After a long hiatus, audiences at Tyneside Cinema welcome the beautiful soul that is Brendan Fraser back to the big screen for Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale.
No stranger to dependency-fueled features, Aronofsky trades in the class A’s for fast food. Based on Samuel D. Hunter’s play of the same name, we follow the story of Charlie (Fraser) an individual trapped within the confines of his apartment due to his morbid obesity and debilitating health.
As we open with Charlie being caught in quite an embarrassing situation (quite the understatement), the first full sentence we hear is that of an essay on Moby Dick. And with that, the tone is set as we journey into a world of both obsession and addiction. Packed with symbolism from the get-go, we see Charlie struggle to his feet revealing, not only just how big he truly is, but also a patch of back sweat resembling that of a Whale’s tale.
Set predominantly within the four walls of his apartment, with brief glimpses of happier times, you can truly immerse yourself in the lead character’s lifestyle.
Fraser truly embodies the role and wears his heart on his sleeve, giving a stunningly, authentic performance throughout.
As well as a brilliant supporting ensemble, perfect casting doesn’t even come close to describing the main man himself. Having gone through his fair share of traumatic trials and tribulations off-screen, Fraser truly embodies the role and wears his heart on his sleeve, giving a stunningly, authentic performance throughout.
A tremendously, heartfelt story of loss and the devastating effects that can come with it. However, one thing is for sure… cinema snacks definitely aren’t advised as we see a man on a self-destructive path, filling a void and eating his way into an early grave.
Jacked In Reviews ‘The Iron Claw’ (2023)
The pillars surrounding the screen at Tyneside Cinema provides the perfect opening, as a black and white man comes […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’ (1999)
Seen through the lens of a camera crew, we (predominantly) follow the life of high schooler/make-up artist for the […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘End of Days’ (1999)
It’s 1999 and the citizens of New York City are getting ready for the turn of the millennium. Unfortunately, […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘It’s John’ (2023)
It’s John follows amateur filmmaker Smithy Jones (Victor Hampson), and his rag-tag team of actors who are in the […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Eighth Grade’ (2018)
We follow the life of Kayla (Elsie Fisher), a social pariah who is in the process of completing Eighth Grade. A […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ (2022)
As the story of Thor: Love and Thunder begins we get a compilation that fills in what Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ (2010)
Bringing Bryan Lee O’Malley’s quirky, indie, graphic novel to life we have Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘The Father’ (2020)
Based on Florian Zeller’s play of the same name, The Father tells the story of Anthony (Anthony Hopkins), who […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Mickey 17’ (2025)
We open on a partially frozen individual, Mickey (Robert Pattinson) – who has unfortunately fallen into a […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Evil Dead’ (2013)
Evil Dead follows a bunch of youths staying in a cabin whilst attempting to help their drug-addicted friend, Mia […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Hellraiser’ (2022)
After a 4 year hiatus, a new Hellraiser dawns on the big (well, depending on the size of your television) screen […]
Jacked in Reviews ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ (2024)
Tim Burton’s sequel to the 1988 cult classic once again follows the Deetz’s, with Lydia (Winona Ryder) […]