During the Venice Film Festival, Brandan Fraser received a seven-minute standing ovation. As he waved with tears in his eyes, it seemed as though everyone is rooting for him.
His route back to acting comes in the form of Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale, which was released on 4 September 2022.
As Fraser returns to acting, it seems only fitting to review his best roles from throughout his stellar career.
The Mummy (1999)
Fraser’s role as the charming and brave Rick O’Connell is one of his most adored roles by fans across the world. This is one of the classics that you just have to sit down and watch if you see it playing on TV.
One of the film’s selling points is its outstanding visual effects (for its time)!
Fraser also had great onscreen chemistry with Rachel Weisz. So, with these two powerhouses at the helm, how could this film not soar?
Gods and Monsters (1998)
This film sees Fraser play Clayton Boone, the gardener of filmmaker James Whale.
We are used to seeing Fraser play stacked, powerful heroes who save the damsel. However, in Gods and Monsters, he is able to dig deep and display his true acting abilities.
The film explores the complicated friendship between Whale (played by Sir Ian McKellen) and Boone, tackling issues around love, acceptance and morality.
George Of The Jungle (1997)
Aside from starring in The Mummy, this is one of Fraser’s most iconic roles.
Playing George, the young man who was raised in the jungle, much like Tarzan, Fraser brought to life this animated character with ease.
Leslie Mann plays Ursula Stanhope, George’s love interest, and the onscreen chemistry between these two makes it hard not to truly fall in love with them.
This was, and still is, a film for the whole family, making everyone from Granny to your baby brother a Brendan Fraser fan.
Encino Man (1992)
Despite this character being literally two million years old, Fraser manages to expertly play this caveman so that we fall in love with his ignorance. The movie allows Fraser to showcase his physical comedic abilities while not saying much.
We also see some dramatic acting performances from him throughout the film, which only add to the character and show what a versatile actor he is.