THE WHALE (2022): Brendan Fraser’s New Film Gets Standing Ovation at Venice Film Festival

Brendan Fraser Emotionally Moved at the Venice Response to New Film

Brendan Fraser cried at the six minute standing ovation at the Venice International Film Festival for his new picture, The Whale.

It’s time for audiences to witness the re-emergence of Brendan Fraser in his new Oscar-worthy role in the upcoming Darren Aronofsky A24 drama, The Whale. Talk about a reversal of fortune for the former George of the Jungle star. Just a few weeks ago, it was revealed that the actor’s performance in Batgirl will most likely never see the light of day as Warner Bros. pulled the plug on the high profile production’s release. Now, the actor was emotionally moved at the standing ovation for his new movie, The Whale at the Venice Film Festival.

In The Whale, Fraser plays a 600 pound gay man and the actor endured “six-hours-a-day” makeup applications to get prepared for his performance in the new picture. Aronofsky is known for getting his movie stars Oscar nods. In 2008, Mickey Rourke played in the director’s film The Wrestler and scored an Oscar nomination and although Rourke sadly didn’t win the Academy Award in one of the biggest upsets of all-time, Natalie Portman won Best Actress a couple of years later when she appeared in Aronofsky’s masterpiece, Black Swan. A nod for Fraser is almost assured given the response to his work in The Whale.

Fraser was overwhelmed by the response to the new picture. He shed several tears as the audience applauded what is, perhaps, his most challenging work to date. When trying to leave, the reaction was so strong, he didn’t go because of the overwhelming and heartfelt reaction to his performance as a wheel-chair bound man in the Aronofsky film.

Those who were anticipating seeing Fraser in Batgirl were disappointed that the star’s work in that superhero picture won’t be seen. But, news of Fraser’s award-worthy performance in The Whale has encouraged an amazing response from the actor’s fans. Fraser was out of the limelight for a while but should have no problem being accepted by his peers as a performer to contend with as he is predicted to have a solid shot at taking home the gold given the formidable response to The Whale.

While The Whale‘s reviews have been good, the movie, itself, hasn’t been received well enough to be assured a Best Picture Oscar nomination but, still, the smart money is on Fraser for Best Actor at next year’s Academy Awards. The Whale is set to be released on December 9th where you will be able to see the actor’s work in (very likely) the most acclaimed performance thus far this year.

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