She is understandably angry at him, but Charlie convinces her to stay saying that he will help her with her homework and pay her everything that he has, which is actually more than $100,000. Instead, he attempts to reconnect with his daughter Ellie, who he left when she was just 8 years old when Charlie came out of the closet and began living with his new partner. Brendan Fraser really escalated things here in The Whale, as Charlie could see the good in anyone, even when their intentions were evil. Liz is distraught, both at Charlie's unwillingness to help himself but also at his reticence to help her, and she leaves but not before Mary arrives to chastise him for bending to Ellie's will. Who is the best Doctor Who, according to the fans? There is no lesson we can learn; even religion cannot help. It didnt want to entertain the spectator. The Whale is not a masterpiece - The Guardian All rights are reserved. When Will 'Yellowstone' Season 5 Continue? Hunter was brought on to write the adaptation of his play for the movie version of The Whale, which more or less follows the same format. 5,105, This story has been shared 3,796 times. With both of them, life has been more challenging than deserved, and there is nothing they can do. As he told his wife, he just wanted to do one good thing in his life. Im a Handsome Woman, Al Roker Disagrees with Dermatologist Who Recommends Showering Only 2-3 Times Per Week on 'Today': "Not If You Come In Contact with Other People! 'The Whale' Ending, Explained: Does Charlie - Film Fugitives Does 'Yellowstone' Return Tonight? 'The Whale': Brendan Fraser's Shocking Binge-Eating Scene In the upcoming A24 drama, Fraser plays Charlie, a reclusive English teacher living with severe obesity who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink). She initially refuses and goes to leave, but stops at the door in tears and proceeds to read it. Heres our guide to every episode in 2023, Special Ops: Lioness episode 1 recap welcome to the program, Casualty fans praise SHOCK new storyline for 'highlighting over exhaustion' in the NHS, Meet the Special Ops: Lioness cast who's who in the spy thriller, How to watch Futurama season 11: stream the animated sci-fi revival online. Ellie didnt deserve to grow up as a woman dominated by her own hate. Charlie did all this out of love for Alan, but after his boyfriend commits suicide, he has nothing left. About halfway through "The Whale," Charlie tries to retrieve a key sitting atop a closed door - only for it to . Check out What to Watch's thoughts on the movie in our The Whale review. The moviewhich is now available to purchase on digital platforms like Amazon Prime Videois a relentlessly uncomfortable and cruel two hours documenting the (spoiler alert!) Ellie storms in, upset that the essay Charlie gave her to turn in got an F. The reason why it did was because it was not on the subject Ellie was assigned, but the Moby Dick essay Charlie had Thomas read to him. It becomes clear that Charlie is dying, and he begs Ellie to read the essay, which she does. Michael Balderston is a DC-based entertainment and assistant managing editor for What to Watch, who has previously written about the TV and movies with TV Technology, Awards Circuit and regional publications. Heres how it works. The Whale ending explained - what happened to Charlie? - Digital Spy He asked her, before she left for the last time, to read her poem to him again. The stories of their lives explained the message ofThe Whale, culminating in the ending. I know many people who are big, happy, and healthy, but I wasnt, Hunter said in an interview for the films press notes. In Sam Hunter's The Whale, readers are treated to a plethora of jarring imagery and emotional turmoil in the form of Charlie, a 600 pound dying man whose only connections with the outside world are Liz, a woman who cares for him; and his online class of students who could not care less about writing a decent scholarly paper. The feeling is that he didnt do a single good thing in his life: thats why Charlie feels no purpose; there is no reason to improve his life. The next day, Liz confirms that Charlie's time is almost up. Charlie, in his grief, began binge-eating in response. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Charlie cant walk on his own and never leaves his house. What does Ellie's essay mean? Yes. Auralcrave is a registered trademark. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. They never villainize being fat. Adapted from Samuel D. Hunter's play, "The Whale" is the story of an English teacher who is suffering from an eating disorder and other unresolved issues in his life. When their daughter Ellie was eight years . When Charlie's ex-wife Mary showed up to talk to him about their daughter, Eliie's dark and cruel side appeared again. 'The Whale' ending explained by the play's writer, actors, directors In the opening moments, he becomes short of breath and nearly passes out. The Whale also touches upon the theme of being oneself no matter what others think. