With Oscars on the horizon, a look back at ‘The Whale’

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Many of this year’s Oscar races were decided months ago (How Everything everywhere at once‘s Ke Huy Quan), but best actor is still something of a toss-up between Austin Butler for elvis and Brendan Fraser for The whale.

Both embody classic Oscar stories: Fraser makes a tremendous comeback while Butler embodies a larger-than-life legend; Fraser’s role involved 300 pounds of prostheses that lasted 6 hours while butler get dressed quiet Sounds like Elvis Presley whenever he speaks.

elvis has been available for streaming At HBO Max months, but it’s only recently that people have been able to watch The whale at home. (It is available on VOD.) There were many spectators deeply affected from The whale and Fraser’s performance, but audiences were also confused by the appeal, especially once Clips from the fantastic ending of the film quickly became known.

The whale follows Charlie (Fraser), a 600-lb. Man drown in sorrow who tries to reconcile with his estranged daughter (Sadie Sink) over the course of a week. Charlie is dying of congestive heart failure and his caretaker Liz (Hong Chau) says he may have to go a week without proper medical attention.

It is based on a play by Samuel D. Hunter, which follows from how it is can’t shake the staginess of its one-site attitude. Various characters come and go to Charlie’s apartment to admonish him, berate him, mock him for his weight and poor health, and try to save him. And Charlie takes everything because he thinks he deserves everything thrown at him.

There are much to admire about Fraser’s performance; Chau, who was nominated for Supporting Actress, is great too. But my experience while watching The whale a few months back I felt drained and emotionally manipulatedand I loved the film’s use of sound design around the food scenes particularly gross.

criticism about Fraser’s fat prosthetic suit—along with the limited amount of fat protagonist stories told by Hollywood—have followed the film since its premiere in Venice; while Fraser might disagree with his defense doesn’t seem hostile.

But even after Fraser that is worship by fans who grew up watching his films and were amazed by his success; he was top up adorable viral moments like Infinity Stones, the makes discussion of a backlash more difficult to discuss but still fascinating. (Not that the Academy ever paid much attention to game before *cough* Green Book *Cough*.)

Why it matters

The best performances rarely win Oscars. But if the nostalgic goodwill surrounding Fraser is any indication, so do people who might not like it The whale can get something positive out of a potential win.

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