Brendan Fraser was the highlight of the Toronto International Film Festival. the mummy star makes a comeback in Darren Aronofsky’s The whaleplaying a 600-pound man trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter. The whale has received critical acclaim, with Fraser’s performance being hailed as one of the best of the year.
The whale recently screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2022, where Fraser was honored with the TIFF Tribute Award for Performance, his first acting award in nearly two decades. Fraser is best known for his beloved action and comedy films such as the mummy series and George of the Jungle, but occasionally he ventured into more dramatic territory with films like Crashfor which he and the rest of the cast won a Screen Actors Guild award.
Fraser makes a comeback to mainstream movies with The whale, and he receives love from fans and critics alike. Its revival, also known as the Brenaissance, is in full swing and can be seen from the TIFF public reception to The whale. The film received a 5-minute standing ovation before a visibly emotional Fraser took the stage to receive his award.
“This is new to me,” said Fraser (via EW). “Normally I’m the guy who hands out these things, and I’ve gotten really good at it. The trick is: hold the left hand; shake the right hand.” Fraser continued:
“Besides being part of some pretty impressive and talented ensemble casts, I think the last time I waited to hear my name called out loud to receive an award was in grade 4, and it was from the peewee bowling league… My mama said it was a big award the plaque also had the name ‘Brian Fusher’ engraved on it so Brian when you get home you can pick up your trophy after the show This one is mine .’
Brendan Fraser is grateful to play in The Whale
The whale premiere was emotional not only for Brendan Fraser, but also for the majority of those in attendance. The whale has been described as an emotionally devastating affair, and it’s all thanks to Fraser’s heartfelt act. He plays Charlie, a morbidly obese man trying to mend his relationship with his daughter after abandoning her years ago for his gay lover, who later died. Riddled with pain and guilt, Charlie developed an eating disorder.
It was a risky role for Fraser to take on, but he managed to play the character with grace and humility, and is thankful the filmmakers took a chance on him. This is what Fraser said at the TIFF Gala.
“Art is about taking a risk, and [Aronofsky and writer Samuel D. Hunter] took a chance on me, and I’m grateful to them. The Whale is a redemption story…he has undergone major life changes and has forgotten who he is and those he loves, and he’s running out of time to tell them – if he can. But he has a superpower: Charlie sees the good in others when they can’t see it themselves, and he can bring it out in them. I firmly believe that we need more of that in this world. It’s the audience that gives cinema life, so I have to thank you for keeping me in the job I love, because it’s nice work if you can get it.”
The whale In addition to Fraser, there are also Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, Sathya Sridharan and Samantha Morton in the lead role. A24 will hit theaters on December 9, 2022.