Adapted from Samuel D. Hunter 's 2012 play, The Whale is a story of a morbidly obese man, Charlie ( Brendan Fraser ), living out what might be his last days as his heart falters and his mind is. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Manage Settings The movie itself isn't particularly oblique, nor is the ending that ambiguous despite its artistic license. Through the course of the film, he is visited by several recurring characters. Related: How Did Brendan Fraser Transform For The Whale Movie? Ellie steps toward Charlie. (Get it? After begging Ellie to read the essay aloud to him, an emotional Ellie reads it to him as Charlie stands up and attempts to walk over to her. Liz informs Charlie that his blood pressure is at a dangerous level, and that he needs to go to the hospital, or he will very likely die of congestive heart failure by the end of the week. With Olga Skulic, Stephen Dillane, Franoise Bertin, Thandiwe Newton. Charlie is also visited by his teenage daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink), whom he hasnt seen since she was 8 years old. Later, Liz visits while Ellie is there and Charlie reveals that he has plenty of money saved, and he promised it all to Ellie if she'd just keep visiting. He had the money for a hospital stay, but refused to spend it and lied to the only person who cared about him. Thus, The Whale features many hard-to-watch sequences of binge-eating junk food, beads of sweat rolling down Brendan Frasers heavily make-upped face, and Fraser struggling to move around in a squishy, rolling fat suit. Ellie storms in, upset that the essay Charlie gave her to turn in got an F. The reason why it did was because it was not on the subject Ellie was assigned, but the Moby Dick essay Charlie had Thomas read to him. He reads some of his students responses to his prompt to be honest. "The Whale," is a movie that tells the story of a 600-pound man estranged from his teenage daughter. Brendan plays an obese, reclusive professor named Charlie who is attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter, played by Stranger Things star Sadie Sink. She is overwhelmed by her feelings, and she needs a guide. It didnt want to entertain the spectator. Thats why Charlie triggers her hate so much: he represents the reason why everything went south in her life. Liz seems to realize that she is saying goodbye to Charlie, and tells him shell wait downstairs. When Ellie reads Charlies favorite line in the essayAnd I felt saddest of all when I read the boring chapters, that were just descriptions of whales, because I knew the author was trying to save us from his own sad story, just for a little while,Charlie imagines stepping into the ocean, all those years ago when he wasnt so obese. His latest film, The Whale, starring Brendan Fraser has already garnered the title by many as being the most controversial film of the year.. This resulted in Charlie losing contact with his daughter Ellie, which he has always felt guilty about. What is she glad for? Eventually, Ellie spikes Charlie's drink with sleeping pills so she can have his place to herself and spends time with Thomas and flirts with him before recording his confessions of theft back home before he ran away and joined the Church. Hulus Barbie Doc Tiny Shoulders Will Give You the Background You Need For Barbie, You've Heard of 'Cocaine Bear,' Now Its Time for 'Cocaine Sharks': How to Watch the New Shark Week Special, 'Wham!' She kept returning because he promised to write an essay for school for her and offered her all his money, which totaled over $120,000 since he never spent money on anything but food and rent. Brendan Fraser in The Whale (Image credit: A24) NOTE: spoilers ahead for The Whale. Related: The Whale Confirms Sadie Sink Is Stranger Things' True Breakout Star. Directed by Darren Aronofskythe same man who brought you uncomfortable, divisive movies like Black Swan and mother!The Whale is based on a 2012 play of the same nameby Samuel D. Hunter. You can watch the official trailer for The Whale here on Youtube. 37,280, This story has been shared 22,927 times. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Charlie agrees. Does 'Yellowstone' Return Tonight? This story has been shared 58,579 times. What to Know Before You Watch, Stream It Or Skip It: 'They Cloned Tyrone' on Netflix, a Rousing, Funny Genre-Mashup From Freshman Director Juel Taylor, Javon "Wanna" Walton, 17-Year-Old 'Euphoria' Star and Amateur Boxer, Partners with Jake Paul in Boxing Deal, Jamie Foxx Breaks His Silence On Health Scare: "I Went To Hell And Back", R.I.P. I thought I was going to die, and I wanted to hear it one last time, Charlie says. Darren was recently interviewed by the AV Club and was asked what conversations he wishes to start with The Whale: I guess its all about connecting with people you wouldnt normally connect with. The movie concludes with Charlie ascending to