The Whale

After its Oscar wins , there were questions about whether Darren Aronofsky’sThe Whalewas free-base on a true story . The movie was met with critical acclaim , peculiarly its unbelievable lead performance from Brendan Fraser at its middle , and it had a fascinating narrative . The Whalefollowed an introspective English instructor named Charlie ( Fraser ) , who lived with serious fleshiness and was trying to reconnect with his teenaged girl Ellie ( Sadie Sink ) years after he left his family for his gay lover . This guiltiness Charlie feel for his decision triggered his binge feed and weight gain .

The Whaledrew contestation despite Fraser ’s comeback , specifically around criticism of dehumanizing fatphobia . Fraser had both digital and practical issue apply to his performance so he could play a 600 lb man . However , the wave of positivity around Fraser ’s Charlie took center stage even with these worry , with Fraser receiving a resist ovation after TIFF’sThe Whalescreening . The ovation move Fraser to tears , and he said he hoped the film would"change some heart and mind " and boost looker to become more compassionate . It also prompted question about its inhalation .

The Whale Is Based On A Play, Not A True Story

The 2012 Play Is By Samuel D. Hunter

The Whaleis not a true floor but is ground on a 2012 play by Samuel D. Hunter , who also wrote the motion picture . Dale Calandra played the original Charlie in a similartransformation to Fraser ’s forThe Whalemovie , during the play ’s original footrace at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater in Chicago . The film ’s plot closely come the free rein ’s , although there were a few cinematic formatting advantagesover a dramatic art that Hunter made economic consumption of , including staging scenes at a beach .

What adopt the flick adaption so long was his struggle to find someone who could body Charlie ’s humanity .

Aronofsky want to adaptThe Whaleon screen after seeing the play during its original running play and meet its author , noting toNBCthat he was specially touch by the line of dialogue,“people are unequal to of care . “What take away the film adjustment so long was his struggle to get hold someone who could personify Charlie ’s humanity . He then came across a house trailer for the Brazilian thrillerJourney to the End of the Nightstarring Fraser and knew he had found his gross friend .

The Whale Movie Poster

The Inspirations Behind The Whale

The Story Is About Human Connection

The Whalekickstarted Fraser ’s comebackbecause of his empathic public presentation as a complicated , vulnerable , obese man . However , it ’s not a bid or pic about obesity but rather a human connective . That , and the brokenheartedness , self - loathing , lonesomeness , and guilt fostered without human connectedness , was Hunter ’s aspiration for the play . Hunter , a 2007 alumna of the Iowa Playwrights Workshop , had write for television in the past ( Baskets ) , but this ended up as his first film adaptation .

Brendan Fraser has received high kudos for his number as Charlie in The Whale . His performance really is good , but is it enough to win him an Oscar ?

According to Hunter , he drew parallels to his own real - life experience rise up in Moscow , Idaho , when his religious high school kicked him out after he come out as gay . After move into the public schoolhouse system , a teacher suggested he pursue writing , so he read poetry and then readOur TownandAngels in America , which made him hang in love with plays and field of operations . He began writingThe Whaleafter graduating from Julliard while teaching at Rutgers .

brendan fraser the whale true story

He had tell his students in that course of study to do what Charlie did inThe Whale : write about something true

Hunter ’s work teach expository writing informed Charlie ’s story , as he found himself hear to connect with loath teenagers forced to take the course he taught . “It was just that struggle to link with these kids that really gave birth to the play . “He had told his educatee in that class to do what Charlie did inThe Whale : indite about something honest , and they would work together to make it into an essay .

Hunter said he occupy his own advice and began publish the drama as a more personal news report . " I attend to a spiritual schooling , one I had to leave when they found out I was merry . That leave in years of depression and self - medicament with food , " Hunter say ( viaThe University of Iowa ) . He admitted that it was hard to bring it to author radical because it made him vulnerable . However , it work out , won some awards , and then Darren Aronofsky want to make it into a movie .

Charlie (Brendan Fraser) looking wistful in The Whale.

Directed by Darren Aronofsky, The Whale is based on a 2012 stage play of the same name by Samuel D. Hunter. The film star Brenden Fraser as Charlie, a reclusive and obese English teacher who, faced with his own mortality and guilt-ridden over his past, attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter Ellie, played by Sadie Sink. The film was part of Fraser’s comeback to acting and earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor.

“ It is a very uncommon , if not impossibly rarified , experience for a screenwriter to have a world - class director preserve his script so dependably and also be ask over to be on plant the entire fourth dimension . ” .

Hunter allege he was surprised at how like the movie ’s masking was to the orifice of a play . He said he was uneasy but he get laid what was going to find . " Even though I do n’t go to every public presentation of my play , I still apprehensively look the performance report , " Hunter articulate . " With the film , I jazz precisely what citizenry are getting , which is nice . "

Brendan Fraser Won His First Oscar

Fraser Won His Award For Best Actor

TheGolden Globes awarded Austin Butler(Elvis ) the Best Actor honour over Brendan Fraser , but Fraser was still the Oscars ' frontrunner forThe Whale . True story or not , Fraser delivered an accolade - worthy performance and savour a monumental comeback , making him someone who walk out of the ceremony with the first Oscar laurels profits of his career . Fraser ’s award make headway wasn’tThe Whale’sonly acknowledgement from the Academy Awards .

Award

Recipient

Brendan frasier the whale performance

Result

Best Actor

Brenda Fraser

Brendan Fraser crying in The Whale

Won

Best stomach Actress

Hong Chau

Headshot Of Brendan Fraser

constitute

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Adrien Morot , Judy Chin , and Annemarie Bradley

Headshot Of Sadie Sink

While pass over for the Best Picture and Best Director nomination , the movie did take in another acting award when Hong Chau pick up a nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Charlie ’s primary care provider , Liz . The Whalealso deservedly won the Oscar Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for the oeuvre at transforming Fraser into his heartrending character .

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Cast

head by Darren Aronofsky , The Whale is based on a 2012 phase play of the same name by Samuel D. Hunter . The film star Brenden Fraser as Charlie , a sequestered and obese English teacher who , faced with his own deathrate and guilt feelings - ridden over his past tense , attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter Ellie , play by Sadie Sink . The cinema was part of Fraser ’s retort to playacting and earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor .

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The Whale