Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.
As a kid to a teenagers, i enjoyed listening some old school rocks from late 60's through early 90's, the most notable that i remembered is ACDC, its like my childhood favorite band that i though they're from USA, but in reality, they're from Australia. But there's another group that i also remembered is Queen.
Queen is one of the most famous British band we've ever heard from the 70's to the 80's for their ground breaking song that we heard a lot in the radio, especially for the lovable signer named Freddie Mercury for his wonderful vocal voice and even wrote his famous songs like "We are the champions", "Don't stop me now", "Somebody to love" and the most recognizable one "Bohemian Rhapsody". He's been his group since 1970 and he sometimes doing his own solo career with his own songs right before his tragic death from AIDS in 1991, which he was tested positive or negative to reveal he was diagnosed with AIDS, but he kept in secret, but his long reveal til he died too late. It is no wonder how anyone from the past will always remember about Freddie and even creating a charity to fighting against AIDS/HIV.
And so, it is no wonder il talking about a movie based on the true story of the origin of the band Queen and Freddie Mercury's life.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a 2018 Biographical film directed by Bryan Singer (but replaced by Dexter Fletcher), produced by Graham King and Jim Beach and written by Anthony McCarten and Peter Morgan (for story).
At first, when i noticed that they're gonna make a movie based on real life about Queen caught a lot of surprise for me and Queen fans as well that we like to see how it goes. But during the development, it had a difficult time where Bryan Singer wasn't so nice at fellow members and casts with arguments and absence, as a result, he got fired for the problem and got replaced by Dexter Fletcher in order to finish the project before the deadline. Which it might be concerned how the movie goes after Singer's controversy.
So, with all that said, will this movie live up of real life, or its just fantasy?
Well, lets find out (Just to give a warning, they're might be a spoiler, so Spoiler Alert)
The Story
For the story if you like to how it looks like in the origin and life Freddie, i find it to be not bad, but it has a probably for the history.
It begins where Freddie was born as Farrokh Bulsara (since he's a Indian-British), he was working in the airport baggage from the college, when he went to a nightclub with a short-lived group called "Smile". After a former member Tim Staffell left the group for decline, Farrokh meets fellow members Brian May and Roger Taylor that he wants to join group with an extra member name John Deacon to forming their group called "Queen" and he legally changed his name to "Freddie Mercury" that we all know and love. Freddie meets a girl name Mary Austin that they're dating together, and Queen's first album was the first success. As time goes, Freddie wrote a song in six minutes known as "Bohemian Rhapsody", which despite it had a divided reception from the lyric, but it was a smash hit. Unfortunately, the relationship of Freddie and Mary won't last very long with a break up, due to the fact that he's gay when he had affair with his man name Paul Prenter. So Freddie while in solo career, he's gonna make his decision whether he's going back to his group or probably fallen from the grace of his business.
I find the story itself it quiet interesting to show us the origin of our favorite British band and the life of our favorite late singer for newcomers of old school rocks. The downside i kinda have is that the movie mainly not focus about the group, it mainly focuses about Freddie's life of his writing songs and a love triangle between Mary Austin and his manager Paul Prenter, which i find the subplot of love triangle is easily reasonable for why Freddie is gay.
However, since they're trying to follow the history, but it ended up with a tripping down by shoe laces from an inaccuracies. For example, the formation of the group was not simple, but as presented, which is pretty vague, but in reality, he created regal and gay connotations in order to make a strong name for British audiences. Then there's after Freddie doing his own solo in the 80's, he wanted to have a reunion with his bandmates and his friends Mary Austin and Jim Hutton in Live Aid, when in reality, the reunion has nothing to do in Live Aid, they joined in for the audiences to fighting against AIDS in Wembley Stadium. And last but definitely not the least, was Freddie's diagnose of AIDS. In the movie, he learns that he was diagnosed with AIDS in 1985 (before Live Aid), but it really never happen until 1986 when he was reported for a blood test until Jim reported about it one year later, but Freddie denied by saying it was tested negatively and kept secret from rumors.
Despite the problem of inaccurate moments, but the story is not bad that for introducing us for the formation of Queen and Freddie Mercury.
It begins where Freddie was born as Farrokh Bulsara (since he's a Indian-British), he was working in the airport baggage from the college, when he went to a nightclub with a short-lived group called "Smile". After a former member Tim Staffell left the group for decline, Farrokh meets fellow members Brian May and Roger Taylor that he wants to join group with an extra member name John Deacon to forming their group called "Queen" and he legally changed his name to "Freddie Mercury" that we all know and love. Freddie meets a girl name Mary Austin that they're dating together, and Queen's first album was the first success. As time goes, Freddie wrote a song in six minutes known as "Bohemian Rhapsody", which despite it had a divided reception from the lyric, but it was a smash hit. Unfortunately, the relationship of Freddie and Mary won't last very long with a break up, due to the fact that he's gay when he had affair with his man name Paul Prenter. So Freddie while in solo career, he's gonna make his decision whether he's going back to his group or probably fallen from the grace of his business.
