Brendan Fraser will be honored at the Palm Springs International Film Festival with the Spotlight Award, Actor, for his performance in “The Whale,” the festival announced Tuesday. He will receive the honor at the festival’s awards ceremony on January 5, 2023 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The festival runs until January 16.
“Brendan Fraser demonstrates his impressive talent in Darren Aronofsky’s powerful adaptation of ‘The Whale,'” festival president Harold Matzner said in a statement. “Fraser delivers an extraordinary and haunting performance that paints a vivid portrait of our inability to escape our own sadness. For this award-caliber performance, we are honored to present the Spotlight Award, Actor to Brendan Fraser.”
In “The Whale,” Fraser plays Charlie, an English teacher whose obesity has confined him to his apartment. As his health deteriorates, he is desperate to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter (played by Sadie Sink). During the course of the film, he interacts with a caretaker (Hong Chau) and a missionary (Ty Simpkins).
In his review for TheWrap, Ben Croll wrote: “With Charlie stuck in place, immobile by his countenance and waiting for the inevitable, his apartment becomes a world unto itself, a place of conflict, promise and perhaps even catharsis for him. the other three characters. circling the dying professor. As the film’s anchor and center of gravity, Fraser pulls off an impressive feat, acting as a foil for the three players in orbit around him while striking intentionally contradictory notes.”
Fraser has already garnered several honors and nominations for “The Whale,” including the Tribute Award at the Toronto Film Festival. He is expected to be nominated for an Oscar, which would be his first.
At the Palm Springs event, Fraser will be in good company with previously announced honorees: Cate Blanchett (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress), Austin Butler (Breakthrough Performance Award, Actor), Viola Davis (President’s Award), Danielle Deadwyler (Acting Award, Actress), Colin Farrell (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor), Bill Nighy (International Star Award, Actor), Sarah Polley (Director of the Year Award), Michelle Yeoh (International Star Award) and “ The Fabelmans” (Vanguard Grant).
