Are you ready, Freddie?
When asked about their success, most iconic artists act graciously flummoxed when they become household names around the world. Not Farrokh Bulsara. No, he always knew what awaited him. Bohemian Rhapsody tells the tale of love, family, self-discovery, sex, drugs, and rock that encompassed Farrokh’s transformation and his journey as Queen’s legendary lead singer: Freddie Mercury.
Rami Malek does an impeccable job portraying Freddie Mercury alongside his co-stars: Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, and Gwilym Lee who channel the other Queen members: Roger Taylor, John Deacon, and Brian May respectively.
Like many youth coming of age, a rebellious teenage Mercury sought to forge his own path outside of his heritage; his Parsis father wanted a different future for his son than the artistic one Mercury desired. Faced with challenges from within and without, Mercury had to prove himself at every step.
The movie streamlines the process a bit. A few lines of sass, insults, and gorgeous harmony, then BAM: Taylor and May accept Mercury as their new lead singer. Soon after, an unorthodox recording session, a phone call, a bit of bullying and a few “darlings” thrown in for good measure delivers the blossoming group a record deal.
Mercury’s memorable relationship with sex and drugs is a major focus for the film as it drives a wedge between the lead singer and his new family. That includes the love of his life, Mary Austin (Lucy Boynton), whose independent value is diminished to a prop that portrays Mercury’s sexual and mental status. Mercury consistently referred to Mary as the only person he ever really trusted, however, the movie’s interpretation of their dynamics is lacking and inadequate.
More satisfying is the relationship between Mercury and the rest of the Queen members. The snarky banter, unbeatable music prowess, and intense honesty with one another makes it easy to be invested in them – not just as characters, but as real people. The band’s reaction to Mercury’s request to regroup after a years-long break up is rewarding as it reveals their hesitancy about his abilities as well as their own.
The film is a bit “PG-13”-clean and lacks rock ‘n roll grit. But it provides audiences a thrilling, near-live concert experience by utilizing beautiful cinematography, aesthetically-pleasing editing, and incredibly accurate costume and set designs that act as a portal back in time to when the world was Queen’s domain. Yes, “Freddie Mercury” will be a name celebrated for generations; but it is each individual member’s contributions and the men’s relatable, fluctuating chemistry that made Queen the band that will forever belong to the people.
An 8/10 rating for the movie that makes viewers stomp and clap to the phenomenon that was Queen. — Review by Olivia M.
Check out Queen’s live performance from the 1985 LIVE AID concert fundraiser.
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