The
Directors: Bryan Singer and
Dexter Fletcher
The
Cast:
Rami
Malek – Freddie Mercury
Gwilym
Lee – Brian May
Ben
Hardy – Roger Taylor
Joseph
Mazzelo – John Deacon
Lucy
Boynton – Mary Austin
Aiden
Gillen – John Reid
Tom
Hollander – Jim (Miami) Beach
Allen
Leech – Paul Pretner
Mike
Myers – Ray Foster
Aaron
McCusker – Jim Hutton
Certificate:
12A
Released
in UK cinemas: 24th
October 2018
The
Plot:
Bohemian Rhapsody chronicles the rise of UK rock band, Queen. From Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek) joining in the 1970s and recording that album, 'A Night At The Opera', to their triumphant return at Live Aid in 1985.
The
Review:
Fun fact: in 2010 the
casting-choice for Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody was
initially going to be... Sacha Baron Cohen. This was changed in 2013
to Ben Whishaw due to “creative differences”, before it was
announced Rami Malek was to be the new Mercury. And he is the closest
we are going to get to the real man if his mannerisms, crucially on
stage are anything to go by. Combined with talking through those
magnificent teeth, his performance is utterly effortless. In
addition, Gwilym Lee's resemblance to Brian May – surely that is
Brian May playing his younger self?
No? Though the same can't be said
for Ben Hardy (as ballsy drummer Roger Taylor) and Joseph Mazzelo
(playing bass player John Deacon, the band's proverbial
punching-bag); they remain faithful to their individual personalities
within the band. Watching them work together to create the behemoth
that is Bohemian Rhapsody will be a joy for fans. I will admit that I
teared up many times during their concert performances. For someone
who was born some years after Mercury's death, watching my favourite
70s band performance is a strange thing. Bohemian
Rhapsody dials that
elative feeling up to 11.
I should mention that the choice
to have Mike Myers play Queen's manager, Ray Foster, was a touch of
genius. Foster dismissed the notion that Bohemian Rhapsody should be
released as a single so, naturally, the band ignored him and released
it anyway. The rest is history. It was Mike Meyers' idea to feature
Rhapsody in Wayne's
World in
this infamous scene. Without him, Queen would have never reached
American audiences!
Okay, trivia lesson over. Back to
the review.
There may be some contention over where the facts end and creative licence begins, but Bohemian Rhapsody is gracious when touching on the darker side to Mercury's fame, his relationship with “Love of My Life” muse, Mary and comes out euphoric in its finale at LiveAid. Just as it should be.
There may be some contention over where the facts end and creative licence begins, but Bohemian Rhapsody is gracious when touching on the darker side to Mercury's fame, his relationship with “Love of My Life” muse, Mary and comes out euphoric in its finale at LiveAid. Just as it should be.
Verdict:
***** 5 STARS OUT OF 5
Picture
sources:
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