heaven in a rather surreal moment, although not one that is exactly atypical of the directors body of work. The Whale tells the story of reclusive English teacher Charlie (Brendan Fraser) who is living with severe obesity and attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink), one last time. He always has his video camera off, leading some to speculate in the chat section about his personal life. She also posts images of Charlie on Facebook. Charlie is a professor, and he was married to Mary. We can safely say that Ellie is not perfect, but we support Charlie in trying to understand her. As part of their agreement, Mary prevents Charlie from getting in touch with Ellie; when she learns he . Movies The 'cathartic release' of 'The Whale' explained by the play's actors and directors Actors playing Charlie in stage productions of "The Whale," from left: Matthew Arkin at South Coast. However, one of the biggest differences between the movie adaptation and the play is Darren Aronofsky's more hopeful ending. 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The Whale wastes little time in showing just how poorly Charlie is doing wealth-wise. The cutting patterns and shot choices of the two scenes are very similar. Charlie asks Ellie to read the Moby Dick essay to him one last time. His students mocked his appearance and he broke his laptop, severing his final ties with the outside world. During the film, we learn that Charlie is openly gay and had a relationship with a former student of his named Alan. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Ellie storms out too, telling her dad to just fucking die already. Charlie gives Ellie the essay she asked for before she leaves. But before that can happen, Charlie is determined to reconnect with his estranged daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink). The worlds defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking whats new and whats next since 1952. The Whale centres on a man named Charlie (Fraser), an obese man who works as an English Literature professor, teaching courses online. Im a Handsome Woman, Al Roker Disagrees with Dermatologist Who Recommends Showering Only 2-3 Times Per Week on 'Today': "Not If You Come In Contact with Other People! "The final moments of this play and this movie abandon realism a little bit, and its no longer about this guy in this apartment. Hes the whale!). He always has his video camera off, leading some to. What the movie tries to do is present an authentic story of pain, exploring feelings, motives, and events that can turn a life upside down. Michael Balderston is a DC-based entertainment and assistant managing editor for What to Watch, who has previously written about the TV and movies with TV Technology, Awards Circuit and regional publications. Ellie agrees that she'll spend time with her father if he agrees to write her school assignments for her, but she struggles to contain her anger. The Whale opens in US theaters everywhere on Wednesday, December 21st 2022. Who did Angelo Badalamenti play in Mulholland Drive. The Whale Controversy: What to Know | Time Related: Blast From The Past Is Brendan Frasers Most Important Role (Not The Whale). If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. She initially refuses and goes to leave, but stops at the door in tears and proceeds to read it. And whats the message the film wants to convey? At the ending ofThe Whale, Charlie dies in front of his daughter Ellie, and the image of his feet levitating explained it with a beautiful metaphor. His ex-wife Mary (played by Samantha Mortin) doesnt want him to see Ellie either, but he perseveres and maintains hes sorry about being such an absent and neglectful father. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 1,450, This story has been shared 1,268 times. When Mary confronts Charlie about his newfound relationship with Ellie, even though its an arrangement of sorts, hes apologetic about his failures as a father but not about his sexuality. On the TV side he enjoys Peaky Blinders, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Saturday Night Live, Only Murders in the Building and is always up for a Seinfeld rerun. The Whale centres on a man named Charlie (Fraser), an obese man who works as an English Literature professor, teaching courses online. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Her mother thinks shes evil; her father believes shes perfect. The next day, Liz confirms that Charlie's time is almost up. In Charlie's interactions with Liz, he showed his undying optimism in the people around him, even as he hated and loathed himself. Charlie held that close to his heart because it was honest in a way he or his students never were. