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Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) - Directed by Bryan Singer
"Now we're four misfits who don't belong together, we're playing for the other misfits."
I'm a music man. Always have been, always will be. I've heard over 4,000 music albums, most of which are some brand of pop or rock. So for me, a music biopic is something that shouyld have more focus because they make such amazing stories. I would go crazy for a Michael Gira biopic... but you know what? I'm glad Bryan Singer made one for the lead singer of rock band Queen, Freddie Mercury: Bohemian Rhapsody.
Bryan Singer's wonderful biopic recounts the career of Freddie Mercury, known for his large mouth and powerful voice. As he joins a local rock band, turning them into Queen, his ambition drives them to mak a record, becoming a success. But Freddie must have thought trying to get experimental songs like "Bohemia Rhapsody" was stressful enough. As he struggles with his newfound sexuality, he struggles with drugs, personal relations, and eventually the desease that would take his life.
I like learning, to an extent. And I find that I learn more through documentaries and historical films than I do reading. Although Bohemian Rhapsody took a couple of creative liberties (or retcons, concerning Freddie's ficticious three year leave from the band which was actually the recording of Hot Space and The Works), the movie itself was very stylish and touching. Seeing Freddie battle with his many demons made a man feel human. And yeah, he was a gay man in the 80's. But that wasn't all. Any straight man can get addicted to drugs, or surround himself with pseudo-friends who like him because he's paying them, or even get into a fight with his bandmates. By seeing Freddie suffer, you suffered. He made you live.
This sharing in suffering by have been because of the incredible performance of Freddie by Mr. Robot actor Rami Malek. This man is an acting genius. When he was on screen, you didn't see a sillhouetto of a man, you saw the real man. I didn't see Rami Malek. I saw Freddie Mercury. This was one of the most realistic performances I've ever seen, and he drove the movie like he was in love with his car.
Though I have to admit, while I'm not a homophobe I felt like the movie focuses a little too much on Freddie's sexual struggles when there were a lot of things he was struggling with, almost as if Singer blamed his gay-hood. Perhaps some of his problems did arise from his struggling with loving a woman with all his heart, but loving men with his junk, but there was so much more to him. At least there was enough emphasis on his AIDS.
And I must say, the movie had a very happy ending. Instead of going on until he died, it ended with their part of the Live Aid concert, which boasted lip-synching as accurate as an eagle after bread crumbs. The whole cast nailed it on that scene, even if Rami Malek was a show-stealer.
Bohemian Rhapsody is something I'd revisit many times, and it's not just for the Queen songs. It's for everything. While there are flaws, like imbalanced focus on Freddie's problems and lacking development for the rest of the cast (which I can forgive to an extent because it's a Freddie Mercury biopic), it's one of the most enjoyable and heartwarming films of the year. Even if you're not a Queen fan, check it out. I mean, when has Bryan Singer done a bad movie? And this is supposed to be one of his worst.
"Now we're four misfits who don't belong together, we're playing for the other misfits."
I'm a music man. Always have been, always will be. I've heard over 4,000 music albums, most of which are some brand of pop or rock. So for me, a music biopic is something that shouyld have more focus because they make such amazing stories. I would go crazy for a Michael Gira biopic... but you know what? I'm glad Bryan Singer made one for the lead singer of rock band Queen, Freddie Mercury: Bohemian Rhapsody.
Bryan Singer's wonderful biopic recounts the career of Freddie Mercury, known for his large mouth and powerful voice. As he joins a local rock band, turning them into Queen, his ambition drives them to mak a record, becoming a success. But Freddie must have thought trying to get experimental songs like "Bohemia Rhapsody" was stressful enough. As he struggles with his newfound sexuality, he struggles with drugs, personal relations, and eventually the desease that would take his life.
I like learning, to an extent. And I find that I learn more through documentaries and historical films than I do reading. Although Bohemian Rhapsody took a couple of creative liberties (or retcons, concerning Freddie's ficticious three year leave from the band which was actually the recording of Hot Space and The Works), the movie itself was very stylish and touching. Seeing Freddie battle with his many demons made a man feel human. And yeah, he was a gay man in the 80's. But that wasn't all. Any straight man can get addicted to drugs, or surround himself with pseudo-friends who like him because he's paying them, or even get into a fight with his bandmates. By seeing Freddie suffer, you suffered. He made you live.
This sharing in suffering by have been because of the incredible performance of Freddie by Mr. Robot actor Rami Malek. This man is an acting genius. When he was on screen, you didn't see a sillhouetto of a man, you saw the real man. I didn't see Rami Malek. I saw Freddie Mercury. This was one of the most realistic performances I've ever seen, and he drove the movie like he was in love with his car.
Though I have to admit, while I'm not a homophobe I felt like the movie focuses a little too much on Freddie's sexual struggles when there were a lot of things he was struggling with, almost as if Singer blamed his gay-hood. Perhaps some of his problems did arise from his struggling with loving a woman with all his heart, but loving men with his junk, but there was so much more to him. At least there was enough emphasis on his AIDS.
And I must say, the movie had a very happy ending. Instead of going on until he died, it ended with their part of the Live Aid concert, which boasted lip-synching as accurate as an eagle after bread crumbs. The whole cast nailed it on that scene, even if Rami Malek was a show-stealer.
Bohemian Rhapsody is something I'd revisit many times, and it's not just for the Queen songs. It's for everything. While there are flaws, like imbalanced focus on Freddie's problems and lacking development for the rest of the cast (which I can forgive to an extent because it's a Freddie Mercury biopic), it's one of the most enjoyable and heartwarming films of the year. Even if you're not a Queen fan, check it out. I mean, when has Bryan Singer done a bad movie? And this is supposed to be one of his worst.