Oscar Nominated Film Based On Life Of Idaho Teen Growing Up Gay

The Academy Awards are just a few weeks away. The buzz in the industry is that the best actor award will most likely go to a familiar man who is making a motion picture comeback in a film where he's portraying a young, heavy-set man growing up gay in Idaho.

The Whale is a terrific movie. It's a beautiful, poignant, incredibly well-acted effort by five human beings that takes place in a single, dark room. The film is based on a play written by a young Moscow man who poured his heart and soul into a few pages, resulting in an Academy Award nomination in the best actor category for Brendan Fraser.

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Fraser has been acting for more than three decades but hasn't done much in the past several years. He's best known for his lead roles in The Mummy franchise. Fraser explained in a recent interview I saw that he was waiting for a meaningful script to come to him before taking the leap back into acting in a leading role.

I've been a fan of Fraser's since way back in the day. Movies like The Scout, Encino Man and Bedazzled made me a fan of his. George of the Jungle was another film he starred in that many may remember.

The Whale was written by northern Idaho native Samuel D. Hunter as a small, intimate play. It was adapted to the big screen by director Darren Aronofsky. Hunter, who struggled with weight issues, discussed the hardships of discovering he was a gay man while growing up in Idaho in a 2022 interview with Movie Maker.

Weeping after a movie isn't something I'm accustomed to, but I was overcome with emotion and I'm not afraid to admit it; maybe it's the dad in me. Please, go see this incredible film, and I really hope Fraser wins the best actor Oscar for his magnificent performance.