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Charlie reveals he used the essay Ellie wrote when she was eight about Moby-Dick. As his health deteriorates, Charlie is keen to reconcile with his estranged teenage daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink), who is still angry at him following his divorce from her mother Mary (Samantha Morton). To say The Whale is a difficult watch is the understatement of the century. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Discover other movies and TV shows explained on Auralcrave, Auralcrave founder, web content creator since 2010, life coach, husband, father, fond of art, culture, society, psychology, economics, politics, games. Charlie continues to insist that Ellie is amazing and that shes a great writer. What he didn't know was that she was recording what he said. Stream It Or Skip It: 'Bird Box Barcelona' on Netflix, a Spanish Spinoff of the Surprise Sandra Bullock Sci-fi Hit, Bird Box Barcelona Ending Explained: What That Cliffhanger Could Mean For Another Bird Box Movie. The Whale easily could prove to be Fraser's most ambitious and challenging role yet, as this is an extremely deep character study that lives or dies on the emotional performance of Charlie. Charlie says it clearly for the whole movie: he doesnt want to be saved. Your IP: Alongside Fraser and Sink, the film stars Hong Chau as Charlies best friend and nurse Liz, Ty Simpkins as Christian missionary Thomas and Samantha Morton as Ellies mother Mary. The Whale premiered on December 9 and is an emotional psychological drama starring Fraser. Ellie secretly records his confession. But in an interview with editor Andrew Weisblum for the films press notes, it seems clear that the filmmakers intended this scene to indicate the end of Charlies life, and that it mirror the first scene that Charlie has with Ellie. At the very end, Charlie is dying. When his friend and caretaker Liz (Chau) gets there, she tells him that his blood pressure is at a dangerous level and that if he does not go to the hospital he could die by the end of the week from heart failure. How Did Brendan Fraser Transform For The Whale Movie? - Screen Rant It was full circle, as he wanted her poem to be the last thing he heard before he died. We learn that shes been bullying people through an online Facebook page she posts pictures of Charlie to the site as well and sends pictures of a former addict named Thomas to his family and people at his church. .css-nu68ka{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#83EAD7;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#000000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-nu68ka:hover{color:#000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:#83EAD7;}The Whale has received heaps of critical acclaim, but is not without its detractors. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. During the film, the audience learns that the relationship that Charlie seeks to have with Ellie is forbidden by his ex-wife, Mary (Samantha Morton). Defense is the only dynamic that drives them, and since they can be hurt by anything, every single presence in their lives becomes a threat. Its the last effort his body is able to make: the second after, Charlie dies. He began to eat compulsively as a way to cope and that led to him no longer being able to solely take care of himself. There are a wealth of reasons to be excited about the 2022 American drama movie, mainly because its been teased as Brendan Frasers triumphant comeback. As his health continues to fail, Charlie also learns that there has been backlash in his online university lecturer classes - in which he always works with his webcam turned off - after he pushed his students to be more honest in their writing. It was an essay Ellie wrote when she was younger and that Charlie tells her is a good, honest piece of writing. By eating junk food with no limits, hes destroying himself, a self-punishment that he sees as unavoidable. Unfortunately, Alan's death became a catalyst for Charlie's obesity. Or is she glad her dad left her when he did, to spare her his sad story? About halfway through "The Whale," Charlie tries to retrieve a key sitting atop a closed door - only for it to . This was executed in the visual appearance of the two endings. As we delve into how it ends, be forewarned: spoilers for The Whale follow. Ellie didnt deserve to grow up as a woman dominated by her own hate. Its a tear-jerking achievement, and with people finally checking it out, lets get The Whale ending explained. The students react in shock and disgust. Thats a magic movie. The Whale is now playing exclusively in movie theaters. During the film, we learn that Charlie is openly gay and had a relationship with a former student of his named Alan. You can unsubscribe at any time. The stage play kept showing how bad things were getting until Charlie died, and it all went black and deathly silent. Charlie was constantly frustrated with the students he taught online because they would give him generic responses or write what they thought would please him enough to get