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. The play, set in Moscow, Idaho, tells the story of a 600-pound, obese man who hides from the world and stays in his apartment. This was executed in the visual appearance of the two endings. Is the Oppenheimer and Einstein scene accurate? Ellie agrees that she'll spend time with her father if he agrees to write her school assignments for her, but she struggles to contain her anger. As The Whale ending explained, he wasn't really a missionary anymore at all and was lying. Did she write that she was glad family, perhaps? The students react in shock and disgust. As he is told he is dying, Charlie reaches out to Ellie who shows up and is constantly rude to him. Yes, Charlie does die in The Whale and there are many things that lead to that unfortunate ending. Audiences who are familiar with the work of Darren Aronofsky are well accustomed to his thought-provoking, and often divisive, films. The Whale ending explained: Does Brendan Fraser's Charlie die? - HITC That Charlie, too, could soon die is likely a gut-wrenching feeling for Liz. 'The Whale' Ending Explained: Does Charlie Die? Liz seems to realize that she is saying goodbye to Charlie, and tells him shell wait downstairs. Charlie, a gay man, left Ellie and her mom when Ellie was 8 because he fell in love with one of his (adult) students. The worlds defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking whats new and whats next since 1952. After everyone leaves, Charlie has his dinner delivered, left as usual on his porch by the regular delivery guy. The Whale review - Darren Aronofsky's latest is a contrived When Mary lashed into Charlie at the end, she admitted that Ellie had turned into a "monster" and was cruel to her fellow students and others. Thankfully, the young missionary Thomas (Simpkins) is there to help him, reading an essay on Moby Dick that manages to help Charlie gain his composure. Charlie is reticent to interact with strangers, and he is visited most often by his friend Liz (Chau), a nurse who is very concerned about Charlie's health. Ellie read the Moby Dick poem and Charlie rose and attempted to walk like at the beginning. 8,176, This story has been shared 6,355 times. It would go on to win numerous awards, including the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Play, a 2013 Drama Desk Special Award for Significant Contribution to Theaters, the 2013 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding New York Theater and more. As Ellie reads about the whale in Moby Dick, Charlie stands to his full height, entirely on his own. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, The Whales ending is devastating as it sees the end of Charlies life. The Whale movie explained: Charlie, the ending & meaning After Mary leaves, Charlie goes on a binge eating session that ends in him vomiting. Charlie is morbidly obese, weighing at 600 pounds after enduring a personal tragedy. The play version of The Whale was first performed in 2012. Ellie demands to know why Charlie failed her assignment and accuses him of purposefully screwing her over. In this article, everything about the core ofThe Whale will be explained. "The Whale" follows a morbidly obese gay man named Charlie. The latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more! The action you just performed triggered the security solution. The Whale easily could prove to be Fraser's most ambitious and challenging role yet, as this is an extremely deep character study that lives or dies on the emotional performance of Charlie. What to Watch is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. While his life has not physically ended in that moment, I think that he knows he doesnt need to live any longer, which is why he takes off his breather, hes got her reading the essay, and he does take to his feet like three Olympic dead-lifters, takes his baby steps to his baby, and in that beautiful two-shot, a great white light appears, and they look skyward. Copyright 2023 Distractify. This essay that Ellie has written becomes a . Ellie storms out too, telling her dad to just fucking die already. Charlie gives Ellie the essay she asked for before she leaves. 10,577, This story has been shared 8,176 times. This is slightly different from how the stage version of The Whale ends, with a hard cut to black. PBS The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer Will Help Explain Nolans New Film, Troubled Bam Margera Bashes Johnny Knoxville, Wee Man, Other 'Jackass' Stars in Controversial New Music Video: "Fk 'Em All Especially Jeff Tremaine", 'Live With Kelly & Mark': Kelly Ripa Claims It Will Take Mark Consuelos "8 Times" to Watch 'Oppenheimer' Because He'll Fall Asleep, Who Is Ruth Handler? This results in tension when Charlie receives visits from Thomas (Ty Simpkins), a missionary from the church who faces debates with Charlie and anger from Liz. