The Edition, in partnership with Schwack Cinema, brings readers a monthly review of movies on offer, serving as encouragement or warning (as the case may be), for moviegoers in Male' City, and movie-lovers, everywhere.
Since its initial release in October (though shows began with the usual lag here in late November) Bohemian Rhapsody’s nominations almost rival that of the musical genius it chronicles - well, not nearly but it has been mentioned on nearly every accolade-giving body in the film industry from the SAGs, Golden Globes, AACTA, Critics’ Choice and more, which all inevitably leads to growing whispers hinting at 2019’s Oscars.
With a movie like this, if you haven’t seen it yet, or moreover, if you’re a fan, the most pertinent question is always - does it really live up to the hype?
The answer here is, an infuriating but true, yes and no.
Rushed at times, hitting you head-on with a tour bus at one point, the movie is incredibly fast-paced and energetic. In a sense, it may be shrugged off as a moment of art imitating life, especially as the exuberance of British rock band Queen’s rise in the ’70s most certainly also began and burst forward in a series of sudden, unexpected bursts.
If you’re not armed with the history of how young Freddy Mercury (vocals, piano and so much more) teamed up with Brian May (lead guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals) and John Deacon (bass guitar) then the movie might present as confusing at times, constantly teasing a hint of a larger story - which there certainly is.
Nonetheless, if you watch Bohemian Rhapsody not as a biopic, but a beautiful and nostalgic look at the events leading up to one of the most memorable live performances of all time, accompanied by seemingly timeless music, then it more than lives up to the dream.
Rami Malek delivers a stunning, unforgettable performance as Freddie Mercury, sass uncompromised. Reportedly, Malek learnt how to sing, play the piano and watched countless hours of Queen’s archived footage, as well as that of Mercury's own heroes like Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, Liza Minnelli and David Bowie.
The efforts definitely paid off, as Malek’s acting is by far the highlight of the movie. Delivering blow by blow impersonations of Mercury’s live performances, down to subtle quirks of expression, lilts of voice and so on, it really is an exquisite watch.
Having 1.9 billion global viewers who watched the Live Aid show that the movie pivots around, and all the folk that followed the band’s journey, alive today, must have proved a daunting task particularly for the costume and set designers, rendering them unable to take the kind of creative liberties afforded to the scriptwriters, directors and so forth.
However, designer Julian Day succeeded in doing the visionary fashion rebel justice, recreating Mercury’s iconic looks with impressive flair from acquiring a gorgeously opulent winged-white leather jacket apparently found at Hendrix apartment after his passing for the scene where the band meets their future managers, to having Wrangler recreate Mercury’s famous stonewashed jeans and reproducing the glamorous Zandra Rhones butterfly top to perfection. Such aesthetics are a vital part of the film; after all, this is about a man who famously declared, “It’s not a concert you're seeing, it's a fashion show.”
'Bohemian Rhapsody' opens and closes with the historic 1985 Live Aid charity multi-stage concert, in which Queen delivered to a screaming live audience of 72,000 at Wembley Stadium, what is widely heralded as one of the best live performances of all time, firmly cementing Freddie Mercury and Queen’s place in rock history.
The movie delivers on snakes, lies and the many, many prying eyes present in the lives of true rockstars. Best of all, it doesn’t shy away from all the tries it took to get the notes, melody and lyrics just right before the band finally birthed their masterpiece of a repertoire.
In focusing on the climax of their journey, the movie does admittedly sacrifice the true story of the internal disagreements that lead to the split, effects of a fatal diagnosis within the group as well as omitting much of the much-celebrated relationship between Mercury and Hutton, in his final days.
That said, remembering Queen at its very best, might be just the way the band would have wanted it, Mercury included.
Perhaps the movie’s thoroughness and accuracy can also be attributed to Brian May and Roger Taylor, who were executive music producers and creative consultants on the movie and apparently, a regular presence on set.
Though this critic doesn’t remember Live Aid when it happened, it was what I was raised on, from album re-releases to afternoon viewings on TVM’s siesta, part of a generation that loved, watched and bowed down to the true reigning Queen of the '80s.
The band played a part in nearly every celebration, from ‘We are the champions’ ringing out at sports events, banging out ‘We will rock you’ on the wooden desks of Aminiya and Majeedhiya, to hearing ’Bohemian Rhapsody’ sampled by cheeky DJ’s raving out and near-criminal karaoke sessions.
Therefore, this movie is rated must-see, best viewed with a herd of friends, with whom one can relive operatic renditions with, on the ride back home from Schwack Cinema.
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