Netserk, The Whale is an excellent movie.
The Wrestler is good, for the points that you point out. There are many great movies and books about a struggle with dignity or class. The Wrestler is a cool look at a guy showing his still has it on some level.
The Whale has many cool layers about where we are right now, at one point in the film,certainly not a spoiler, he and many other characters deal with who is now, and who he used to be. Brutally people say things about his weight, past and present.
Another movie that I think is a crazy, brilliant example of a man dealing with dignity, self worth is Ben Kingsley ,House of Sand and Fog..guy is obsessed with ensuring that nobody thinks less of him..and it's impossible because he doesn't hold the wealth and status in the United States that he did before immigrating.
This guy has done everything.. his list of films is basically everything great from a washed up mobster in Sexy Beast..as Ghandi ..oh my..Schindlers List..I am a huge fan.. Catalogue of Brendan Frazer.. unless he makes a dozen great movies soon.. Probably not.
Whale is good,in my opinion Aronofsky has not made a classic yet..