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. By Michael Balderston published 9 December 2022 Brendan Fraser stars in The Whale. What the movie tries to do is present an authentic story of pain, exploring feelings, motives, and events that can turn a life upside down. When Charlie learns that Ellie is in danger of flunking out of high school, he offers to help her with her upcoming essay. This also allowed Charlie to see what he wanted, as he told Mary that Ellie was a good person because she helped Thomas reunite with his parents. Throughout the film, theres almost a perfect storm of negative occurrences in Charlies life that continuously lead him on the path of binge eating and worsening his physical and mental health. We meet Charlie (Brendan Fraser) as he is giving a virtual lecture for an online college English course. With that, the movie ends. With a massive effort, Charlie walks toward Ellie. As she reads, Charlie stands up and attempts to walk towards her, which he had failed to do when Ellie first visited. While one could argue that The Whale ending is up for interpretation, my interpretation is that Charlies feet leaving the ground is a clear metaphor for Charlies body leaving this earth, aka, that he has died of heart failure. Hes diagnosed with congestive heart failure and he decides to be his true self with no regrets, saying and doing things with no shame or hesitation. On top of Fraser, Hong Chau also received a nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and the movie picked up a nomination for Makeup and Hairstyling. 'Outlander': Justice for Walter Woodcock! We see Charlie's life unfold: he orders takeaway pizza but never interacts with the delivery-person, only shouting through the door to him and leaving money in the mailbox. Depending on your belief system, spiritually or otherwise, we see that Charlie with a touch of magic realism finally does fly.. Its an essay on Moby Dick that Ellie wrote in 8th grade. Do You See the Bird Box Monster In Bird Box Barcelona? . Two main characters constitute the blood and flesh of the movie: Charlie and his daughter Ellie. This story has been shared 58,579 times. Carlin Glynn: 'Sixteen Candles' Star And Tony Winner Dead at 83, Confused AF by Oppenheimer? The latest film from director Darren Aronofsky has certainly created its fair share of conversation. She also posts images of Charlie on Facebook. Brendan Fraser talks 600-pound transformation in 'The Whale': 'I wanted How accurate is Oppenheimer to the true story? Meanwhile, Charlie - who has avoided contact with the outside world apart from a few people - is upset when delivery driver Dan (Sathya Sridharan) finally catches sight of him and looks horrified, prompting Charlie to binge-eat. The Truth About Charlie: Directed by Jonathan Demme. The Whale, starring Brendan Fraser, ends in a devastating way. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The Whale is not based on a true story. Mary reveals that Ellie has been surreptitiously taking photos of Charlie and putting them on Facebook, but Charlie doesn't care, finally admitting the crux of his motivations: he needs to know that he did one thing right with his life. They attack everything they face because they are hurt. The Whale is out now in UK cinemas. The new film " The Whale ," which A24 will release on Friday, is about a man named Charlie. (Get it? He tries one last time to convert Charlie, but Charlie dismisses him angrily when he insists Alan died because of his sexuality and turning his back on God. How Did Brendan Fraser Transform For The Whale Movie? The Whale ending explained Charlies desire to help Ellie find happiness before he dies. Charlie Finds Forgiveness At The End Of His Life. 'The Whale' Review: Body Issues - The New York Times Mary feels that she has raised a cruel child and despite how Charlie. Liz is furious that Charlie has refused to buy the medical care and equipment he needs, and storms out. Yet, as his friend and nurse Liz (Hong Chau) tries to warn him of the potential of getting hurt, will Charlie only end up having his heart broken all over again? At the ending ofThe Whale, Charlie dies in front of his daughter Ellie, and the image of his feet levitating explained it with a beautiful metaphor. 'The Whale' garners controversy for not casting an actor with - NPR But before that can happen, Charlie is determined to reconnect with his estranged daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink). 1,450, This story has been shared 1,268 times. Brendan Fraser's Performance in 'The Whale' Is Not to Miss. Yes, Charlie does die in The Whale and there are many things that lead to that unfortunate ending. It was a sign of hope. Read Decider's analysis of The Whale ending explained. A decomposing 60-foot fin whale corpse stranded on the Irish coast had to be abandoned by wildlife researchers looking to study it after concern that the dead mammal could explode. All he wants in life is to reconcile with his daughter and possibly help her, knowing she has a hard life of her own. 3,796, This story has been shared 2,134 times. If Charlie does die, it will mark the end of quite the run for Nisenson, who has starred in 60 "Fear the Walking Dead" episodes since Season 4 in 2018 as her first main series role. He fell in love with Alan, and that destroyed his familys lives. Does Charlie die in The Whale? The films most powerful theme is redemption. She begins to read the next line of the essay, This book made me think about my own life, and then it made me glad for my but she cuts off. If you manage to make it to the end of the film, youll be met with a moving but ambiguous conclusion. The Whale tells the story of reclusive English teacher Charlie (Brendan Fraser) who is living with severe obesity and attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink), one last time. The Whale (2022) Ending Explained - What happens to Charlie? Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window). When he talked to his daughter Ellie, he saw the good in her, even as she did everything in her power to hurt those around her. They Cloned Tyrone Ending Explained: What Do the Clones Represent? The movie, while incredibly depressing, at least ended on a more positive note. All About Jamie's New Boss, Who Plays Simon Fraser on 'Outlander' Season 7? Charlie also has a daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink), whom he wants to reconnect with, although she doesnt feel the same way. Every life can become hell, partly because of our own mistakes, but the consequences are often worse than what we deserve. 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How Did Brendan Fraser Transform For The Whale Movie? - Screen Rant Culture Movies Reviews Inside Darren Aronofsky's messy movie The Whale is something wise about religious trauma The Whale is more than the movie where Brendan Fraser wears a fat suit. After Liz coaxes Charlie back to consciousness, she finds out that Charlie, despite his protests about hospital bills, does, in fact, have money. Charlie asks Ellie to read the Moby Dick essay to him one last time. High-fashion designers will sometimes send a token fat model down the runway, even if they don't sell garments in her size, while. He needed to know he did one good thing with his life, he said. The Whaleis one of those movies that want to make you feel uncomfortable. . He will begin a self-punishing descent into obesity that will ruin his life. To say The Whale is a difficult watch is the understatement of the century. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. For any request, contact us by mail. Theres this apotheosis that happens, and in the film, Charlie literally ascends off the ground.". Liz and Ellies mother, Mary (Samantha Morton), show up and discover that Ellie has drugged her father. So Far, Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese's 'Killers of the Flower Moon' Gets 9-Minute Standing Ovation at Cannes, Pauly Shore Responds to Jimmy Kimmel's Cruel Oscars Joke About Him: "Human Beings Have Feelings", Teary-Eyed Brendan Fraser's Oscar Speech Brings the House Down with Best Actor Win, Nautical Puns, Craig Melvin Missing From 'Today' for Second Week in a Row: What We Know About the Anchor's Continued Absence. When it comes to the most anticipated movies of 2022, theres simply no way audiences can ignore The Whale. Liz said at the beginning of the final scene that Charlie is dying. Manage Settings But what about that final line of Ellies essay, that we never got to hear? About Brendan Fraser's Fat Suit in "The Whale" - The New Yorker In the opening moments, he becomes short of breath and nearly passes out. Charlies health is rapidly declining. The Whale ending explained: what happens? | What to Watch There are a wealth of reasons to be excited about the 2022 American drama movie, mainly because its been teased as Brendan Frasers triumphant comeback. Ellies essay had an opinion and a strong perspective that conveyed how she felt about the novel and Captain Ahab. Liz later brings Ellie's mother Mary to Charlie's apartment and the parents end up rowing over Ellie, while Liz is furious to learn of the money that Charlie has not spent on his health and instead gives to Ellie, prompting Liz to abandon him. However, as with The Wrestler, Darren Aronofsky left viewers wondering what happened when the movie ended. There is Liz (Hong Chau), Charlies nurse friend who cares for him. Mary leaves in tears, and Charlie, also in tears, tells her that he has to believe hes done one good thing in his life, aka Ellie. Mary will hate him for this and forbid him to get close to her and her daughter. The movie has Brendan Fraser in an Oscar and Golden Globe nominated role, as a teacher who battles with an eating disorder that has left him at over 600 pounds and on the verge of death. Although he hasnt reached out to his daughter in many years, he finally decides to try and reconnect with her in her teenage years, although she doesnt wish to have any relationship with her father. The cutting patterns and shot choices of the two scenes are very similar. Liz's concern is two-fold, for she is the sister of Charlie's partner Alan, who died by suicide. I just need Charlie to know that Ellie was grateful for his love. final week of a 600-pound man, who has isolated himself from the world, and is now facing imminent death due to health issues caused by his . Charlie will therefore find himself alone, reasoning about the mistakes he made in his life. Follow on Letterboxd. Charlie says it clearly for the whole movie: he doesnt want to be saved. The Trailer for Darren Aronofsky's 'The Whale' Finally Dropped Is It Based on a True Story? The Whale stars Brendan Fraser in an acclaimed performance as Charlie, a writer and lecturer who lives a reclusive life at home after having spiralled into morbid obesity following a heart-wrenching loss. