Twentieth Century Fox’s Bohemian Rhapsody was both entertaining and confusing at the same time. It was entertaining when displaying the chemistry of the members of Queen and their smash hits, but confusing over what the main story was about. All hail the talented Rami Malek for his performance as lead vocalist Freddie Mercury. What director Bryan Singer could have done better was give equal focus on the rest of the band, talk more about Mercury’s drug abuse, and, though I have no idea what it could be, a different title of the biography. However, the performances of the cast, costumes, and music made Bohemian Rhapsody sensational.
Bohemian Rhapsody chronicles Queen’s beginnings as Mercury (played by Malek) meets guitarist Brian May (played by Gwilym Lee), drummer Roger Taylor (played by Ben Hardy), and bass guitarist John Deacon (played by Joseph Mazzello). Mercury defies distrustful businessmen and personal life struggles to lead this band to rock stardom in England and the rest of the globe from the 1970s to the mid-1980s.
Malek, Lee, Hardy, and Mazzello delivered their utmost when singing, sharing a laugh, and highlighting the drama that comes with rock band success. Costume designer Julian Day attempted and succeeded his hardest at keeping the group glamorous for audiences. And it was thrilling to hear so many of Queen’s classics for the duration of the film. I’m not just talking about the ones I know like “We Are The Champions” or “We Will Rock You”. I mean “Somebody to Love” or “Don’t Stop Me Know”.
Now, here’s where the film had its share of downsides. First off, it appeared to me that no matter how hard the rest of the cast worked, it was all about Malek’s role as Mercury. Malek’s movement across the stage, wayward showmanship, elegant dressing habits, and different vocal ranges made him look as flamboyant as the real-life legend himself. Either Singer should have made the film about Mercury without the band, or he should have given as much spotlight to the lives of May, Taylor, and Deacon.
Next, it didn’t seem important enough for discussions about Mercury’s diagnosis with HIV/AIDS until the climax. As much as it pushed him to work with the band for an unforgettable concert at the Live Aid benefit, this disease has such a negative impact that Singer should have talked more about how it took its toll on Mercury, and what audiences should do to stay protected.
Finally, while it may come from one of their most popular songs, the title seems inconsistent with the whole story. Bohemian Rhapsody covers more of the band’s history and conflicts than it does with the song from “A Night at the Opera” (1975). But when I think about it, Malek’s performance as Mercury showed that he lived a bohemian lifestyle with his wild ferocious antics in and out of the show business.
Overall, Bohemian Rhapsody is confusing and entertaining at the same time. While it needs a better direction towards all members of Queen, more attention on the impact of HIV/AIDS in the past and present, and a different title, the cast, costumes, and music were the most notable. The film also talks about living up to dreams and building non-biological family. For those who are lifelong fans or want to know about how one of the world's greatest rock bands were conceived, watch Fox’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Well balanced review
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