Movie #2179 ........................."The Whale" (movie theater)

 Movie #2179 "The Whale" (movie theater)  oh, boy, where do I begin?  I am not a Brendon Fraser fan, and I really didn't want to see this one.  From the speech he made at the recent Critics' Choice awards , I expected the movie to be manipulative and overdramatic ----  but I sat and watched it the other night, as uncomfortable as it was, and  I came out of it appreciating the acting but not the story, which jumped around from one subject to the next way too much.  His front door seemed a revolving door --- every time someone knocked on the door, my heart stopped a beat ---- was it the religious kid trying to read the bible to him? or  his angst-filled daughter so angry one wonders why she ever keeps coming back, possibly to mentally abuse him more?  or his ex-wife who is all screwed up and yells at him one minute, and hugs him the next?  or the pizza guy who just wants to make sure he is still okay?  or finally , and the only one we hope it is because she's the best of the bunch, his friend --- well, we think she is the most caring, but she continues to bring him food that could kill him.  The film is such a mixture of emotions, to me it didn't have a clear through line ---- it's as if it had so much to say but didn't know how to say it.  Once again, I would say his acting shows  a lot of work, but the same throughout the film, with very little variety, but it's the kind of acting job that might get rewarded with an Oscar ---- in a very weak year, I might add.  I wouldn't recommend this film, unless you are watching it because you want to --- because it is very uncomfortable and tough to watch --- esp. the gorging of food and the vomiting, and the abuse of him  by many of those who step into his room.  I give it a 3 out of 5. and would be anxious to hear what others think.  I only watched it because it was nominated for an AA.

PS --if he was really an English professor, one wonders why he made a lie/lay mistake in his dialogue? hmmm. anyone else notice that?

"THE WHALE"    R       1 hour and 57 mins            2022

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

Director:  Darren Aronofsky

Writer:  Samuel D.Hunter

Actors:  Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink,  Hong Chau