Think back to Brendan Fraser at Venice three years ago, when the premiere of “The Whale” earned him a roaring standing ovation that left him in tears. That video went viral all over the internet.
Tonight, it happened again, emotions running high, an Oscar campaign officially born, and the recipient is none other than Dwayne Johnson (video). That’s right, “The Rock” could very well win an Oscar.
After the reception to “The Smashing Machine” at the Venice Film Festival on Monday, many believe Dwayne Johnson may be entering serious awards territory. Much like Fraser before him, the actor broke down in tears as the audience at the film’s world premiere on the Lido erupted in cheers, chants, and applause, leading to a standing ovation that lasted 15 minutes — one of the longest of this year’s event.
This is how Oscar narratives are created. Much like “The Whale,” Johnson’s film might not actually get best picture nominated, but the lead performance certainly will.