Brendan Fraser gets emotional as 'The Whale' receives five-minute TIFF ovation

 

by IANS |

Los Angeles, Sep 12 (IANS) A visibly emotional Brendan Fraser fought back tears as 'The Whale' received a passionate standing ovation at its Toronto International Film Festival premiere on Sunday.

The crowd stood for roughly five minutes until festival organisers quieted the applause to begin a question and answer session with Fraser, director Darren Aronofsky, writer Samuel D, reports 'Variety'.

Hunter and cast members Sadie Sink and Ty Simpkins. The reception was one of the strongest yet at this year's festival, a gathering that has already included the premieres of Steven Spielberg's 'The Fabelmans' and 'Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery'.

'The Whale' stars Fraser as Charlie, a man living with severe obesity who struggles to reconnect with his 17-year-old daughter.

Fraser told the crowd at TIFF that he hopes the film will inspire more compassion in the people who watch it.

"You need to be an incredibly strong individual to be that man," Fraser said.

"Because at the end of the day, I could take the apparatus off and, while I felt dizziness, something about that stayed with mea I learned that when you just invest everything you can and give it what you've got as if it's the first and last time you ever will, something important can come of that."

"And I think that with your help we might be able to change some hearts and minds."

TIFF was set to be a big festival for Fraser even before 'The Whale" screened to huge acclaim.

The actor is receiving the TIFF Tribute Award for Performance at the 2022 festival, with TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey saying, "Brendan Fraser gives a performance of staggering depth, power and nuance in 'The Whale.'

This former Torontonian has been an action star, a screen comic, and a romantic lead. We're thrilled to welcome him home as the actor behind one of the finest performances of the year."

The supporting cast also includes Hong Chau and Samantha Morton.

The movie is based on the play of the same name by Hunter, who adapted the stage script into Aronofsky's feature. The director labored for a decade to make the movie, but he couldn't find the right person to bring Charlie to life.

"It's such a demanding role emotionally and technically, and I considered pretty much every single actor on the planet and nothing clicked," Aronofsky said. That changed after he saw a trailer to a low-budget film that Fraser appeared in, a chance encounter that sparked something profound in the filmmaker.

"From that moment on I knew we had found Charlie, and I never doubted him for a second," he added.

Fraser, a major star in the 1990s and early aughts, had moved away from the studio system in recent years.

'The Whale' could revitalise his career, just as another Aronofsky film, 2008's 'The Wrestler', led to a resurgence for Mickey Rourke. Aronofsky was asked about the similarities.

"Actors that are hungry is a super important thing, because these roles are really difficult," he said.

"You just have to find the actor at the right time in their career who is ready to work hard."

The film got its start at the Venice Film Festival, where it was met with a huge six-minute standing ovation that left Fraser in tears.

The actor even tried to leave the Venice theater at one point, but the outpouring of clapping was so loud that he stayed longer and took a bow. Variety wrote out of Venice that 'The Whale' will "likely put Fraser at the forefront of this year's best actor Oscars race."

To play the lead character in the film, Fraser relied on prosthetics and spent up to six hours in the make-up chair each day to fully transform into the character.

"I developed muscles I did not know I had," Fraser told journalists at the Venice press conference about wearing the prosthetic suit.

"I even felt a sense of vertigo at the end of the day when all the appliances were removed; it was like stepping off the dock onto a boat in Venice.

"That (sense of) undulating. It gave me appreciation for those whose bodies are similar. You need to be an incredibly strong person, mentally and physically, to inhabit that physical being.

In his review of 'The Whale' out of Venice, Variety chief film critic Owen Gleiberman called Fraser "slyer, subtler, more haunting than he has ever been," adding that he gives an "intensely lived-in and touching performance.

'The Whale' will be released in theaters on December 9.

Latest Cinema Updates
Elton John, Brandi Carlile unite for new music album Thu, Feb 06, 2025, 03:01 PM
Sonu Sood's dedication to storytelling is inspiring, reveals Krushna Patil Thu, Feb 06, 2025, 02:54 PM
Ram Charan's wife Upasana Konidela announces establishment of model anganwadi centre at Pithapuram Thu, Feb 06, 2025, 02:51 PM
Ed Sheeran, A. R. Rahman serve delectable treat of 'Shape of You' and 'Urvashi' mash-up to Chennai Thu, Feb 06, 2025, 12:54 PM
Janhvi Kapoor asks Khushi to wear a t-shirt with her face on it Thu, Feb 06, 2025, 12:50 PM
Rashmika Mandanna advocates for kindness in a powerful post Thu, Feb 06, 2025, 11:58 AM
Nick Jonas gives a miss to Priyanka Chopra's brother's pre-wedding festivities Thu, Feb 06, 2025, 11:52 AM
Three Bollywood Khans miss a rare reunion at 'Loveyapa' screening Thu, Feb 06, 2025, 11:39 AM
Akshay Oberoi gifts himself a swanky new car Thu, Feb 06, 2025, 11:36 AM
Anupam Kher announces International Actor Prepares Awards as his institute completes 20 years Wed, Feb 05, 2025, 03:18 PM
TN govt grants 'Vidaa Muyarchi' team permission to screen one additional show on Feb 6 Wed, Feb 05, 2025, 03:10 PM
Rozlyn Khan tries to commit suicide Wed, Feb 05, 2025, 03:05 PM
Samiksha Jaiswal opens up about playing negative role in 'Ram Bhavan' Wed, Feb 05, 2025, 01:53 PM
Amid legal feud with Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds pose for selfie Wed, Feb 05, 2025, 01:06 PM
Triptii Dimri and Sam Merchant leave Maldives with 'unforgettable memories' Wed, Feb 05, 2025, 12:59 PM
Kangana Ranaut turns restaurateur: It's an extension of myself Wed, Feb 05, 2025, 12:52 PM
Robinhood unit greets actor Devdatta G Nage on his birthday; Releases his look, character name Wed, Feb 05, 2025, 12:22 PM
Priyanka Chopra's brother's wedding ritual starts with 'Ganesh Puja' Wed, Feb 05, 2025, 12:03 PM
Jacqueline Fernandez celebrates Sri Lanka's 77th Independence Day Wed, Feb 05, 2025, 11:57 AM
Allu Sirish, brother of Allu Arjun, expresses happiness as 'Pushpa 2' receives acclaim from Western audiences Wed, Feb 05, 2025, 11:55 AM