The Whale Showtimes Near Amc Glendora (2024)

FAQs

Is it hard to watch the Whale? ›

The Whale is difficult to watch, not because of Charlie's size but because it feels as if he is treated as a grotesque, something to be disgusted by, a monster with a heart of gold.

The Whale is a wonderful surprise masterpiece! Brendan Fraser has proved he still has it. It's a beautiful performance that's long overdue for him. A film that will make you cry and love Brendan.

“The Whale” takes place in Moscow, although it was not filmed there. “A Bright New Boise” is set in Idaho's capital. His plays “Lewiston” and “Clarkson” are set in the towns of the same names, and “A Case for the Existence of God,” one of his most recent, is set in Twin Falls.

After its premiere at the 2022 Venice Film Festival — where Fraser was moved to tears during the six-minute ovation that followed the screening — the film was criticized for its portrayal of people affected by obesity and was accused of perpetuating anti-fat stereotypes.

The Whale addresses the extent to which depression can impact physical health. Darren Aronofsky's The Whale is a sad reminder of the toll depression can take on someone and how damaging that can be for their mental and physical health.

Though fictional, the story draws on several real-life experiences for Hunter, who grew up in Moscow, Idaho, and was kicked out of his religious high school when he came out as gay. A public school teacher later encouraged Hunter to pursue his interest in writing, and at first he immersed himself in poetry.

The Whale tackles themes of redemption, being oneself, and dealing with grief. Brendan Fraser showcased that and ultimately won an Oscar for his performance as Charlie. The Whale ending brought the powerful and intense drama to a conclusion that requires some more analysis.

Rated R for language, some drug use and sexual content.

However, the film has been accused of The Whale fatphobia controversy by using Charlie's refusal to go to the hospital as a way to show the audience that he is self-sacrificial, rather than acknowledging that studies show that obese patients are often either dismissed or misdiagnosed by doctors.

Is the movie The Whale disturbing? ›

Directed by Darren Aronofsky, it's a compassionate movie with mature, complex themes. Violence is described in dialogue, and there's some unsettling imagery of things like binge-eating, vomiting, choking, etc.

“The Whale” works because Fraser, particularly his eyes and voice, and the rest of the cast deliver performances that imbue their two-dimensional characters with enough presence and emotion that they feel three dimensional.

Fresh score. Certified Fresh audience score. A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption.

Characters. Charlie – He is over 40 years old. According to Paul Hodgins of the Orange County Register, the play's author "wants us to get past our initial revulsion and see Charlie's size as a manifestation of his pain". Liz – She is a nurse.

A man is shown masturbating (his hand is down his pants) and watching a p*rnographic video (one person kisses and thrusts behind another). The main character is also seen shirtless in the shower, and there's some strong sex-related dialogue. Language includes several uses of "f--k," "s--t," "a--hole," and more.

I began to realize that this movie was not a melodrama, nor an uplifting tale about redemption; to me, “The Whale” is a body horror film that exploits the fear and disgust people feel toward fatness.

TRIGGER WARNING: One early scene depicts a highly visceral panic attack before a televised performance. Multiple scenes depict verbal and emotional domestic abuse, including threats.

Director Darren Aronofsky presents this film in an aspect ratio of 4:3, which was the universal standard for 35 mm celluloid. Aronofsky though shot this film using a digital camera, so the aspect ratio isn't done out of respect to traditional celluloid but more to emphasize his protagonist and his weight.