By: Jaderick Buhay
Brendan Fraser is already poised to lead the Best Actor race in the upcoming awards season as his latest film The Whale has received a six-minute standing ovation at this year’s Venice International Film Festival.
After appearing in small, supporting roles on both film and TV, The Whale marks Fraser’s leading man comeback where he plays Charlie, a 600-pound gay Ohio literature professor who struggles to reconnect with his 17-year-old daughter (played by Sadie Sink).
The Whale is a far cry from his adventure flicks from the 1990s, like as The Mummy and George of the Jungle. According to the actor, this persona taught him a new way to move. Fraser had to put on prosthetics and makeup that may take up to six hours to apply, leaving him hardly able to move in Charlie’s decaying home.
The Whale is the latest from Darren Aronofsky, who also bagged the Venice’s main Golden Lion award in 2008 for The Wrestler.
“(It) is the most important message to put out in the world right now. Everyone is leaning into the cynicism and darkness and giving up hope. That is exactly what we don’t need right now,” Darren Aronofsky shared.
He also revealed that he spent a decade looking for the ideal main actor before casting Fraser after seeing him in a trailer for a low-budget Brazilian picture.
Fraser can’t help but shed tears as he received a six-minute long standing ovation from the audience during the film’s world premiere.
Brendan Fraser is back — and he sobbed during the #Venezia79 six-minute standing ovation for #TheWhale. pic.twitter.com/y4l10ZFWQa
— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) September 4, 2022
Praise also showered from fans and critics of the actor.
IndieWire wrote, “The Brendanaissance is on! Fraser gives a towering performance, in every sense of the word.”
Deadline held “a never-better” Fraser is now “at the front of the Best Actor race”.
Brendan co-stars in this film with Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, Samantha Morton, and Sathya Sridhara.
Are you excited for the Brenaissance too? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Featured photo from Variety