a good grade. Depending on your belief system, spiritually or otherwise, we see that Charlie with a touch of magic realism finally does fly.. Liz's concern is two-fold, for she is the sister of Charlie's partner Alan, who died by suicide. The Whale may end in a seemingly confusing way, but it's not. Does Charlie die in The Whale? Mary leaves, and Thomas arrives to reveal that he's going home; Ellie sent his confession to his youth group, but they accepted his apology. The movie has Brendan Fraser in an Oscar and Golden Globe nominated role, as a teacher who battles with an eating disorder that has left him at over 600 pounds and on the verge of death. Liz, Alan's sister, was called to help care for Charlie after Alan died because he started overeating. He doesnt even try to restore the relationship with his daughter because he knows nobody in this world would want him in their lives. Its revealed that Ellie has demons of her own and has been bullying people online. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Culture Movies Reviews Inside Darren Aronofsky's messy movie The Whale is something wise about religious trauma The Whale is more than the movie where Brendan Fraser wears a fat suit. After Mary leaves, Charlie goes on a binge eating session that ends in him vomiting. She always needed a loving father, and having it with so many years of delay is unbearable. Ellie, too, returns just as Charlie faces his final hours, to rebuke him for changing the essay he promised he'd write for her. All Rights Reserved. The film has . Spectators were obviously puzzled: what is the meaning of the ending? What happens at the end of The Whale? The Whale review - Darren Aronofsky's latest is a contrived The first time she appeared in the movie, she told him that he disgusted her, regardless of his appearance, and said if he loved her, he would walk to her without assistance, which she knew he couldn't do, and he sadly fell, breaking his side table. Despite how cruel Ellie is to Charlie, he insists she is an amazing person. There is no lesson we can learn; even religion cannot help. The Ending Of The Whale Explained - Looper Click to reveal The play version of The Whale was first performed in 2012. Updated Feb 23, 2023 The Whale, starring Brendan Fraser, ends in a devastating way. He keeps his camera off, telling his students that his webcam is broken. 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", Whoopi Goldberg Reveals Late 'View' Producer Bill Geddie Defended Her After She Was Suspended: "Don't Ever Think You Did Something You Shouldn't Have", R.I.P. Sadie Sink as Ellie in The Whale. Ellie demands to know why Charlie failed her assignment and accuses him of purposefully screwing her over. The Whale tackles many subjects, including abandonment, loss, broken families, sexuality, and the need for connection. The Whale wastes little time in showing just how poorly Charlie is doing wealth-wise. Yes, Charlie does die in The Whale and there are many things that lead to that unfortunate ending. Thomas reveals he ran away from home after stealing money from his youth group; Ellie secretly records the confession. Brendan Fraser finally broke down, as he showed Charlie saw all lies - from himself, his daughter, the missionary, and more - just caused more pain. Brendan Fraser really escalated things here in The Whale, as Charlie could see the good in anyone, even when their intentions were evil. As well as Brendan Fraser, The Whale stars Sadie Sink as Ellie, Charlie's daughter with whom he seeks to reconnect. The images on Auralcrave or similar could be downloaded and edited ondepositphotos.com. Does Charlie die? The film - which is not based on a true story - culminates in emotional scenes, but what does the ending of The Whale mean? PBS The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer Will Help Explain Nolans New Film, Troubled Bam Margera Bashes Johnny Knoxville, Wee Man, Other 'Jackass' Stars in Controversial New Music Video: "Fk 'Em All Especially Jeff Tremaine", 'Live With Kelly & Mark': Kelly Ripa Claims It Will Take Mark Consuelos "8 Times" to Watch 'Oppenheimer' Because He'll Fall Asleep, Who Is Ruth Handler? He asked her, before she left for the last time, to read her poem to him again. When it comes to the most anticipated movies of 2022, theres simply no way audiences can ignore The Whale. After a blow-out argument with the pastor, Thomas stole all of the churchs petty cash and left. Liz said at the beginning of the final scene that Charlie is dying. The stories of their lives explained the message of The Whale, culminating in the ending. Ellie refused to reconnect with her dad, even at the end, but she did one thing that might be a glimmer of hope. Major spoilers ahead. Charlie tells Ellie he wanted to be part of her life, but that her mother forbade him from seeing her. This is the only way he feels will absolve him of his past mistakes.