I find the story itself it quiet interesting to show us the origin of our favorite British band and the life of our favorite late singer for newcomers of old school rocks. The downside i kinda have is that the movie mainly not focus about the group, it mainly focuses about Freddie's life of his writing songs and a love triangle between Mary Austin and his manager Paul Prenter, which i find the subplot of love triangle is easily reasonable for why Freddie is gay.
However, since they're trying to follow the history, but it ended up with a tripping down by shoe laces from an inaccuracies. For example, the formation of the group was not simple, but as presented, which is pretty vague, but in reality, he created regal and gay connotations in order to make a strong name for British audiences. Then there's after Freddie doing his own solo in the 80's, he wanted to have a reunion with his bandmates and his friends Mary Austin and Jim Hutton in Live Aid, when in reality, the reunion has nothing to do in Live Aid, they joined in for the audiences to fighting against AIDS in Wembley Stadium. And last but definitely not the least, was Freddie's diagnose of AIDS. In the movie, he learns that he was diagnosed with AIDS in 1985 (before Live Aid), but it really never happen until 1986 when he was reported for a blood test until Jim reported about it one year later, but Freddie denied by saying it was tested negatively and kept secret from rumors.
Despite the problem of inaccurate moments, but the story is not bad that for introducing us for the formation of Queen and Freddie Mercury.
The Production
Though we expected to see some beautiful work of the movie, and they did a pretty good job.
For starter, the filming location is actually accurate to see where we're follow, especially where Queen started in the old house then bought the mansion, thanks to their hits, which is a nice evolving of their popularity. Plus, i like their recording studio in their old house, during the recording of "Bohemian Rhapsody", especially it had some funny moments like the tone from a signing to be high pitch.
But what it makes it beautiful work is the cinematography, it looks so good for a shots in many places from the conversation of the studio or in the party to the concert. The concert scenes are amazing and colorful in the same time, and the filming of Live Aid is so good and it feels like a highlight of this movie, just like in real life "Live Aid" that the Queen's concert is the best part in 1985.
And of course, lets not forget about the songs, its no surprise that it was like a remake songs in order to be like the original ones, and i think they did a good job, since Brian May and Roger Taylor are working as creative and musical consultants. But the issue is that Rami Malek (who played Freddie Mercury) is an actor, not a singer, the only to solving it is the inserted vocal stems from Queen and brought a Canadian version of Freddie name Marc Martel. Though i never heard of Marc Martel, but he's easily surprised us for his beautiful voice of singing and i think he did a good job for his covers.
But like i said before, the movie had a difficulty development from Bryan Singer that he was absent many times from after Thanksgiving or "personal health matter", and it got a lot worse that he was clashing at Malek for his horrible attitude while filming and it is no wonder he got fired and replaced by Dexter Fletcher in order to finish the project positively. I guess it explained the reason why Bryan Singer was hated for not just his mistreatment in filming, but also the sexual abuse as well.
Despite the controversy, they did a good job for the presentation of filming and musicals as well. Especially the Live Aid scene really touches me that i was close about to cry emotionally.
For starter, the filming location is actually accurate to see where we're follow, especially where Queen started in the old house then bought the mansion, thanks to their hits, which is a nice evolving of their popularity. Plus, i like their recording studio in their old house, during the recording of "Bohemian Rhapsody", especially it had some funny moments like the tone from a signing to be high pitch.
But what it makes it beautiful work is the cinematography, it looks so good for a shots in many places from the conversation of the studio or in the party to the concert. The concert scenes are amazing and colorful in the same time, and the filming of Live Aid is so good and it feels like a highlight of this movie, just like in real life "Live Aid" that the Queen's concert is the best part in 1985.
And of course, lets not forget about the songs, its no surprise that it was like a remake songs in order to be like the original ones, and i think they did a good job, since Brian May and Roger Taylor are working as creative and musical consultants. But the issue is that Rami Malek (who played Freddie Mercury) is an actor, not a singer, the only to solving it is the inserted vocal stems from Queen and brought a Canadian version of Freddie name Marc Martel. Though i never heard of Marc Martel, but he's easily surprised us for his beautiful voice of singing and i think he did a good job for his covers.
But like i said before, the movie had a difficulty development from Bryan Singer that he was absent many times from after Thanksgiving or "personal health matter", and it got a lot worse that he was clashing at Malek for his horrible attitude while filming and it is no wonder he got fired and replaced by Dexter Fletcher in order to finish the project positively. I guess it explained the reason why Bryan Singer was hated for not just his mistreatment in filming, but also the sexual abuse as well.
Despite the controversy, they did a good job for the presentation of filming and musicals as well. Especially the Live Aid scene really touches me that i was close about to cry emotionally.
The Characters
Im sure some of you fans of Queen are familiar of the members themselves, but it also add more characters for the true story. But i find the casts are quiet interesting.
First up as we all know is Freddie Mercury (played by Rami Malek), i find his role and his look is a nice casting for him, he's depicted as flamboyant lead member in the stage for how cool and handsome he is for his style, when in reality, he's a very shy and retiring that he didn't like to know at anyone, especially for the interview that he was considered a "different person", which we all know that his secret that he's gay. Despite his shy personality that we might understand, but we can all agree Rami did a great job of his leading role.
Then we have Freddie's former girlfriend and a true friend name Mary Austin (played by Lucy Boynton), as we all know, she's a love interest of Freddie in the story that they're developing together for their relationship. And like we all know, the relationship between her and Mercury wasn't that easy, due to his sexuality that resulting a break up. Despite the drama, she also have a sympathetic figure that she wants to see him again when she's pregnant, which it sadly understandable for Freddie, that he wants her as a friend. But to be fair, i can say Lucy did a nice work of her role.
As for the members, though i may not familiar with some of them, they're pretty cool look and a nice cast for Ben Hardy as Roger Taylor and Joseph Mazzello as John Deacon. But one i think who's also likable is Brian May (played by Gwilym Lee), not only he has a unique look, but also pretty good personality that he's calm, somewhat charming and well-respective guitarist of the band, which i think Gwilym is also did a good job of his role.
As for the rest, they're used for the story for Freddie's relationship like Paul Prenter (played by Allen Leech), who's not only a manger, but also Freddie's gay friend for affair, Ray Foster (played by a fallen comedic actor Mike Myers) who's an EMI executive, but loosely based on the real life EMI chief name Roy Featherstone and Jim Hutton (played by Aaron McCusker), who's Freddie's next love interest, but the downside is that he was hairdresser who met him in the nightclub in reality.
Despite some characters are also have inaccuracies, but the characters are quiet good for not just the look or the depiction, but its the casting whether they fitting nicely. Especially with Rami, he kicks ass of his main role.
First up as we all know is Freddie Mercury (played by Rami Malek), i find his role and his look is a nice casting for him, he's depicted as flamboyant lead member in the stage for how cool and handsome he is for his style, when in reality, he's a very shy and retiring that he didn't like to know at anyone, especially for the interview that he was considered a "different person", which we all know that his secret that he's gay. Despite his shy personality that we might understand, but we can all agree Rami did a great job of his leading role.
Then we have Freddie's former girlfriend and a true friend name Mary Austin (played by Lucy Boynton), as we all know, she's a love interest of Freddie in the story that they're developing together for their relationship. And like we all know, the relationship between her and Mercury wasn't that easy, due to his sexuality that resulting a break up. Despite the drama, she also have a sympathetic figure that she wants to see him again when she's pregnant, which it sadly understandable for Freddie, that he wants her as a friend. But to be fair, i can say Lucy did a nice work of her role.
As for the members, though i may not familiar with some of them, they're pretty cool look and a nice cast for Ben Hardy as Roger Taylor and Joseph Mazzello as John Deacon. But one i think who's also likable is Brian May (played by Gwilym Lee), not only he has a unique look, but also pretty good personality that he's calm, somewhat charming and well-respective guitarist of the band, which i think Gwilym is also did a good job of his role.
As for the rest, they're used for the story for Freddie's relationship like Paul Prenter (played by Allen Leech), who's not only a manger, but also Freddie's gay friend for affair, Ray Foster (played by a fallen comedic actor Mike Myers) who's an EMI executive, but loosely based on the real life EMI chief name Roy Featherstone and Jim Hutton (played by Aaron McCusker), who's Freddie's next love interest, but the downside is that he was hairdresser who met him in the nightclub in reality.
Despite some characters are also have inaccuracies, but the characters are quiet good for not just the look or the depiction, but its the casting whether they fitting nicely. Especially with Rami, he kicks ass of his main role.
And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, since "Rush" is my favorite film based on true story, but Bohemian Rhapsody is a pretty good film with an ok story, a wonderful presentation and the characters are pretty nice to see on the big screen. Even though the movie was suffered of incorrect history for Queen fans, especially the AIDS scene, which is an easily point out of criticism.
Despite the botched writing and a nightmare development with Bryan Singer, it had a mixed reaction when it came out. For me, i don't think its not that bad, inaccurate aside, but its really nice to see the movie about Queen in the big screen, especially my father and i watched the movie together and we had a great time. This is the film that i recommend to watch it if you're a fan of Queen or even your curiosity. If not, well, just stick to the documentary about the group and Freddie himself.
So for that, i give this movie a 7/10. Go watch it if you want.
So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
Despite the botched writing and a nightmare development with Bryan Singer, it had a mixed reaction when it came out. For me, i don't think its not that bad, inaccurate aside, but its really nice to see the movie about Queen in the big screen, especially my father and i watched the movie together and we had a great time. This is the film that i recommend to watch it if you're a fan of Queen or even your curiosity. If not, well, just stick to the documentary about the group and Freddie himself.
So for that, i give this movie a 7/10. Go watch it if you want.
So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
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