The Whale (2022) ***1/2

The Whale (2022) is a frustrating watch, just like other Darren Aronofsky films such as The Fountain (2006) and Mother! (2017) (review). Frustrating because Brandon Fraser is absolutely fantastic but the film is not quite. When Aronofsky nails it (as with 2000's Requiem For A Dream (review) and 2008's The Wrestler), he really nails it. Pi (1998) was also a formative film for me, as a first year college student.

I didn't realize going into The Whale that it was based on a play. This became immediately obvious in the way that Aronofsky blocks his shots and most of the film is framed in 1.33:1 (full screen) aspect ratio. The performances also lean very heavily toward the theatrical. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. Aronofsky's tendency for dramatic (and, yes, pretentious) flair can be a bit much but there are some genuinely affecting and tearjerking moments to be found here.

Darren Aronofsky Feature Films Ranked