The Whale | December 9, 2022 | A24 | Darren Aronofsky, Brendan Fraser | It's about a 600-pound man eating himself to death

[Eric Quinn]

 

[Chaz]

Frazer v. Butler for Best Actor? 

[CoolioD1]

 

Do we think that the rock and aronofsky are actual buddies? Like they hang out and spot each other at the gym.

[excel1]

Seems clear this movie is not going to be a real best pic contender, which probably hurts Brendan's chances. 

[filmlover]

Yeah, the reviews are solid (although I did read a few negative reviews for Sadie Sink's performance, which is a disappointment), but overall sounds like it's going to be an Actor/Makeup nominee at best unless it breaks out at the box office (gonna guess it lands in the $10-15M total range, which isn't a breakout but would still be acceptable for an indie in this day and age due to the pandemic tempering expectations for the specialty market).

 

Either way, I'm thrilled to see the raves for Fraser and am hopeful this initiates a full-blown comeback.

[Ozymandias]

Great for Fraser.

 

Oh and The Mummy is better than two of the Indiana Jones movies, maybe three of them.  Don't @ me.

[Valonqar]

7 hours ago, excel1 said:

Seems clear this movie is not going to be a real best pic contender, which probably hurts Brendan's chances. 

 

True but stats are made to be broken. CODA broke so many stats that one has to relax about quoting them as gospel going forward. Just because Actor + Picture = win in over a decade, it doesn't mean that Actor w/o Picture cannot do it. It takes the right role and performance. If he's GOAT than he doesn't need Picture. 

[excel1]

6 hours ago, Ozymandias said:

Great for Fraser.

 

Oh and The Mummy is better than two of the Indiana Jones movies, maybe three of them.  Don't @ me.

 

The Mummy 1 is a truly perfect popcorn blockbuster film. It is flawless, no exaggeration. Likable and attractive leads, incredible action, great pacing, just enough drama and romance, great humor, unreal music, bits of horror and scares, etc. It has aged incredibly well too. 

 

The Mummy Returns was THIS close to breaking the opening weekend record. Done right, The Mummy Forever released in 2025 - set in the 1950s w/ Fraser, Weizc, Hannah, The Rock all back - would be a bit hit.

 

The Mummy & Robin would probably have an audience too. 

Edited September 5, 2022 by excel1

[Flopped]

So many adults on Film Twitter hardcore stanning Sadie Sink is creepy 

[CaptNathanBrittles]

So this is LEAVING LAS VEGAS for fatties?

[Cruel Summer]

he was never thought of as a good actor when he was hot but now that he looks like that he is? sure

[CoolioD1]

2 hours ago, Cruel Summer said:

he was never thought of as a good actor when he was hot but now that he looks like that he is? sure

eh, it's a whole generation that loved him growing up. there's probably more appreciation for what he was doing back in the day since we've have a lot of worse attempts at brendan frasers since then (every marvel chris).

[excel1]

2 hours ago, Cruel Summer said:

he was never thought of as a good actor when he was hot but now that he looks like that he is? sure

 

He was always extremely likable - warm, sincere, great comedic timing. His looks likely blinded some to what was clearly more talent ala Heath Ledger, Josh Hartnett, Paul Walker etc around the same time.

Edited September 6, 2022 by excel1

[ChipDerby]

Regarding his acting ability, it's not like he did much serious acting prior to being blacklisted. He was almost always great in what roles he took. He was excellent in his Scrubs arc.

 

Since then he was very good in Trust. And he's been downright exceptional in Doom Patrol. I'm thrilled (as a huge Doom Patrol fan) that he's finally getting mainstream attention again. And maybe this will lead to Doom Patrol getting at least a Season 5.

[George Parr]

22 hours ago, Cruel Summer said:

he was never thought of as a good actor when he was hot but now that he looks like that he is? sure

Yeah, that's completely impossible. Just ask Matthew McConaughey, who never got past running around with his shirt off either!

 

Just because someone was seen more as a charming leadingman for action- or adventure-movies and not as a character-actor, doesn't mean he was considered a bad actor, nor does it mean that he couldn't possibly capture audiences in different ways later on.

[filmlover]

Brendan Fraser’s Comeback Surges: ‘The Whale’ Gets Five-Minute TIFF Ovation, Actor Fights Back Tears https://t.co/SY8GTQ2bPs

— Variety (@Variety) September 12, 2022

[filmlover]

The Furor Over Brendan Fraser’s Fat Suit in ‘The Whale': Turns Out You CAN Be Too Thin in Hollywood (thewrap.com)

 

 

[BoxOfficeFangrl]

1 hour ago, filmlover said:

The Furor Over Brendan Fraser’s Fat Suit in ‘The Whale': Turns Out You CAN Be Too Thin in Hollywood (thewrap.com)

 

 

The gay actors who've openly criticized Fraser's casting aren't exactly 600 pounds, either? There aren't a lot of famous actors that size, regardless of sexuality, anyone cast would have been in a fatsuit. And even with a 600 pound actor, the source material would still be controversial.

[Maggie]

They are taking their time with the trailer. What are they hiding?

[filmlover]

Inside Variety’s New York Issue cover story with Brendan Fraser and Darren Aronofsky:

Brendan Fraser’s Triumphant Comeback: How Playing a 600-Pound Gay Man in ‘The Whale’ Resurrected His Career https://t.co/zqZe9eQFwu pic.twitter.com/s3GuItH0hX

— Variety (@Variety) October 12, 2022