"The Whale"

If the point of a cinematic feature is to connect to the viewer, elicit an emotional response and make them think, this film hits on all marks.  I smiled, I identified, I reached for kleenex.  Based on a play it has the top-notch script of a literary work.  There is humor, tension, sadness.  It's not nearly as depressing as I thought it would be.  This is in great part due to the work of the cast.  Brendan Fraser, as usual, approaches the difficult character with compassion and light.  He has range as an actor but so many of his roles include a sense of warmth and a spark of joy.  That is the case here, and it brightens up what could be a very dark tale.  Hong Chau plays the perfect foil and brings even more humanity to the piece.  Why she isn't listed as main supporting actor is beyond me.  The cast rounds out, mostly, with Sadie Sink playing a problematic teen and Ty Simpkins, whose character allows for a real discussion of faith at the brink of death.  There are other actors, including a small role of a pizza delivery driver which brings yet another touch of humanity to a layered story.  It's beautiful.  And real.  And goes to the top ten of my best-of-the-year films.