The Mad Whale

Shot in 2017, this film never received a theatrical release... only to be seen by the public on Blu-ray in 2019. It is a shame it didn't get a bigger audience, because this experimental film, which had nine directors and eight writers, is a real triumph. Set in a late-1800's asylum, the female patients are tasked with putting on a production of "Moby Dick" as a means of therapy. Camilla Belle delivers one of the best performances of the year as Isabel, an unjustly committed inmate cast in the lead role of Ishmael. James Franco also performs nicely in a very small role. This is a perfect example of a hidden gem.

An outstanding movie that you cannot pull yourself away from, so get your soda & snacks before you start. I loved it so much I watched it twice, in the same night.

This is a strong movie. Solid film. First off - not a drama. It's a thriller with elements of horror. Yes, slow burning at start. Blame Melville I guess. Second - acting is incredibly strong. Third - completely agree with fellow reviewer. If you can get thru first half-ish you'll be rewarded with: Fourth - astonishing ending. Well, within the paradigm of course, but still. It was a 6/10 film going into ending. Fifth - solid sevener, 7/10. Just be sure to watch it on a right day in a right mood. It's not an action nor a comedy. Hidden gem indeed.

I hadn't heard a single thing about this and watched it on a whim. It's atmospheric, beautifully shot and lit, and contains wonderful acting that deserves to be seen. A big slam against the patriarchy, as well as a clever script overall. I particularly enjoyed Nicole Starrett's performance as the type of character you'd normally see a much more one dimensional portrayal of in a film of this genre, but she brings a layer to it that is at times unsettling yet also sympathetic.

I'm probably a bit harsh with my rating for this movie (my wife scored it a seven) but it's a movie I wouldn't watch again and those are always rated lesser than a seven by me. That said The Mad Whale isn't a bad movie, far from that, it's just the subject matter that is not really my thing, Herman Melville's 'Moby Dick' isn't my idea of fun and entertainment and even though not the whole movie is about that it still has a big part in it. I find that weird English not attractive to listen to, let alone watching a play in that tone. The Mad Whale is still good though, and that's mostly due to the excellent acting and the good directing. Let's just say it will please a lot of people, but I'm okay with watching it just once.