Brendan Fraser’s return to the big screen has been met with a touching reception at the Venice Film Festival. The world premiere of “The Whale”, a Darren Aronofsky drama, left Fraser in tears as he received a six-minute standing ovation from the audience. This emotional moment has put him at the forefront of this year’s best actor Oscars race. The Sala Grande Theatre was filled with notable figures like Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Nick Kroll, and Huma Abedin, who could not hold back their tears during the film’s heartbreaking final scenes.
In “The Whale”, Fraser portrays a 600-pound gay man who is confined to a wheelchair. The story revolves around his character’s struggle to reconnect with his 17-year-old daughter, portrayed by Sadie Sink from “Stranger Things”. Hong Chau, Samantha Morton, and Ty Simpkins also contribute to the exceptional supporting cast. The film is an adaptation of the play written by Samuel D. Hunter.
To embody the lead character, Fraser underwent a remarkable transformation. He wore a prosthetic suit that added significant weight to his physique, spending up to six hours each day in the makeup chair. In an interview before the Venice premiere, Fraser expressed the challenges of wearing the suit, describing it as “cumbersome” and “not exactly comfortable”. He shared, “The torso piece was almost like a straitjacket with sleeves that went on, airbrushed by hand, to look identical to human skin, right down to the hand-punched hair.”
Fraser’s commitment to the role extended beyond the physical aspects. Reflecting on wearing the prosthetic suit, he revealed, “I developed muscles I did not know I had… It gave me an appreciation for those whose bodies are similar. You need to be an incredibly strong person, mentally and physically, to inhabit that physical being.”
The response to Fraser’s performance in “The Whale” has been overwhelmingly positive. Variety critic Owen Gleiberman praised his portrayal, stating that Fraser was “slyer, subtler, and more haunting than he has ever been”, delivering an “intensely lived-in and touching performance”.
This Venice premiere marks another successful entry in Aronofsky’s career at the esteemed festival. While he stumbled initially, he bounced back with wins such as the Golden Lion for “The Wrestler” in 2008. His films have consistently captivated audiences, with “Black Swan” becoming a major hit in 2010 and “mother!” dominating conversations in 2017.
Brendan Fraser’s return to the spotlight comes after a hiatus from leading roles. Though he gained popularity as an action star in films like “George of the Jungle” and “The Mummy”, he later transitioned to smaller roles and even appeared on television. “The Whale” marks his triumphant return as a leading actor, his first since 2013’s “Breakout”. He has exciting projects on the horizon, including a role in Martin Scorsese’s Apple western “Killers of the Flower Moon”. Unfortunately, Fraser’s portrayal of Garfield Lynns/Firefly in the DC film “Batgirl” will not see the light of day due to its cancellation by Warner Bros.
“The Whale” will be released in theaters on December 9 by A24, promising an emotional and powerful cinematic experience.
