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A friend of mine recommended this movie, citing my vocal and inflective similarities with Des Howl, the movie's main character. I guess to an extent I can see that and perhaps a bit more, I'm not very sure whether or not that's flattering portrayal.

This is a pretty unique work, the only movie to which this might have more than a glancing similarity would be True Romance, not for the content or the style of filming or for the pace of dialogue (Whale Music is just so much more, well, relaxed.) But instead that they both represent modern love stories.

In general I'm a big fan of Canadian movies about music and musicians (for example I highly recommend Hard Core Logo) and this film in particular. It has an innocent charm, Des is not always the most likeably guy, but there's something about him that draws a sterling sort of empathy.

If your main interest in film is the exploration of character, "Whale Music" has something to offer you. And you'd better like that, because it's all that's on show here. The script is certainly meandering, and a little bit aimless. It takes a real long time to get anywhere, and when it does, you might question if the journey was worth it. But the actors are good. Maury Chaykin and Cynthia Preston work believably together. Chaykin, especially, has a convincing internal struggle.

I suspect a braver film could have eliminated the secondary characters and amped up the issues and delusions and emotions of Chaykin's character. There's enough here to make a worthwhile film, but you get the sense that more could have been achieved with the material provided.

I have seen this movie 3 or 4 times, about every five years it seems, and enjoyed it immensely each time. Most recently it was on Bravo! channel coming just days after Maury Chaykin's passing.

The movie is worth seeing if only for Chaykin's performance, and for the beautiful music. The soundtrack is great on its own but hearing it in the context of the movie makes it that much better.

Chaykin was one of the greatest character actors and when you give him an oddball role such as this lead one, he brings it to life like no one else can. The irony of his performance, speaking for myself anyway, is that I feel the saddest for him at his happiest moment in the movie.

Judging from only 353 votes on IMDb, this movie needs more viewers!

I enjoyed this film yet hated it because I wanted to help this guy! I am in my fifties and have a lot of friends in the music business...who are now still trying to become adults....no more fans,groupies,money etc...and they are having such a hard time adjusting to a regular life...as they see the new bands etc getting the spotlight...it is almost like they have to begin anew...this film is a testament to what a lot of the old rockers from the 70's and 80's are going through now....and that's where I find the film sad and depressing.BUT it portrays the life of an old rock star-abandoned and lost-in a believable way.The young girl who arrives at his decrepit home reminds me of Hollis maclaren (Outrageous)...and she is one lady in a film you will cheer for. This film is a must have for folks in their 50's who have seen the rise and fall of bands,people who knew the members, and have watched them hurt as age creeps in,and popularity fades.This is an almost perfect movie....sad but in a way positive....because of the whales. A MUST SEE!

I originally rented Whale Music because I'm a fan of Deborah Duchene. But I was completely surprised at the caliber of this movie. It's wonderful. The acting is so convincing you wonder if the people knew they were being filmed. Also, the love story between Desmond and Claire is so interesting because of their differences. The characters are believable and un-cliched. Claire is skinny and pretty but not bombshell beautiful and Desmond is slightly obese and normal looking.

It's a very real, original film that is well worth renting. I've seen it at least eight times and enjoyed each time.

Anyone who loves the Rheostatics' music is going to enjoy this film. I have some minor complaints, mainly about pacing and the casting of certain actors (not Maury) who aren't really convincing in their roles, but I don't have time write a detailed review. I just want to warn anyone who has seen this film or plans to watch this film as presented CBC television in Canada: The version that airs are the CBC is like the Reader's Digest version of WHALE MUSIC---don't watch it. It cuts out entire scenes and subplots (if you can them that) from the film. The CBC, which presents most of films untouched, took half the guts out of WHALE MUSIC. I don't know why. It's horrible what they did to the film. Rent the video or watch it in a theatre, but DON'T watch it on CBC television.

My first exposure to "Whale Music" was the Rheostatics album of the same name, that I bought around 1993. I was reading the liner notes and the band said the album, which remains in a prominent place in my collection, was inspired by Canadian author Paul Quarrington's book.

I picked up the book a few months later and devoured it! An amazing read! I have since re-read the book numerous times, each time finding some new element to Desmond and his desire to complete the Whale Music.

I found the film in 1996, on video. I haven't had a lot of good experiences with Canadian film, but this one worked for me. The role of Claire could have been cast differently, but overall I think that Paul Quarrington's vision was transfered nicely from the book to the screen.

