Brendan Fraser has always been a comforting, enjoyable presence on the big screen.  He may have just recently won the Oscar for “The Whale”, but I think his skill and breadth of talent has always been there.  But this is the way the Academy Awards can work: “Hey, you’ve been out of the limelight for a while! We know you suffered several setbacks from doing stunts making money for us. Now that you’re not young and handsome anymore, thank you for tackling this “ugly” role in a fat suit and here’s an Oscar for all your cumulative efforts.”  

Personally, I think he had an Oscar-worthy turn in the incredibly nuanced character tango that he does with Ian McKellan in “Gods and Monsters”.  Fantastic movie based on a great book “The Father of Frankenstein” about the gay man who directed Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein.  Just one of my absolute favorites.  Both the book and the movie are highly recommended and equally strong, yet different. 

From “George of the Jungle” and “The Mummy” movies through his more serious roles, Brendan Fraser has just reliably been a likeable, fun and multi-faceted actor that I feel I have grown-up with. 

Alas, I must accept that the autographs in my collection are secretarial/forgeries.  As you can see from these examples, my signed index cards match almost perfectly with pictures that have been “signed by Brendan” through the mail.  But they vary greatly from all of his in person, authentic signatures where is B is much larger and more elaborate, his F is much more assertive and straight-lined, and his s is always looped at the top.  Oh, well.