Brendan Fraser has always been regarded as a fairly versatile actor. Whether he was providing comedy in Airheads, flexing his dramatic muscle in School Ties, or running a blockbuster franchise in The Mummy, he’s always had the “it” factor.
Despite his success and stardom, there was a point where Fraser and Hollywood seemed to be headed for divorce.
Whatever the reasoning for his hiatus from the top row of actors, Fraser had undeniably made a triumphant return with his brilliant performance in The Whale. He did so well, in fact, that he has secured awards for his efforts, and is now in the running to win an Oscar at the 2023 Academy Awards.
It’s no guarantee, of course. Austin Butler stole the show as the Best Actor winner at this year’s Golden Globes, and the two share similar odds at most bookmakers. Heck, there’s even a case for Colin Farrell to win this year.
That said, this is Fraser’s award. Here’s three reasons why the Academy has to get this right.
1. Don’t Call it a Comeback
Let’s get this out of the way first; this is an amazing comeback by the now 54-year old Fraser. While he was a huge name in Hollywood for much of his career, few would confuse him with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio or Tom Hanks.
A seasoned, A-list actor, he was not.
Fraser found major success in comedic roles and blockbuster action movies. He dipped his toe in dramatic roles and passed the eye test, but he simply didn’t get those types of roles that allowed him to showcase his raw talent.
We did see glimpses of it, though. There was the cameo on Scrubs where he plays Dr. Cox’s brother-in-law who eventually dies.
When he goes, it’s easily one of the hardest hitting episodes the show ever did – and that’s saying something.
Fraser also offered dramatic turns in The Air I Breathe and Extraordinary Measures, with the latter perhaps being the role that sold Darren Aronofsky on Fraser’s ability to handle his coming role in The Whale.
My point? Fraser has always been talented, and he never fully went away. He just finally got a vehicle – and the undying belief from his director – that he could piece together an unforgettable performance.
2. Fraser Went All Out to Give an Authentic Performance
Fraser didn’t balloon up to 600 pounds to accurately portray an obese man on his way out of this world, but he sure came close.
Both Fraser and Aronofsky wanted a genuine and authentic approach, which led the actor to gain 50 pounds, while he even tacked on the rest of the weight via prosthetics and a body suit.
It didn’t make the cut in a recent look at the craziest move body transformations, but maybe it should have. Either way, there’s no denying Fraser went all out for this role.
On top of offering his star power and underrated acting talent, he truly went above and beyond to really deliver the best possibly portrayal for this film.
3. Fraser’s Actual Acting Performance Was Simply the Year’s Best
Okay, so the narrative of Fraser coming back from the dead as far as actor’s go is prevalent here. And when you look at what he physically did to make his role as Charlie work, he certainly deserves a tip of the cap.
Those two things alone get him in the running. But what puts him over the top?
The raw emotion, the amount he had to dig deep for to access this character, and the material he and the movie touch on collectively have to give him the nod.
Austin Butler played a borderline flawless rendition of Elvis Presley, and the Oscars sure does love biopics. But he simply was not the superior actor here, nor did he have the better role or the more impactful performance.
The odds are so tight for a reason; both actors are pretty deserving. However, when you package it all together, Fraser is destined to win Best Actor at the 2023 Oscars.
Disagree? Let me know who you have winning 2023 Best Actor below.
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