The true story of Freddie Mercury,
frontman of legendary rock band Queen. BIOPIC/DRAMA
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Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)Directed by Bryan Singer
Written by Anthony McCarten Starring Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazello, Aidan Gillen, Allen Leech, Tom Hollander, Mike Myers, Aaron McCusker |
Bohemian Rhapsody had a rocky start, from original lead Sacha Baron Cohen dropping out, to the band's insistence on the story being about them, to Bryan Singer's firing after a host of scandals. It seemed like even if the movie did come out, it would be a tragic misfire. When critics seemed to condemn the film, this appeared to be the case. Upon seeing it, I became amazed that a film the universe seemed to want to shelve made me cry. Bohemian Rhapsody is, frankly, a masterpiece of biographical storytelling and one of the most entertaining films of the year.
We all know the name Freddie Mercury. He's arguably the greatest frontman of all time. He led Queen with a flair unrivaled by any rock star to this day. In this film, Rami Malek of Mr. Robot fame accomplishes the daunting task of bringing this larger than life figure into film with absolute perfection. His performance is flawless and deserves the highest praise. The way the movie portrays Freddie is equal parts mesmerizing and sympathetic, like we're celebrating the life of someone who changed the world. In many ways, he did. His death at 45 of an AIDS-related illness prompted many to finally shine a light on the horrid disease. I absolutely adored this film and I will continue to push everyone I know to go see it. You get to see the (albeit likely fictional) conception of every major Queen hit from "Killer Queen" to "We Are The Champions" and everything in-between. The entire third act shows Freddie Mercury in a whole new light, as a vulnerable, lonely man who knew that music was the only thing in life that could truly comfort him. The film is sincere at all the right moments and hysterical in the same way. At the very least, it's a wild ride for anyone who's ever banged their head in a car with their friends while blaring Queen on the radio. |