Long ago, in a time far away, – twas the night of the Cineworld Halloween Party, held in the glorious upstairs of Walkabout, Glasgow. I was dressed as Rick O’Connel, as portrayed by Brendan Fraser in the Mummy movies. I wore a fashionable leather wristband (“The Bracelet of Anubis”), a dirty shirt, twin holsters for my .45s and I even grew my hair to emulate Rick’s floppy curtains fringe.
Heck I even lost out on pulling one of the most attractive blondes in the world because she addressed me of Indiana Jones (“Am I wearing a fedora? No. Do I have a whip? No. I’m Rick O’Connel!” and so I went home alone with my pride intact.
The point I’m making is I IDOLISED Mr. Fraser. He was the new Han Solo in my life. Obi Wan Kenobi in The Phantom Menace was awesome, yes, but Rick O’Connel was a dashing adventurer – my kind of hero. Dirk Pitt would come later, nearly 6 years later – and Lara Croft wouldn’t take the stage until Angelina Jolie in 2001….but well, I liked her for other reasons.
Brendan’s irreverent characters and adeptness for self-mockery – see “George of the Jungle” or “Looney Tunes: Back in Action” (the latter of which is an underrated classic full of some of the funniest stupidity since Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and features Timothy Dalton as Brendan’s Dad, and the only cinematic appearance of the best Batmobile ever after Batman Returns – until obviously The Flash (2023), later this year.) But he isn’t just a great laugh – see “The Quiet Man” with Michael Caine. Or “Crash”.
Now, fast forward to today. Or rather, last week, and he gets the Oscar for his performance in “The Whale”. I haven’t seen the film yet – I am afraid to say I was not able to make the cinema during its limited release – but I am 100% sure he’s brilliant in it. I have no doubt.
The trouble is… I was lambasted for liking him. Everyone loved Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves but I wasn’t allowed to like Nicolas Cage or Brendan Fraser – they weren’t cool enough to be termed role models. It’s a sad truth that everyone loves them (just like everyone loves Abba)– but won’t admit it. Except me. I didn’t care what other people thought of my film tastes – I still don’t – so hence my choice of “cosplay”, and hero.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not comparing Brendan Fraser to Nicolas Cage. One is conscientious, warm and humble, the other is Nicolas Fuckiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing Cage. But the point stands.
And now Brendan has won an Oscar and everyone is saying how awesome he is. I’ve always known that! I don’t need Hollywood to let me know it’s okay to think he’s great.
I was a fan of Brendan Fraser before it was cool.
the FANGG of HORROR ROCK 