Iconic Roles is a look at some of the best performances in film and television by actors and actresses.
Thanks to his charming smile and light blue eyes, Brendan Fraser won the hearts of thousands of fans and quickly became popular in the 90s. For most of his career, Fraser starred in comedies, but he also acted in several dramas and blockbusters, The Mummy primarily film series. After making her feature film debut in a small role in 1991 aerial combatFraser received praise for his lighthearted performance as Link in Encino Man. The past few years have not been easy for Fraser, who has taken time away from the spotlight, but he now appears to be in a better mental and spiritual state. His latest role sees the beloved actor play a 600-pound English teacher trying to reconnect with his daughter in Darren Aronofsky The whale. The film premiered in Venice earlier this year, with critics and audiences praising Fraser’s efforts as Charlie.
Here is a list of some of Brendan Fraser’s best drama movies.
David Greene in School Ties (1992)
One of the first tests of Fraser’s career came in 1992 when he landed the lead role in Robert Mandel’s school drama. Greene (Fraser) is the new quarterback at St. Matthew’s Academy, a prestigious prep school. When he discovers that most of his classmates are anti-Semitic, Greene chooses to hide that he is Jewish. The film also starred Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Cole Hauser, among others. Although the story was generally well received by critics, the film failed the ratings test and bombed at the box office, falling short of its $18 million production budget.
Clayton Boone in Gods and Monsters (1998)
By 1998, Frazer had already caught the attention of insiders and fans as one of Hollywood’s rising stars. As he would land his most iconic role a year later gods and monsters, he proved he was ready for bigger and better challenges after Bill Condon’s period drama. The story follows the final days of director James Whale (Ian McKellen), the director of Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. Sensing the end near, Whale falls in love with Boone (Fraser), his straight young gardener. It’s never easy to share the stage with a big name like McKellen, but Frazer was up to it. Fingers in the nose, gods and monsters is one of Brendan Fraser’s best drama films, though fans didn’t rush to watch it when it hit theaters.
Alden Pyle in The Quiet American (2002)
In the live-action adaptation of Henry Graham Greene’s well-known novel of the same name, Fraser co-starred with acting royalty in Michael Caine. Fraser’s character is an undercover CIA agent operating in Saigon, Vietnam, who falls in love with a beautiful Vietnamese woman (Do Thi Hai Yen), who is also desired by British journalist Thomas Fowler (Caine). Surprisingly, Fraser and Caine showed great chemistry as their characters competed for the woman’s attention. While Caine stole the show and landed a Best Actor Oscar nomination that year, Fraser proved he could hold his own against even some of the best actors in the industry, also showing great versatility. . The cast also included Robert Stanton and Holmes Osborne, among others.
John Crowley in Extraordinary Measures (2010)
Tom Vaughan’s touching film would even make stones cry, and part of the credit goes to Fraser’s heartfelt performance. The film adapts the story of a couple of parents who spare no effort to save the lives of their children, who suffer from a rare and life-threatening heart disease. After several failed attempts, they decide to try the experimental treatment of a visionary doctor (Harrison Ford). Extraordinary measures also entered Keri Russell.
Doug Jones in No Sudden Movement (2021)
The first sign that Fraser has weathered his personal storm came with Steven Soderbergh’s beloved period crime film, where Fraser portrays a sleazy recruiter. The story is set in 1954 Detroit and follows the dirty business of a criminal gang. Even though Fraser’s part is relatively small, it is poignant enough to leave a mark. The ensemble cast also included Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, David Harbour, Jon Hamm, Ray Liotta and Amy Seimetz, among others. The film was released amid the COVID-19 pandemic and never hit theaters. Currently, it is available on HBO Max.