Transfem Freelance Wives (Samantha and Maxine) meet transmasc Freelance Husbands (Samuel and Maximus)
The Maxes get into a fight about the other "stealing the gender that is rightfully theirs", and the Sams' gossip to each other about cases, friends, fashion, differences in universes, and how cute their little buddies are
They also re-create the 4-person Spider-Man meme for shits and giggles (Geek takes the picture, Sam's counterpart says they should've brought their Geek with them so the two Geeks could meet)
Everyone else is very confused because Sam and his female counterpart are pretty identical unless you're looking for the small details
Like Samantha wears a necklace instead of a tie, but she still has the tie's pattern on her (as a bow tied around her hat)
Max and Maxine tho... if they weren't universal counterparts they'd be identical twins. The only visible difference between the two is the tuft of fur on Maxine's head
So I recently rewatched Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. And now that I’ve seen it I can’t unsee it - the mayor in that movie, once he gains all that weight from eating all that junk food that’s falling from the sky, looks exactly like Brendan Fraser in The Whale. I don’t just mean the weight, though that too. I mean, the hairstyle, the eyes and everything. It’s uncanny.
Plot: In a town in Idaho, Charlie, a reclusive and unhealthy English teacher, hides out in his flat and eats his way to death. He is desperate to reconnect with his teenage daughter for a last chance at redemption.
You always get that one movie every year where all the critics are raving about this one great performance from an actor that is a shoehorn in for an Oscars win, and then you yourself go see the film and you realise it’s overrated. The Whale is not that. Brendan Fraser needs that Oscar. Let alone the guy has been crapped on by Hollywood and this is one hell of a comeback, but also his performance in this movie is unlike anything you have seen from him before, nor is it something every actor can pull off. There is so much emotion that Fraser delivers in his expressions and within his eyes, so much so that every time the camera is on him you can tell exactly what he is thinking, you sympathise and feel sorrow for him, and overall he is incredible in this movie. If there is ever a movie to watch just for an actor’s performance, The Whale is that. Also, for those worrying that The Whale will just make you depressed for 2 hours....I mean, yah, that is what it does, however it does it in style! No? Not good enough for ya? Okay, go watch Puss in Boots instead ya losers!! That being said, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a surprisingly awesome animated sequel so if you choose to see that instead I can’t really judge.
The Whale comes to us from director Darren Aronofsky, and that is both a pro a kind of a detriment to the movie. The positive is that he’s able to get the best performances out of his actors, and he manages to get a few interesting shots whilst only using one location, since the movie plays out more like an on-stage play, with all the events transpiring in Charlie’s flat, or the balcony out the front door. However the downside is that this is typical Aronofsky in that the movie can be very grotesque, so much so that it may overshadow the main message of the movie. From the very first moment when we’re introduced to Fraser’s Charlie, we find him all sweaty whilst masturbating profusely, followed by a heart attack after he climaxes. It’s as if Aronofsky wants you to think how disgusting this guy is. However then Fraser straight away portrays the character with such tenderness and empathy, that it seems like the director and the actor both have different motivations. Aronofsky, evidently is more focused on the journey of transforming an ugly individual into something beautiful at the end, whilst Fraser from the beginning sets out to show that this guy Charlie has something good and earnest in him right away. Personally I prefer Brendan Fraser’s approach, as we don’t need to see Charlie be shown so negatively. The enjoyment comes from seeing him in his happy moments and fix things he might have broken previously, however he’s already at his lowest. We don’t want to see him suffer anymore, we just want to see him actually succeed in something or at the very least find a glimmer of light in the midst of all the darkness. And also all the backstory of Charlie’s actions are discussed amongst the characters’ dialogues, so there’s no reason to make him now physically repulsive too. Especially since the movie’s main intention is to show that overweight people have more to them than just their physical layers. Anyway, my point is that Aronofsky’s fondness for the grotesque sometimes downplayed the film’s overall narrative message. Again though, Fraser manages to make Charlie so damn likeable that no matter how much greasy chicken he stuffs in his mouth, he’s still super adorable.
Besides Brendan the other cast members are all on form here. Hong Chau plays Charlie’s nurse and best friend, and seemingly the only truly honest character who doesn’t have a single bad thought, and she was really good. It was nice seeing someone good in Charlie’s life, who otherwise is only surrounded by constant negativity. Sadie Sink off Stranger Things fame does well in her part as Charlie’s daughter, and again as a child actor shows humongous talent, however he character does come off a bit over the top. She’s the typical moody teen who feels abandoned by her parent, however this character is so unpleasant and Aronofsky goes out of his way to show her as this despicable entity, that it makes it really hard to believe Charlie whenever he showers her with compliments about how brilliant and amazing she is. Samantha Morton also shows up in quick cameo appearance and manages to nearly steal the entire show from everyone.
Being that this movie is set in only one location, a lot of the emotion comes from the musical score that is used to amplify the more dramatical moments. And the music is fine. Rob Simonsen embraces empathy in his notes well, however I was very much reminded a lot of film composer Johann Johannsson who passed away a few years back, as I feel like he would have really done justice to this movie and would have wrote a musical accompaniment that really stuck out.
The Whale is the type of movie that truly rests on it’s main actor’s shoulders. But my gosh is that central performance so good, and I really hope it brings Brendan Fraser properly back to our screens, as he has now shown that he has grown more and is able to provide such nuanced and heavyweight acting roles. Let the Brenaissance commence! And give that man an Oscar already!
Honestly I don't have anything important to say about this movie that has already been said...
I waited it since july of 2022 and these last months became like a surviving game trying to avoid the bombs from a mining camp (yeah, I'm talking about you spoilers people)
But yeah, I finally saw it and I just want to say that:
I just waited for a Darren Aronofsky movie and I got a Darren Aronofsky movie ... simple as that ... no more, no less ...
And I am satisfied!
As I always said, Darren Aronofsky is a "Director of Actors", he just knows how to use the best of his actors' qualities for the benefit of his stories, giving us memorable performances
Just wanna say:
Thank you Darren
Thank you Brendan
Thank you Samuel
Thank you Samantha, Sadie, Hong, Ty ... and everyone involved in the production
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.
i never saw that your name is Sammy. i adore it. that's the entire ask i just love your name
Thank you!!!! <3
It’s technically short for Samuel James but I think there’s something so good and gender neutral and silly about Sammy. I’m glad the vibes are excellent