Maury Chaykin gives a moving performance as the isolated genius. The movie deals with family relationships, love, and finding someone who understands. I would strongly recommend "Whale Music" to not only music fans, but anyone who has ever lost something or someone, and tried to find their way back to the world.

Desmond Howl (Maury Chaykin) was once upon a time in a hit band called "The Howl Brothers" back in the 60s to the 80s. He is now a confused recluse obsessed with making music for whales. He is haunted by his brother Daniel (Paul Gross)'s death and his ex-wife Fay Ginzburg-Howl (Jennifer Dale)'s cheating. Claire Lowe (Cynthia Preston) is a drifter who breaks into the seemingly abandoned mansion. They are both troubled and help each other.

Maury Chaykin is simply wonderful. His performance is charming and funny. Cyndy Preston is beautiful and compelling. Her character as the beautiful young muse is a bit too cliché. Otherwise this is a great movie. It also features the Rheostatics pop hit Claire which is fitting of Brian Wilson inspired movie.

I was amazingly impressed by this movie. It contained fundamental elements of depression, grief, loneliness, despair, hope, dreams and companionship. It wasn't merely about a genius musician who hit rock bottom but it was about a man caught up in grief trying drastically to find solace within his music. He finds a companion who comes with her own issues. Claire and Des were able to provide each other with friendship and love but more importantly a conclusion to events which had shaped their life for the worst.

Des is an unlikely character by todays standards of a rock star. Yet he has musical genius. He also has an event in his past that has made him stagnate, while things around him literally go to ruins. His focus is creating his Whale Music, in fact it becomes an obsession for him.

Claire is the streetwise kid that needs a place to stay. She finds hidden talents while being in Des company. She also finds a mutual friend that accepts her. She learns to trust him over a period of time.

These two find love with one another. Not the mind blowing, sex infused kind of passion, but a love where friendship and understanding means more. For two people who have been hurt, they find trust together.

I was in a bad frame of mind when I first saw this movie. For some reason it clicked on all my levels, tensions in a family, loneliness and the want of someone to share your life with. It didn't hurt that the someone to share your life with was such a beautiful girl as Claire (Cyndy Preston). I also bought the sound track to this movie (very hard to get). Loved it and hope it will someday come out on DV

Remembering Maury Chaykin on his 10th death anniversary today which also happens to be his birthday. There are many roles he did along with great actors Owning Mahowny (2003) with late Philip Seymour Hoffman, A Life Less Ordinary (1997) with Ewan McGregor. He brought life to atypical characters in his films and His best roles was as Desmond Howl who suffers from a mental relapse from the death of his brother, a faded rock star who bathes in a rotten pool, dances naked around the house to music, wearing nothing but a bathrobe at all times, he is quite content to be alone with his music. That is until one day when a young woman, with a troubled past as well, comes into his life in Richard J. Lewis's Whale Music (1994). Desmond's peace is disturbed by the arrival of Claire, a young criminal on the run who breaks into his decrepit mansion to evade the law. As a cinephile, finding a movie this original is something to sing about. It's weird movie, true; but this film has created a world that is wonderful and bleak. The direction is beautifully good, the cinematography is perfection, the screenplay is professionally written, and the connection between all of the characters are just so enduring. It is a film that you will not regret giving a shot. The music in this alone is worth seeking this picture out for. The soundtrack of Rheostatics is brilliant, the moments that make this film a musical are the ones that keep the story alive with moments of joviality and enthusiasm. But there is also a disenchanted vision about the idea of love. The love of music, this motif runs through the entire film. Richard J. Lewis's not only addresses the magical effect of music, he is also particularly interested in the process of music production. An infectiously feel good flick to be viewed in its' entirety...not in bits and pieces..

I don't know why but this movie touches me on so many levels. The music is outstanding. Maury Chaykin is absolutely outstanding as the Brian Wilson character. Cynthia Preston adds just the right mix to two very flawed but loving souls. Don't know why this movie was not appreciated more in its release. Watch it on Amazon then order the he soundtrack!

Based on Paul Quarrington's award-winning novel, which in turn is loosely based on the life of Brian Wilson, "Whale Music" should be a much better film than it is. Maury Chaykin is so well cast as Des you'd think Quarrington wrote the character with him in mind, and the whale music itself (composed by Canada's greatest band, Rheostatics) is terrific, but the movie is a disappointment. The novel is a wonderfully entertaining read, however, and the story is much better developed in print; another commentator has mistakenly written that the flashbacks concern Des's son when they feature his brother, Danny (or Dennis Wilson).