Bohemian Rhapsody
Overview
Bohemian Rhapsody is a 2018 biographical musical drama film that tells the story of the legendary British rock band Queen and their charismatic lead singer Freddie Mercury. The film is directed by Bryan Singer (with Dexter Fletcher completing it) and stars Rami Malek in an Oscar-winning performance as Freddie Mercury. The film follows the band from their formation in 1970, when Farrokh Bulsara, a British-Parsi airport baggage handler with famously large front teeth, joins guitarist Brian May (Gwilym Lee), drummer Roger Taylor (Ben Hardy), and bassist John Deacon (Joe Mazzello) to form Queen. Freddie changes his name, embraces his showmanship, and leads the band to massive success with hits like "Killer Queen," "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Somebody to Love," "We Will Rock You," and "We Are the Champions." The film's centerpiece is the recording of "Bohemian Rhapsody," a six-minute song that the record executives thought was too long and too weird for radio. The band records it anyway, layering hundreds of vocal tracks, and the song becomes one of the most beloved in rock history. The film also depicts Freddie's personal struggles: his complicated relationship with his family, his engagement to Mary Austin (Lucy Boynton), his realization of his sexuality, his relationship with Paul Prenter (Allen Leech), and his descent into drugs, alcohol, and isolation. The film does not shy away from Freddie's diagnosis with AIDS, though it takes some historical liberties with the timeline. The film builds to the band's legendary performance at Live Aid in 1985 at Wembley Stadium, which is recreated almost shot-for-shot. Rami Malek's performance is electrifying — he captures Freddie's flamboyance, vulnerability, charm, and incredible stage presence. He learned to play piano, sing, and move like Mercury, and his lip-syncing to Freddie's original vocals is seamless. Bohemian Rhapsody was a massive box office success, earning over $910 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing biographical film of all time. It won four Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Rami Malek, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Editing. While the film received some criticism for its historical inaccuracies and sanitized portrayal of Freddie's life, it is an emotional celebration of Queen's music and the enduring legacy of one of rock's greatest frontmen.
