Movie rating: 6/10
AS MUCH as one is tantalized by the glory that is Freddie Mercury, the audience would equally be awestruck by Rami Malek. His acting was nothing short of glorious. His portrayal was uncanny. One could compare the depiction and the depicted scenes side by side and see that Malek truly shed who he is to wear Mercury’s skin.
Aside from Malek’s wonderful performance, the movie delivered another winning shot with the depiction of Queen’s live performances. The stage setting, the wild crowd, and even the general atmosphere of being in the presence of the late rock icon, were all successfully re-lived in the film.
Those parts of the film were intoxicating. However, it was not because of the film as a whole. It was because of the music. The movie fell short of putting into context the legend that is Queen. Freddy Mercury kept saying that their band does not follow a template, but the movie was very templated. From the ordinary ways of telling back stories to the piling up of successes with a series of montage, “Bohemian Rhapsody” has all the tropes of a biopic.
I expected an out of this realm movie experience knowing that it’s a biopic of one of the world’s greatest rockstars. When you listen to Queen’s music, you would know they’re possessed that sometimes you’ll feel like you’re being transported somewhere or becoming someone else.
However, watching the film made me feel like I’m peering into the lives of ordinary people with ordinary issues such as money, relationships, pride, and the likes. The world can do without these issues in movies anymore because it’s mundane. But it’s may be what the director or the producers wanted to show – the human side of the band members, particularly, Freddie Mercury’s.
I was hoping for something more experimental in certain aspects such as Mercury’s sexuality and his battle with Aids. The movie played safe, however, and it was disappointing. They should have reached for the R-rating and went all the way. I mean, haven’t they learned from the success of the Deadpool movie franchise? It’s just that I think there is so much anguish and agony involved when going through sexuality confusion and battling Aids, which the people behind this movie didn’t show much of.
Nevertheless, you can have fun watching it because of its tearjerking and laughable moments. The music will raise your vibration too that if you’re having a bad day at the office it will help you forget all of it.