As a lifelong cinephile who has followed Brendan Fraser’s career since his breakout role in “Encino Man,” it is truly heartening to see him back on the silver screen and shining brighter than ever before. His journey from Hollywood stardom to mid-career break, and now his triumphant return, is a testament to the resilience of artists and the transformative power of cinema.
It’s well-known that Hollywood filmmaker Darren Aronofsky spent a decade searching for a suitable overweight actor for the movie “The Whale”, eventually focusing on Brendan Fraser.
However, during a casual chat at the Red Sea Film Festival on Sunday, Fraser disclosed the genuine reason Aranofsky chose him for the Oscar-winning part of Charlie. “He was seeking an actor who hadn’t been in the limelight for some time,” Fraser said he was told. And that was me. He aimed to bring back that actor through a performance that would be groundbreaking and have an unexpected quality, as if this role wasn’t something you’d immediately associate with him.
As for me, I couldn’t be more thrilled about the surge of “Brenaissance” memes, a testament to one of Hollywood’s most remarkable career resurgences. Standing on the stage in Old Town Al-Balad, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, I couldn’t help but flash my signature wide grin and exclaim, “Behold, it’s me!
Instead, Fraser expressed his preference for referring to his absence from Hollywood before “The Whale” as a mid-career pause rather than a career dip. “Taking a break is essential in any profession,” he reminisced. “In my career, it’s been a trajectory that resembles a roller coaster loop—it goes up, down, sideways, and even into the dark, but it’s always thrilling.
Fraser admits that he spent his free time productively. “I chose to take some introspective moments to prepare myself for ‘The Whale,'” he shared. During this period, he honed his culinary skills in the kitchen, mastered archery, and bonded with Pecas, his horse whom he had previously encountered on the set of History Channel’s series, Texas Rising.
The career pause occurred after an impressive climb in Hollywood’s film industry, which began with his leading role in the 1992 movie “Encino Man.” As he was recognized and acknowledged early on, this provided him opportunities to get involved in other projects. Agents, directors, and producers began to take notice of his rising stardom at that time.
After achieving his first significant commercial success with “George of the Jungle” in 1997, Fraser officially established himself as a Hollywood star. He expressed, “It was thrilling back then. However, I disliked the exercise aspect of it all, as it was painful. I had to do that quite often.
George’s role in “George of the Jungle” unexpectedly catapulted him into instant fame, something that took Fraser by surprise since every acting job is essentially a roll of the dice. As he put it, “What you anticipate doing and what eventually happens can be worlds apart. When that movie was released, it struck a chord globally and featured quite a few monkeys,” he reminisced.
Another significant milestone in his career was playing the role of explorer Rick O’Connell in the movie “The Mummy.” This took place on a set in Morocco alongside actress Rachel Weisz. Reflecting on the experience, Fraser commented, “We weren’t sure what kind of movie this was going to be. Was it a comedy, a horror, or an adventure? It moved fast, like a thrilling roller coaster ride.
Additionally, he showcased significant shifts in movies such as “Gods and Monsters”, “The Quiet American”, and “Journey to the Center of the Earth”. Initially, these films faced issues with their adapted screenplays, according to Fraser, but on set, these problems were addressed and even innovative 3D digital production was incorporated during its early stages.
Fraser excitedly shared that they would be using cutting-edge tech for 3D movie production and projection, along with the commonly used 3D glasses.
As a gamer, I’d say:
We filmed that during winter, right before vaccinations became widely recognized. With today’s pandemic situation, heavy illness, deaths, and health concerns surrounding everyone, I wonder if it would still resonate with viewers, as it seems the on-screen struggles of The Whale reflect these times.
Fraser stated that the mutual concern for each other’s health during that time was evident, and we all shared a common uncertainty about whether there would be a future. It’s clear that this unspoken emotion resonated strongly with the audience.
The film titled “The Whale” experienced significant success, with its debut at the Venice Film Festival being particularly noteworthy. Even prior to the festival, anticipation had grown substantially following press screenings. During the screening, Fraser was reportedly moved to tears as he received a prolonged six-minute standing ovation from the audience on the Lido.
In Venice for the first time, without having watched the entire movie, Frasier was unsure if the film’s underlying theme would make a profound impact, causing people to reconsider their judgments of loved ones, or if it would be easily forgotten. He acknowledged that the outcome could swing dramatically in either direction.
Ultimately, as intended by Aronofsky, the role in “The Whale” proved transformative for Fraser. Earlier in his career, he simply aspired to be a working actor. He expressed gratitude for this film, stating that despite running through fires, on top of buildings, and fast cars, which can be both exciting and perilous, making a movie that demanded the biggest emotional investment he’s ever had was an extraordinary experience for him.
The Red Sea Film Festival continues through Dec. 14.
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2024-12-08 18:25