REVIEW: ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ brings Queen to life

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Courtesy 20th Century Fox

Staff writer Mia McAuliffe reviews the film sharing the story of the band Queen.

Mia McAuliffe, Staff Writer

Our generation has missed out on some of the most amazing music legends of all time, but thanks to movies like “Bohemian Rhapsody”, we get a chance to relive their glory.

Being a Queen fan since middle school, I had always been interested in what made Queen and Freddie Mercury as influential as they were. I was extremely impressed with “Bohemian Rhapsody” and the story it told. Director Bryan Singer did a fantastic job incorporating as much information about the band as he could in a two hour and thirteen minute film.

The movie focused mostly on Freddie, played by Rami Malek, and his rise to fame through Queen and the struggles he faced off the stage. In doing this, the audience got a detailed look of the history behind some of Queen’s most famous songs, like “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “We Will Rock You” and “Another One Bites the Dust”.

Malek did a phenomenal job portraying Freddie Mercury. He captured Freddie’s passion for music and his extreme determination by exhibiting his well-known mannerisms and looking strikingly similar to Freddie. Malek also accurately depicted the changes in Freddie when he fell victim to substance abuse and other darker parts of his life. His dedication to this role certainly paid off well for the movie.

Something I really enjoyed about the movie was the tie between the beginning and the end. It starts with the band getting ready for their performance at the Live Aid Concert in 1985, a benefit concert to a raise money for famine relief in Africa. As Freddie steps onto the stage, the film transitions into the unique and dramatic story of Queen’s rise to fame up to the Live Aid Concert.

Let me tell you, the end was truly amazing. Later named the greatest live show of all time, Queen’s performance was absolutely incredible. Playing some of their most famous songs, it was easy for the crowd of 72,000 people to sing along. The whole theater seemed to be shaking when “We Will Rock You” began. I felt an overwhelming sense of unity and happiness watching everyone in the stadium keep the beat. Because of the great production and clips of the audience’s reactions, I felt as though I was part of that unforgettable performance.

Although “Bohemian Rhapsody” was a great movie, there were some scenes that weren’t entirely accurate. Obviously, it is difficult to fit a whole decade of history into a two hour movie, but there were chances where Singer could have been more authentic.

For example, the movie blamed Queen’s break up on Freddie wanting more fame and recognition than the rest of band and taking an offer for a solo record deal. In the film’s version, there was an ugly argument between the members, which ultimately ended in splitting up the band. In reality, all the members were tired of performing. They had been on tour for almost a decade and wanted to start other parts of their life. They continued to play together, just not as much as before.

Going into this movie, I had very high expectations. I am happy to say that it met the majority of them. The plot was interesting and hooked me from the very beginning. The music was obviously fantastic paired with excellent acting from the whole cast. If you love Queen, history or are just looking for a great film for your next movie night, “Bohemian Rhapsody” would be the one to watch.