles. From Liz's pain to watching her brother's lover kill himself slowly, to Mary (Charlie's Ex) spouting her fears that she is what ruined her daughter. The film tells us that objectivity and the correct ways of writing are, to paraphrase its own words, bullshit, and we should all write something fucking real.

And I agree.

And the real truth is I fucking loved this movie. I cannot unbiasedly review it because all reviews lean on a bias. But I can promise you, that it is an emotional ride, that of every movie I've seen deserves awards. Brendan earned that Critic's Choice Award for Best Actor. But a case could be made for every other actor, Sadie Sink, Ty Simpkins, Hong Chau, Samantha Morton, and Sathya Sridharan gave exceptional performances, and every writer and every other singular person who worked on this film made real art.

So I hope that's real enough. That it captures even a singular atom of how brilliant this movie is. Because the truth is, this film is amazing.