Brendan Fraser is riding the comeback wave for his Oscar-winning role in The Whale, Darren Aronofsky’s awards-nominated film based on the Samuel D. Hunter play about experiencing grief and finding salvation.
They are referring to it as "The Renaissance." After spending years in the wilderness of Hollywood, Brendan Fraser is again gaining roles in big movies once more, including DC's Batgirl movie, which was shot but shelved. His supporters are hoping that this would result in a career resurgence similar to Matthew McConaughey's "McConaissance" a few years ago. The Whale, which had its Venice Film Festival premiere on Sunday, is the most significant stop on Fraser's journey back to the A-list. Why is it essential? It's a high-profile drama by a renowned director, for starters. Another has Fraser playing the lead and seeing him in nearly every scene. Fraser goes through one of those unbelievable physical changes over the final third that award voters find irresistible. It's very different from George.
Fraser has to put on the largest "fat costume" since Terry Jones blew up in Monty Python's The Meaning of Life for The Whale. (Charlie enjoys the novel Moby Dick, so the title isn't merely a pun on his diminutive stature.) This kind of prosthetic makeup is uncommon outside of body-horror films, yet it's so expertly done that the audience quickly comes to accept it. The fact that Fraser is expressive enough to melt your heart despite being covered in a pile of rubber is even more amazing. It's difficult to imagine anyone else being as alluring in the world as he is because of his wide, appealing, optimistic blue eyes, as well as his incredible dexterity in facial movements and profound tenderness in voice.
Yet, it's not that difficult to envision a superior movie. The Whale is similar to the director's 2008 success The Wrestler in that it centres on a father who has an estranged daughter, a heart ailment, and a body that has been pushed to excruciatingly unhealthy lengths. Yet, unusually for Aronofsky, he didn't script either of those films. It's important to keep in mind that The Wrestler, even if only temporarily, brought Mickey Rourke's career back to life.
Yet, whether the sequence is humorous or not, it will undoubtedly be utilised frequently in the coming months. If Fraser isn't nominated for an Oscar for best actor, I'll eat not just my hat, but also as many pizzas and cheese-and-meatball subs as Charlie consumes during the movie. There has been a Renaissance.
