The Whale (2022)
- The incredible score for The Whale was composed in just a few weeks after the original composer dropped out.
- Many of the practical effects used in the climax were achieved without any CGI.
- Darren Aronofsky originally wanted a completely different ending for the film, but test audiences preferred the one we see today.
The Whale is a 2022 American psychological drama directed by Darren Aronofsky. Brendan Fraser stars as Charlie, a 600-pound reclusive English teacher who teaches online writing courses with his camera off, slowly eating himself to death in his small Idaho apartment following the death of his partner. As Charlie's physical condition deteriorates and his health aide Liz, played by Hong Chau, warns him he is days from heart failure, Charlie makes a final attempt to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter Ellie, played by Sadie Sink, an angry, caustic 17-year-old who despises her father for abandoning the family.
Brendan Fraser's performance, achieved through a combination of prosthetic makeup by Adrien Morot requiring up to six hours to apply and a physical commitment that left Fraser in genuine pain during filming, was one of the most celebrated acting achievements of the decade. Fraser won the Academy Award for Best Actor in what was widely celebrated as a career resurrection following years of personal and professional struggles. The Whale earned $54 million worldwide on a $3 million budget.
