QUEEN MOVIE: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (2017)

Genre: Drama / Musical
Running Length: 2:25
Cast: Rami Malek, Gemma Arterton, Johnny Flynn, Matt Smith, Dominic Cooper, Tom Wilkinson
Director: Bryan Singer
Screenplay: Anthony McCarten

I remember reading quite recently a movie about the legendary Freddie Mercury and his band Queen was in the making but it caught me by surprise that QUEEN MOVIE: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY is out now and is actually showing in our local cinemas!

First and foremost, this film is not a bio-pic of Freddie Mercury. There are already many documentaries out there. Instead, screenwriter McCarten and director Singer chooses to focus on the dynamics between the genius of Mercury and the rest of the band members. As a result, the final product gives a better coverage of Queen as a band, instead of exploring the wild stories of its frontman.

Bohemian Rhapsody is structured as a three-part story; how the band got together, Queen at Live Aid and when Mercury learned he was dying. Occasional flashbacks are employed to flesh out more of its characters - their motivations and fear. Surprisingly, the movie features very few set pieces but relies more on the acting and dialogue; except Act 2.

Thankfully it wasn't boring thanks to the pacing and camera work. But that said, the big standout to me was the Live Aid concert moment, dubbed as the "20 minutes that changed music". The moments leading to the band playing in front of 72,000 people at Wembley Stadium was filled with so much anxiety I could literally feel the characters cracking under pressure. And when they finally performed, W.O.W, it was such an immersive experience!

So, did Mr Robot's Rami Malek do justice to playing the iconic Freddie Mercury? Well, he doesn’t bear a strong physical resemblance to Mercury but he definitely exudes presence and magnetism. Throughout the course of the film, Malek = Mercury. The supporting cast especially newcomer Flynn (who plays Brian May) are solid and provides an element of balance.

In my mind, Queen always begins and ends with Freddie Mercury. Although the filmmakers made a compelling movie of the band's career as a whole, I would have loved to see more of the madness of Mister Fahrenheit himself.

RATING: 8.5/10

Spoilers! Go to the comments section to reveal an unexpected famous actor who made an unforgettable cameo appearance!