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Fraser gave his interpretation on the ending. 78.128.8.27 Warning: This post contains major spoilers for The WhaleThe Whale ending explained that it is often hard to reconcile who you are with what you wished you could have been. Charlie was constantly frustrated with the students he taught online because they would give him generic responses or write what they thought would please him enough to get a good grade. The Whale explained: Charlie, the ending and the movie meaning. He always has his video camera off, leading some to speculate in the chat section about his personal life. During the film, we learn that Charlie is openly gay and had a relationship with a former student of his named Alan. This was also shown when Ellie drugged her father and took photos of him to share online. Basically, she needs the parents she never had. What is she glad for? What Happened to Thomas? However, despite all of that, by the time he passes, he is content with the fact that he was able to be unapologetically himself with those around him at the end and share a quiet moment with his daughter. And by the end of the play, I was sobbing., He continued: So that was really exciting as a potential for cinema because thats when movies are the best, when you meet characters that are unexpected but you are completely connected. Brendan Fraser in The Whale (Image credit: A24) NOTE: spoilers ahead for The Whale. A pod of more than 50 pilot whales died Sunday after a mass stranding on the beach of a Scottish isle. On the last day of his life, Liz returns to Charlie to take care of him. The Whale: A Whale of a Time *final* | Laura's Blog - WordPress for WWU 6,355, This story has been shared 5,821 times. After a blow-out argument with the pastor, Thomas stole all of the churchs petty cash and left. Charlie reveals he used the essay Ellie wrote when she was eight about Moby-Dick. In one last plea for them to be their authentic selves, Charlie broke his laptop and ended the call. Liz eventually returns and reconciles with Charlie in what are sure to be his final days, but the pair are surprised when Ellie furiously turns up, angry that Charlie replaced the essay he had written for her with one she had written years prior about Herman Melville's Moby Dick, which he praises as the most honest essay he has ever come across. Unfortunately, well never know. It was an essay Ellie wrote when she was younger and that Charlie tells her is a good, honest piece of writing. His sister Liz (Hong Chau) stops by periodically to take care of him. The Truth About Charlie (2002) - IMDb Despite that loss, Fraser is considered one of the frontrunners for the award at the Oscars, alongside Butler. 1,581, This story has been shared 1,459 times. Here we break down the film's ending, and the layers behind its many themes. In 'The Whale' Brendan Fraser's character, Charlie, is battling inner and external demons throughout. Sadie Sink as Ellie in The Whale. "What matters is that hes connected with Ellie, hes done the thing that hes been trying to do throughout this entire play, and that connection feels real and genuine. Charlie is also visited by his teenage daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink), whom he hasnt seen since she was 8 years old. Charlie is a professor, and he was married to Mary. He confesses to Ellie that he is almost out of money, but is too afraid to go home. Charlie, a gay man, left Ellie and her mom when Ellie was 8 because he fell in love with one of his (adult) students. Over the course of The Whale, we learn that Charlie ended his marriage to his wife Mary as he was hiding his homosexuality until he fell in love with a man named Alan. But in an interview with editor Andrew Weisblum for the films press notes, it seems clear that the filmmakers intended this scene to indicate the end of Charlies life, and that it mirror the first scene that Charlie has with Ellie. Charlie tells Ellie he wanted to be part of her life, but that her mother. As well as Brendan Fraser, The Whale stars Sadie Sink as Ellie, Charlie's daughter with whom he seeks to reconnect. 'The Whale' Ending Explained: Does Brandon Fraser's Character Die After lying to his students about his laptop camera being broken, he finally let them see what he looked like. Charlie held that close to his heart because it was honest in a way he or his students never were. Does Charlie die? Why The Whale Is Controversial, Despite Brendan Fraser's Comeback