Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale is affecting and dramatic, but it’s also fairly dull. And if it feels “stagey” at times, well, it’s because it is indeed based on a play. To be fair, our director does do a decent job rounding the corners of the cruel and claustrophobic world that our protagonist is bound to. It is a character study after all, and we are given a ringside seat to the battles in our reclusive protagonist’s brain. But, it’s all very murky and unpleasant. Luckily, Aronofsky hit the casting jackpot with Brendan Fraser. This is Fraser’s film through and through. Every ounce of the Brendan Fraser’s emotional being is poured out on screen, giving way to a performance that is both heartfelt and heartbreaking throughout. Trust me, Fraser is deserving of all the accolades he’s been receiving for this “comeback” role (bring on the Oscar, I say). I should also note that Fraser’s character’s counterbalance, his estranged daughter, is also portrayed with impressive precision by Sadie Sink. If you are a Stranger Things fan than you already know about Sink’s amazing skillset. The young actress can say so much with just one look. So yes, when the story veers into soap opera terrain, it gets completely salvaged by these incredible performers. And with Brendan Fraser’s emotional tsunami of a performance, it’s not a question of “will you cry,” but rather, “how much will you cry.”