Having surfaced with an almighty splash at the Venice Film Festival in September, The Whale has been collecting awards, accolades and some pushback from fat-positive commentators – arguably an advantage in a media world increasingly driven by flash-in-the-pan controversies – ever since. It’s the kind of comeback story to put a spring in the step of any movie fan.įraser, who once described his muscle-bound younger self as looking “like a walking steak”, gives the performance of his life as a vastly obese eating addict struggling to reconcile with his daughter in The Whale, directed by Darren Aronofsky.

Now he’s a favourite to win the Oscar as best actor. The ’90s action star, who lumbered amiably through Encino Man, George of the Jungle and the Mummy franchise, disappeared from movies for years during the previous decade, relegated to minor television roles. Without a doubt, the biggest story of this year’s movie awards season is the resurgence of Brendan Fraser.