Review: Bohemian Rhapsody
Bohemian Rhapsody.
Bohemian Rhapsody doesn’t sound like it’s an easy movie to make, but the result is quite satisfactory. As a biopic of the legendary rock band Queen, it mainly focuses on the lead vocalist Freddie Mercury (played brilliantly by Rami Malek) and the legacy he brings to the music industry. He’s known for being a unique, charismatic, and passionate performer, and that’s something the movie shows very well. It also showcases their highly influential stage performance at the Wembley Stadium for a benefit concert fighting AIDS. Even if you’re not a huge Queen fan, this still might be a pleasant and emotional surprise for you to enjoy.
Rami Malek completely kills it as Freddie Mercury, and his performance is most definitely the highlight of the entire film! He does everything he can to portray this person, and it’s quite outstanding. He adds a lot of depth to his portrayal, which successful humanizes his interpretation of Mercury. You understand his motivation for wanting to pursue music, and his known characteristics such as hard work and dedication are showcased from start to finish. He’s a flawed human being, and he regrets some of the mistakes he has made in his life. It’s interesting to explore more of his backstory, and it makes him a relatable and influential person. Malek is mainly recognized for playing the lead character Elliot Alderson in Mr.Robot, but he will also be remembered for his phenomenal role as the lead singer of Queen.
Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy and Joseph Mazzello, who portray the other members of the band, are also great, and they have great chemistry with Malek. However, you don’t get a lot of screen time with these guys, and it’s a shame because they’re also quite interesting. They show a lot of their conflicts during their rehearsals, so you know right away that it’s not easy to make music and come up with a great song. Their creative process is really intriguing, and you get to see some of the backstory of their hit singles such as “We Will Rock You” and “Another One Bites the Dust”. If you love songs from Queen, you will be having a great time listening to their hits and appreciating their talent.
Like most biopics out there, the filmmakers aren’t able to show all the historical elements of a certain artist, and that’s noticeable in Bohemian Rhapsody at times. Some of the things you want to know more about Freddie Mercury might not be in this movie at all, so it’s up to you whether or not you can accept some of the historical inaccuracies. However, it doesn’t change the fact that they still honour the band’s legacy.
Bohemian Rhapsody does what a biopic should do, which is showcasing the talent and passion of the artist in an inspiring way. Is it a perfect film? Absolutely not. People might not be pleased with how some things are portrayed on the big screen. That aside, this is one of the most powerful and emotional films of 2018. Get ready to sing along to their hits!
Bohemian Rhapsody is now playing in theatres.
