Just listened in - read about long ovation! I "know" Brendan Fraser from "The Mummy" :) That this was based on a true story, was my first thought! But seems like a great challenge was here, in making the (large) protagonist memorable :)
I'm starting to think that Aronofsky might slowly become some weird alternative Tarantino in the sense he picks up almost forgotten actors, who are often cast outs with serious issues, and he brings them back into spotlight using their real life issues as a catalyst for a great character. He did it with Rourke in The Wrestler, now he did it with Fraser in The Whale.
