By: James Southworth
Rating: 4/5 Stars
I'm not sure I know of anyone, whether it be friend or acquaintance, that dislikes Queen. Pretty much all of them, even if they aren't big fans of the band, like at least one song by them. That just proves the universal legacy of Queen. They are band that is loved by critics, super fans, and casual fans alike. Even if you are incredibly unfamiliar with them, there are high chances you have heard the song "Bohemian Rhapsody". And it's even more likely you know of the legendary Freddie Mercury, one of the most beloved vocalists of all time who tragically passed away from aids at far too young of an age. It would only make sense that there would be a biopic to come out about the band sooner or later. I'm honestly surprised it took this long to create a big budget one. I was very excited about this film based on the trailers, as it looked like a film that would depict the interesting life of Freddie while also chronicling Queen's meteoric rise to fame. But, critic responses came out far more mixed than I expected, so I went in to the theater with slightly lower expectations. I'm actually glad that was the case, because I left the theater feeling elated. While it's not perfect, "Bohemian Rhapsody" is still something that any Queen fan is sure to love.
Let's get what works the best out of the way right away: that's the performances. Of course, the crowning achievement goes to Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury himself. When I saw that Malek was going to play Freddie, I was incredibly excited. Malek has proven himself to be a talented actor so many times throughout his filmography, from "Short Term 12" to especially the TV show "Mr. Robot". I never once expected Malek to disappoint me, and he doesn't. In fact, he did even better in this role than I thought. It's uncanny how well he plays this character, portraying certain mannerisms of Freddie beautifully. He even does this thing with his teeth like the way Mercury did. It's such a tiny detail that can almost go unnoticed, but it adds to the realism. Malek excels in every moment of the film; there is not a moment when you are not convinced that he is Freddie. He embodies the role with passion, and gives Freddie a very graceful portrayal. His range is incredible, as he shows the many complexities of Mercury, doing particularly well at showing how Freddy felt so pressured by the media and the press. Even though Rami is the shining star, one shouldn't ignore the other great performances this film has to offer. Lucy Boynton provides an effectively subdued counterpart to Mercury's outgoing charisma as Mary Austin, the love of Mercury's life. You really feel the chemistry between the two of them. There moments between these two performers are some of the best in the film, because you can feel the emotional weight of their relationship. It never comes across as cheesy or forced, and was one of the best executed parts of the film. If you were to look at the rest of the band members, you would swear that they are clones of the band. This is especially the case for Gwilym Lee as Brian May. He looks so much like May, and it's uncanny. I love the persona he brings to May, as he effectively shows how May was often the one trying to quell the tensions in the band. I also really enjoyed Ben Hardy as Roger and Joseph Mazzello as John Deacon, even though they didn't have major roles to play. Mike Myers looks nearly unrecognizable as record label manager Ray Foster, but and he really makes his performance interesting and often very funny. Aaron McCusker's subtlety as Jim Hutton makes his performance understated but powerful in its own way. I actually wish there had been a little bit more of him in the film.
In order for this film to succeed, it did need to make its story interesting. I was interested to see what route the band would take in presenting Queen's story. However, the movie doesn't necessarily talk so much about the band as it does just about Freddie Mercury. I think that was an excellent choice, as Freddy is an incredibly interesting person (which is no surprise). Getting to see how he transitioned from working at an airport to ultimately being this huge superstar was intriguing. Where this film really does excel though, is in the concert moments. The way they film the live shows makes you feel like you are almost there right with them. The camera is up close and intimate with every band member, and the concerts are filmed with intense camera angles. Director Bryan Singer clearly wanted to show how passionate Queen was in a live setting, and he does that through the cinematography. The famed Live Aid concert is created shot for shot, and is easily the best moment this film has in general. This movie could've been done very straight forward, as it is a biopic. But there are some interesting stylistic choices throughout. I liked particularly how they visually depicted Freddie's reactions to the press. The cameras get uncomfortably close to him and the focus becomes blurred, compellingly reflecting how Freddie always felt smothered by the media. Often times when Queen's music is being played, there is something else going on that reflects what Mercury is going through (this is especially the case with "Another One Bites the Dust"). There are a couple of issues I have with the story telling, though. For one, I feel as though the movie passes by a little too quickly in its explanations of how some of Queen's most iconic songs were written. This is especially disappointing when looking at "Bohemian Rhapsody". I think most everyone would've loved to see some of the process at how this epic was composed. We unfortunately only get to see snippets of the process (with one of the said snippets actually being quite funny and a highlight of the film). I also wish we had gotten to see more of Freddie's past life before he transitioned into his "Mercury" phase. I didn't really get a full impression of what his childhood was like, or what exactly his parents mean to him. We only get a couple scenes of Freddie with his mom and dad, and the way they transition their initially strained relationship felt a little too rushed to me. However, though these issues are present, they did not significantly ruin my movie watching experience.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a really great look at the legacy that Freddie Mercury left behind in his gone too soon passing. Bryan Singer clearly had a passion for giving Mercury the tribute he deserved. This movie is very fitting of that. I have heard that there are certain inaccuracies to the movie, such as the fact that Freddie was actually quite reserved in real life whenever he wasn't performing. I guess it depends on how much those inaccuracies affect you, as with most biopics it's inevitable some things will be dramatized or changed around. When I consider what this movie wanted to accomplish, I think it did what it wanted very well. This movie is worth it for Malek's Oscar-worthy performance alone. I've seen several great performances this year, but I think Malek might be the best of 2018 so far. I don't say that lightly. If you are a Queen fan, whether huge or casual, I invite you to go watch this movie. You'll come out with a smile on your face!
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