12/4/2023 0 Comments Charlie sweetie nude picsAt Charlie's most desperate, panicky moments, he soothes himself by reading or reciting a student's beloved essay on Moby Dick, which-in part-gives the film its title and will take on increasing significance. He does so much with his eyes here to give us a glimpse into Charlie's sweet but tortured soul, and the subtlety he's able to convey goes a long way toward making "The Whale" tolerable.īut he's also saddled with a screenplay that spells out every emotion in ways that are so clunky as to be groan-inducing. Fraser's been away for a while, but his contradictions have always made him an engaging screen presence-the contrast of his imposing physique and playful spirit. And it's such a welcoming and resonant sound, full of decency and humor. We hear his voice first Charlie is a college writing professor who teaches his students online from behind the safety of a black square. Within the extremes of this approach, Fraser brings more warmth and humanity to the role than he's afforded on the page. But then, in a jarring shift, the tone eventually turns maudlin with Charlie's increasing martyrdom. His depiction of Charlie's isolation within his squalid Idaho apartment includes a scene of him masturbating to gay porn with such gusto that he almost has a heart attack, a moment made of equal parts shock value and shame. Hunter's script, based on Hunter's stage play, Aronofsky doesn't appear to be as interested in understanding these impulses and indulgences as much as pointing and staring at them. The message "The Whale" sends us home with seems to be: Thank God that's not us. Here he is, knocking over an end table as he struggles to get up from the couch there he is, cramming candy bars in his mouth as he Googles "congestive heart failure." We can tsk-tsk all we like between our mouthfuls of popcorn and Junior Mints while watching Fraser's Charlie gobble greasy fried chicken straight from the bucket or inhale a giant meatball sub with such alacrity that he nearly chokes to death. But in reality, the overall vibe is one of morbid fascination for this mountain of a man. In theory, we are meant to pity him or at least find sympathy for his physical and psychological plight by the film's conclusion. "The Whale" may initially feel gentler, but its main point seems to be sticking the camera in front of Brendan Fraser, encased in a fat suit that makes him appear to weigh 600 pounds, and asking us to wallow in his deterioration. They feature images you've likely never seen before or since, but they'll undoubtedly stay with you afterward. There's a verve to those movies, an unpredictability, an undeniable daring, and a virtuoso style. But the difference between those films and "The Whale" is their intent, whether it's the splendor of their artistry or the thrill of their provocation.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |