Critics are heralding Fraser’s performance in The Whale as a possible Oscar winner. The screening of the film at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in September this year, saw audiences respond with a six-minute standing ovation. In October, the audience at the Toronto International Film Festival stood and clapped for 5 minutes. Even the audience at The London Film Festival, not known for showing warm responses, leaped up from their seats.
The reactions have brought the actor to tears. And Fraser’s fans are delighted to have him back.
Brendan Fraser's Star Faded After 2008
A decade ago, Fraser was one of the biggest names in Hollywood. He first attracted attention when he appeared as Link, an unfrozen caveman, in the 1992 comedy Encino Man.
Fans of all ages loved his comedic style, and he went on to star in blockbuster hits like George of the Jungle and Looney Tunes: Back in Action.
Fraser showed off his versatility in The Mummy franchise, becoming known as an action hero. Famous for doing his own stunts, at one point, he came close to playing an iconic superhero.
He was widely tipped to take over from Christopher Reeve as Superman. And after his appearances in films like the Oscar-winning Crash, and Gods and Monsters displayed, he was an excellent actor. It seemed like he couldn’t put a foot wrong.
But then things changed. After 2008, he dropped off the map. A variety of reasons were touted for his disappearance: He’d fallen prey to drugs, he was ill, and he made bad career choices.
There Were A Number Of Reasons For Fraser's Disappearance
In a 2018 interview with GQ Fraser broke his silence on the reasons. The Mummy star told about how he had been sexually assaulted by then-president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Phillip Berk.
Not only that: Fraser says the Hollywood mogul began using his influence to blacklist him.
The assault combined with a number of other factors led to the actor's diminishing roles. Fraser had a number of health issues. His work had taken a massive toll on his body.
His quest to achieve the toned body he became famous for, accompanied by the stunt work he performed, led to a partial knee replacement and spinal cord surgery.
He also underwent procedures on his vocal cords. The time spent in the hospital and his subsequent recuperation made it impossible to take on any big roles.
These things, coupled with his divorce from Afton Smith and the death of his mother, led to a deep depression. Although he didn’t stop working completely, Frazer opted to scale down his film work.
Fraser Has Slowly Been Rebuilding His Career
Fans still saw the actor in supporting roles on series like Condor, The Affair, FX's Trust, and Steven Soderbergh's No Sudden Move. But they believe the 'Brenaissance', as his resurgence is being called, began when he was cast as the voice of Cliff "Robotman" Steele in the DC Universe series Doom Patrol.
The brilliance of his performance impressed fans and members of the industry alike.
But his biggest break in a decade came when Darren Aronofsky saw him in a low-budget Brazilian movie. The Director had been struggling to cast the role of Charlie in the screen version of Samuel D. Hunter’s play The Whale for almost a decade.
Watching Fraser in the trailer for Journey to the End of the Night, he knew the actor was perfect for the job.
The Whale Has Been Controversial
Fans happy to see the star back where they feel he belongs, are concerned that negative publicity around the subject might have a negative impact at the box office.
Aronofsky’s films have often been at the center of storms because of their disturbing themes. Requiem for a Dream(2000) and mother! (2017) have both drawn criticism.
Even ahead of its December release, The Whale is controversial. Critics are raising concerns with accusations of fat-shaming in the movie. They’re calling out Aronofsky's use of digital effects and the decision to put Fraser in a fatsuit to help portray Fraser's Charlie as a 600-pound man, rather than cast someone who is actually that size.
They’re also concerned about what they call the film's 'apparent superficial treatment of obesity.'
It's Fraser's First Leading Role In Nearly A Decade
Despite the controversy, Fraser's performance has been praised for its compassion and empathy. He plays the role of Charlie, a severely obese gay man. Wheelchair-bound due to his weight, he has become reclusive after the death of his partner.
Faced with the prospect of his death, Charlie tries to reconcile with his estranged teenage daughter, Ellie, played by Stranger Things star, Sadie Sink. It’s the actor’s first lead role in almost 10 years. And there's more on the horizon.
Fraser also stars in Behind The Curtain of Night, a fantasy piece about a man who comes back from the dead with the memories of all his past lives restored.
He was recently announced as playing lawyer W.S. Hamilton in Martin Scorsese's upcoming film Killers of the Flower Moon, alongside Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio.
The Whale releases in theaters in December 2022. And Fraser’s fans are eagerly counting down the days. They've been waiting a long time.
