Bohemian Rhapsody is a biographical film about British rock band, Queen and is Directed by Bryan Singer, written by Anthony McCarten, produced by Graham King and former Queen manager, Jim Beach. Bohemian Rhapsody follows singer Freddie Mercury’s life leading to Queen’s Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium in 1985. Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor served as creative and musical consultants on the film. I was pumped to see Bohemian Rhapsody because I really love Queen. I was not disappointed.
**** SOME SPOILERS BELOW ****
In 1970, Farrokh Bulsara / Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek), an Indian-British Parsi college student and baggage handler at Heathrow Airport, watches a local band, called Smile, perform at a nightclub after following them for some time. After the show, he meets Smile’s guitarist, Brian May (Gwilym Lee) and drummer, Roger Taylor (Ben Hardy) and offers to replace their singer, Tim Staffell (Jack Roth), who has quit the band to join Humpy Bong. With the addition of the bassist, John Deacon (Joseph Mazzello), the band, now known as Queen, plays gigs across Britain until they sell their van in order to raise enough money to produce their debut album. Their musical style lands them a contract with EMI Records. At the same time, Farrokh legally changes his name to Freddie Mercury and becomes engaged to Biba a store clerk named Mary Austin (Lucy Boynton). The album hits the charts in America, and during the band’s U.S. tour, Freddie begins to question his sexuality.
In 1975, Queen record their fourth album, A Night at the Opera, but leaves EMI when executive Ray Foster (Mike Myers) refuses to have the six-minute song “Bohemian Rhapsody” released as the album’s first single. Freddie has Capital Radio DJ Kenny Everett (Dickie Beau) debut the song on the airwaves. Despite mixed reviews, “Bohemian Rhapsody” becomes a big hit. Shortly after the band’s world tour, Freddie begins an affair with Paul Prenter (Allen Leech), his personal manager. Mary breaks up with Freddie when he comes out to her as bisexual, although she assures him that he is gay. The band’s success continues through to the early 1980s, but tensions arise over the direction of their music and a change in Freddie’s attitude. In 1981, after a lavish party at his home, Freddie falls in love with Jim Hutton (Aaron McCusker), one of the waiters at the party. They shortly part ways, with Jim telling Freddie to look for him when he learns to like himself.
I really liked Bohemian Rhapsody. I thought it was well put together and showed Queen from their beginnings to their end with Freddie Mercury. While their were some inaccuracies, the film was close enough. 2 performances really stood out for me, Rami Malek as Freddie and Joseph Mazzello as John Deacon. Actually, the entire film was brilliantly acted. I was entertained from the start to the finish while my heart went out to Queen for their loss. I highly recommend Bohemian Rhapsody — it’s well worth your time and money plus the music was fantastic. Check it Out!
[Bohemian Rhapsody is Oscar nominated for BEST: Picture, Actor, Film Editing, Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing]
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