Written by Briah Krueger
I always knew I was a star. And now, the rest of the world seems to agree with me. – Freddie Mercury, September 5th, 1946 – November 24th, 1991.
Freddie Mercury will forever be engraved in the world as not only a legend, but an icon to all the lost and lingering souls searching for a place to belong. His music became an anthem, his story became an inspiration to unapologetically be yourself; and now both worlds come together in a marvellously orchestrated film. Let’s give a hand for Bohemian Rhapsody, directed by Bryan Singer (2018).
Queen’s music has and always will be close to my heart; so mine, and I’m sure many other Queen fans, expectations were high. And my goodness were they met and exceeded.
The opening sequence alone ropes you right into the fabulously unfolding universe of Freddie Mercury, and oddly enough though consciously I knew I was watching a movie in a theater, I felt completely star struck. I learned so much not only about his personal life and struggles, but also the behind the scenes creation of some of the most iconic and best songs of our time.
Rami Malek enchants us with an absolutely dazzling and mesmerising performance; you are immediately drawn in and feel like you are in the presents of the legend himself. The mannerisms, actions, and vibe are uncannily alike and deserve a standing ovation. The way he captures the very essence of Freddie Mercury is a privilege to his fans who didn’t get the chance to see him live on TV interviews/performances, or concerts. This movie is a gift to each fan who wishes they could have been living in the time where Queen first took over the music scene. Because through this movie you get a front row seat to it all; it’s made for their fans.
Bohemian Rhapsody grants us with an inside look at Freddie Mercury’s life and the inside workings of the fabulous band itself. I was extremely pleased that the other band member’s characters (Brian May [Guitar], Roger Taylor [Drums], and John Deacon [Bass]) were well illustrated and had depth to them. Though we don’t get an extensive background of each character (which is understandable with keeping a reasonable running time, as it marks at 2 hours and 13 minutes) we still get and feel that spark and chemistry between them. They weren’t just side characters, by the end of the film you felt an even deeper connection with the band, it’s process, and its music.
The camera work and directional take on this movie was undeniably stunning. Beautiful scenes, groovy threads, hilarious and touching dialogue, and but of course the rockin’ soundtrack.
The film also gives a deep view on the harsh and tragic side of victims of AIDS and how they were treated. I’m glad that Bryan Singer (Director) decided to not just glaze over this or barely touch it, they dug in deep and really put the awareness of AIDS out there and it was well done.
Each and every actor in this movie gave a truly outstanding performance and did justice in painting the life and story that will live on and be told for the rest of rock time. This movie deserves its score of a 9.5 for its beautifully told story and celebration of the remarkable and music changing band.
I am itching to go see this movie again and will most definitely be purchasing it when it is released. If you’re a Queen fan you won’t be disappointed, and regardless if you just know a few of their hits or hardly anything about them at all, I guarantee you’ll leave that theater with goosebumps and a sense of individualism.
I agree with the review here. I cannot understand why there are so many bad reviews about this film. I was enthralled for the whole film and left the cinema just as you described. Total magic.