'Bohemian Rhapsody' Review

Very few films have endured such a hellish pre-production as Bohemian Rhapsody. The musical biopic based on the formative, fruitful and fragile years of rock legends, Queen, had been hanging in limbo for a number of years. Ironically, the setbacks the film suffered led to it's eventual completion. Sacha Baron Cohen originally helmed the project as flamboyant frontman Freddie Mercury, but left eventually due to creative differences, throwing the production up in the air once again. Which ended up being a blessing in disguise. His actions inadvertently allowed time for future frontman, Rami Malek, to make a name for himself in the hit TV series, Mr Robot. Malek was eventually cast as the lead and the project was fast tracked, with the future looking bright for the biopic.

However, mere weeks from the end of shooting, Director Bryan Singer was fired. Another spout of irony hitting the plagued production. There is an old saying that life imitates art, but in this case, the role is reversed. The initial frontman leaves, the "manager" of the production is fired. Sound familiar?

The comparisons could be pushed further—some of Queen's music was met with mixed reviews, much like it's biopic has been.

While the film does not adhere to this philosophy of following in suit with Queen's ambition to break the mould and redefine genres, it does, however, capture Freddie’s vision to create a cohesive experience of theatrics and music that works in unison, albeit with a simplistic approach.

Many have berated Bohemian Rhapsody for it's simple approach and refusal to tackle Freddie’s troublesome times. Contrary to what you may have read, the film embraces the darker days but refuses to be defined by them. This is not a character study that delves deep into the psyche of it's lead, this is a celebration of the man, and the band. When we hear Queen being played on a drunken night out, do we stop and discuss the band's misgivings, or do we scream "Galileo" at the top of our lungs? And that is what this film honours, the joy their music brings us.

Bohemian Rhapsody completely encapsulates that joy and erupts it on to the screen with a visceral swagger. It's a foot stomping, thunder clapping, momentous monument to the greatest showman who ever lived—a euphoric ride through the band's early days to their iconic live aid performance. With its score acting as the radio roaring out Queens greatest hits to accompany us on our journey. As each song belts gloriously out of the cinema speakers your hand begins to tap your knee, shoulders start to roll, head bobbing along to the beat, before you know it the lyrics are coming out of your own mouth, not Freddies. There is no cure for the infectious elation this film oozes.

Rightfully in the driving seat of this musical joy ride sits Rami Malek. Aside from looking like the spitting image of Freddie, Malek embodies the spirit of the superstar. He mimicks every mannerism, captivating every ounce of charisma and bestowing it upon us, his royal subjects. Accompanied by his royal dignitaries, the uncanny looking and sounding Brian May doppelgänger, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy as the witty one liner enthusiast Roger Taylor, and Joseph Mazzello as the humbled and subtly hilarious John Deacon. Together, they form the musical monarchy that is Queen.

Having the surviving members of the band as consultants is an invaluable asset, one which the actors clearly took advantage of. Each onscreen band member played their real life counterpart to near perfection. The chemistry between them was raw and authentic. There was a real camaraderie, to the point that it felt I was witnessing real friends converse with one another, which led to some amusing back and forth banter. It was evident that a bond had formed between the four that surpassed merely portraying friendship, and instead blossomed into a real one. When the intimate moments came, their rapport added an extra weight.

But as he always does, and always will, Freddie stole the show. Malek’s imitation of Freddie was so accurate it was verging on a reincarnation of the man himself. It's a cliché to say he was born to play this role, but that's exactly how it felt. Perhaps it was fate that intervened and not coincidence, stalling production just long enough for the Egyptian- Americans star to rise high enough for him to land this role. Who knows, all I know is Malek is a worthy successor to Freddie's crown. But no Monarch is without their throne, and sitting high at the pinnacle of Hollywood is the most prestigious of all, the Oscar. A strong case could be made for Rami Malek's claim to that throne, and what a beautiful moment that would be, reversing the metaphor once again—life imitating art.

With the stage set and the speakers primed, Bohemian Rhapsody soars to its almighty crescendo in a blaze of redemption. It closes the show with Queen's legendary Live Aid performance—a moment that will live forever, as long as the spirit of rock and roll never dies. Watching Malek strut his stuff on stage and replicating every move of Freddie’s legendary performance felt bittersweet. My mind wandered to thoughts of what could have been, had his life not been cut short by that wretched disease, AIDS. Just as sadness began to grasp me, I remembered a quote from our beloved Freddie:

"What will I be doing in twenty years' time? I'll be dead, darling! Are you crazy!"

As that old sassy Queen always has done, he put a smile on my face once again.