Brendan Fraser's stunning comeback in 'The Whale' is a Best Actor Oscar frontrunner, here's why
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 2022 has been a year of surprises and comebacks for all the creators and the actors. Speaking of a comeback, Brendan Fraser who rose to fame for in 'The Mummy' franchise has adapted a new appearance for his current movie, 'The Whale'. Fraser was last seen in 'No Sudden Move' which didn't really cut the deal for the former 'The Mummy' trilogy actor. Nevertheless, Fraser will be seen portraying a character named Charlie who is a middle-aged man of about 600 lb (270 kg). He tries to reconnect with his 17-year-old daughter. The two grew apart after Charlie left his family for a man, who later died. Fraser's Charlie then went on to binge eat out of pain and guilt which resulted in his current appearance.
Regardless, Fraser's comeback movie emerged from the fall festival circuit with rave reviews for Fraser’s performance, which earned a six-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival that reduced the actor to tears. That is not all, the screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival and the London Film Festival earned similar standing ovations for Fraser. For many Oscar enthusiasts, Fraser is the frontrunner for best actor.
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'The Whale' is a psychological drama film directed by the 'Black Swan' director, Darren Aronofsky, from a screenplay by Samuel D Hunter, based on Hunter's 2012 play of the same name. Apart from Fraser, the movie will also have 'Stranger Things' or Taylor Swift's 'All Too Well' actress, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, and lastly, Samantha Morton. Sink will be seen portraying the teenage daughter of Fraser in the latest Aronofsky's movie.
In a recent interview with Variety, Brendan Fraser was seen as quite vulnerable and emotional while talking about his comeback movie and his appearance in it. He said, "I was emotional because it was an acknowledgment that what we did is making an impact. And that kind of response feels completely new in my professional life.”
Fraser would spend four hours each day in the makeup department getting fitted with prosthetics that weighed up to 300 pounds for the lead role. He also worked with a dance instructor for months prior to filming to figure out how his character would move with the excess weight and consulted with the Obesity Action Coalition.
Aronofsky is once again joined by his longtime cinematographer Matthew Libatique. Libatique has shot every Aronofsky movie to date, except for 'The Wrestler.' However, the physical demands of the stunts and maneuvers Fraser performed in his action and comedy roles eventually required him to undergo several surgeries over a period of seven years, including a partial knee replacement, a laminectomy, and vocal cord surgery which resulted to be extremely strenuous for the 53-year-old-actor.
After 'The Whale's world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2022, it is scheduled to be released in the theaters on December 9, 2022, by A24.
Watch the full trailer of 'The Whale' below.