Bohemian Rhapsody (Review)
Bohemian Rhapsody Capture the Magic of Queen, but Not the Heart.
Bohemian Rhapsody tells the tale of storied rock band Queen and it’s legendary lead singer, Freddy Mercury. The film follows the group from their inception in the 1970’s to what might be their greatest moment as a group when they performed during Live Aid in 1985. There are some tremendous ups and downs that the band faces along the way, and director Bryan Singer brings his years of storytelling experience to the film in full force. The thing is that there’s so much to cover it never really feels like there’s enough time to get into the real emotional core of the group and the fabled Mercury. Instead, Bohemian Rhapsody plays like a great hits album, but that’s just fine with me in the end, because it gives you plenty to sing along to.
At the center of this film is Rami Malek who plays an absolutely astounding Freddy Mercury. Fresh off Papillion, which premiered in theaters earlier this year, Malek brings his quirky style to one of the most incredible performers of all time. While on stage Mercury might have seemed like he had it all, Malek gives the role a touch of uncertainty. Almost as though Mercury were a child who was constantly looking for approval after everything he said and did. Because of this, it’s hard not to feel for the man. Despite his hard-fought fame and fortune, Mercury spends most of Bohemian Rhapsody feeling hollow and alone. Scared to death that he will never have the love and admiration he so desperately craves on an individual level. It’s because of this that he ends up pushing away those who are closest to him, including the love of his life, Mary Austin (Lucy Boynton). However, the beauty of this film is that it treats the band very much like a family, which means that no matter how much you screw up when you need them most they’ll be there for you.
It goes without saying that the soundtrack for Bohemian Rhapsody is outstanding. Singer not only employs Queen’s greatest hits but takes time to touch on the moments leading up to many of their creations. Of course, the big moment in the film is the creation of the song you can’t help but sing along with, the titular Bohemian Rhapsody. However, there are so many songs featured in this film that everyone will find something to hum along with (I would say “sing” but that would be rude to your fellow moviegoers). It hard not to find joy in the music of Queen, and that’s where Singer finds a lot of inspiration. Bohemian Rhapsody moves along at the brisk pace of a Queen classic. As quickly as it goes through, it never loses its rhythm or tempo. Instead, it merrily moves from moment to moment, keeping a keen sense of humor and lively energy that never seems to fade, that is until the moments where Malek earns his paycheck with his powerful performance.
While Malek might be good, he’s at his best with his”fellow band mates,” played by Joseph Mazzello, Gwilym Lee, and Ben Hardy. The quartet is absolutely electric focusing on the tight-knit chemistry that gave them the gift to create such infectious music. Despite the highs and the lows that the group might have over the course of the film, they maintain a sincere sense of humor that only the closest of friends could possess, and it shows through beautifully in this film. It’s because of this strong supporting cast that Malek is able to shine so brightly as Mercury. After all, it would be easy to be a “Queen” among peasants, but he’s in the company of royalty the entire time he’s on screen.
While there is a lot to love about Bohemian Rhapsody, it feels like it doesn’t quite pack the punch it deserved. When the trailer was first released, there was a minor outcry that it didn’t address Mercury’s sexuality, but trust me when I say that the film more than acknowledges it. However, it’s not quite as simple as he was or he wasn’t. While he was most definitely a gay man, he was more a man looking for love in all the wrong places. Malek presents Mercury as a man who never has enough and because of that, he’s quite the opposite of his music. While he might have been focused on perfection in the studio, he’s much more quantity over quality when it comes to finding people to love him. There lies the tragedy that eventually led to his death (spoiler alert). Mercury died from an AIDs related infection, and while we don’t see him succumb on screen, Singer pays tribute to his death and legacy at the end. The thing is I’m not sure that was a good idea.
In the end, I’m not upset with much when it comes to Bohemian Rhapsody. It feels more like a film that was meant to entertain audiences, which isn’t an inherently bad thing. That just means that the film is not going to be the Oscar powerhouse that I predicted it might be. I hope that the academy gives Malek credit for such a transformative performance (and writer Anthony McCarten definitely deserves a bit of credit for such sharp writing). However, that doesn’t answer the question of whether you should see it or not. Of course, you should go and see it! Go see it in IMAX as soon as possible so you can experience Queen in all their bone-shaking glory. This is a movie that tells the tale of one of the greatest bands of all time. While it might not be one of the greatest movies of all time, it’s still a damn good one.
