Full disclosure– I have always been a fan of the rock group Queen. I collected their records and saw them in concert twice. Some may say this means I could not be objective in reviewing the new movie “Bohemian Rhapsody.” I see it the other way. If anyone is going to be critical or carefully speculative and discriminating of the movie it would be a longtime fan like me who wants to see their story portrayed in an accurate and appropriate way.
Actors playing the band Queen sing together on the classic mini opera “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
It’s hard for me to follow or agree with the barbs and sharp detractions some critics gave “Bohemian Rhapsody.” However I will say, as a band, Queen was often given short shrift by the music critics. It appears some movie critics are following suit with their film reviews.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” is more the story of lead singer Freddie Mercury which makes sense. He was the consummate showman and the most visible guy in the band. However, all four members are well represented and the actors are dead ringers for the real life stars. Watching Gwilym Lee play guitarist Brian May, was almost spooky because of their resemblance and his stage mannerisms were spot on.
Still, it’s Rami Malek playing Freddie Mercury who IS the movie. Equipped with prosthetic teeth to mirror Mercury’s choppers, Malek has the look, the speaking voice and mannerisms. Much is made of Freddie’s extra incisors during the film but that’s just a small bite of the story. (Pun intended)
Rami Malek IS Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury in a well played role that is sure to get him an Oscar nomination.
From a disapproving father, skeptical record company executives to loving his girl Mary but having sex with men, Freddie Mercury was a complex person in private and a bold and bright star onstage. Some of my favorite parts of this movie are when he talks about how natural and true he feels while performing in concert and the recording studio. When you see Mercury writing songs and how a sense of satisfaction rolls over him when in the right groove, it’s a great insight to special artistry.
Queen’s music is a joy to re-live in “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The inside stories about how those songs came to be are more than just a “Behind the Music” anecdote or two. For those who followed the band’s discography fairly closely, you will see some date and chronology inaccuracies in the script. This may have been done for dramatic purposes and we need to remember this is not a documentary. It is an interpretation of a constantly evolving group of musicians who dared to blow off formulated artistic patterns to forge their own visions.
I liked the new version of “A Star Is Born” but gave higher marks (a solid ‘A’ grade) to “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The plot of “A Star is Born” has been oft told and despite great work by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, it’s still a bit of a worn tale. Freddie Mercury and Queen’s history is as unusual as a band’s story can be and this movie serves it up in a truly entertaining way.
FOOTNOTE-Before seeing “Bohemian Rhapsody” one of the trailers shown to us was for next summer’s Elton John biopic “Rocketman.” It’s directed by Dexter Fletcher who was brought in to replace Bryan Singer for the last two weeks of filming the Queen movie. Here is a quick look at the trailer for “Rocketman.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpOGT3GTO84