Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody – Farrokh Bulsara dreams of stardom. When local band, Smile, lose their singer, Farrokh is keen to join and drive the band in new directions. Changing his name to Freddie Mercury and reaching the dizzying heights of success, the natural born frontman finds the music is the easy part – friends and love are much harder. And once you over indulge, the consequences could be far more damaging than ever imagined.

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) – Director: Bryan Singer

By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57419421

Rating: 12

Running Length: 134 mins

Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Joseph Mazzello

Genre: Drama, Musical

REVIEW: ‘BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY’

After many years of troubled production (including changes in lead cast, script re-writes, and director stress), the much battered ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is now out and proud. Credited to director Bryan Singer (although Singer was fired around two-thirds of the way through production and Dexter Fletcher was called in to finish the job) and starring Rami Malek as the flamboyant yet private Freddie Mercury, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is very much a ‘greatest hits’ fantasy re-telling of the life and career of the Queen frontman.

With a tale as rich with source material as the extraordinary life and career of Freddie Mercury it was never going to be possible to fit it all in. With many different possible angles to choose from (their financial mismanagement of the early years, the promiscuity and hedonism of Freddie throughout the late 70s to early 80s, the in-fighting in the band regarding song writing credits) ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ creates an emotional core around Freddie’s loneliness and his relationship with ex-lover and lifelong friend, Mary Austin. From the early days when he dreamed big to the later success where Freddie’s closeted homosexuality and promiscuity drives away the ‘love of his life’. The scenes with Mary sparkle. Both Malek and Boynton imbue their long scenes with a real connection that acts as a lifeline through which all the other set pieces swirl.

It’s reported that Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor wanted the movie to lean towards family friendly instead of risking Freddie’s legacy. So the movie sanitizes rather well publicised parts of Freddie’s life. His promiscuity is only hinted at rather than shown. The manifestation of loneliness by indulging in drugs and alcohol is something that mostly happens around him. And rather jarringly (for any Queen fan) the chronology of real events is moved around significantly to hit the movie beats. So, instead of Freddie revealing his AIDS diagnoses and the band going on to record two more albums, it is instead shifted ahead of time so that this all happens before the iconic Live Aid, so that the band’s legendary Live Aid performance can be the foot stomping finale. Again, those seeking a realistic biopic will be disappointed here.

‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is more a wishlist of key moments jumbled around to present the quickest way of showing them to you. This has the downside of meaning that several parts are presented without the groundwork being laid. (Freddie arrives virtually fully formed when joining the band in the early seventies, the band are an immediate success without much of the ‘getting the band together’ origin story). But, revisionist history aside, it also means we get to enjoy some superbly acted and fun scenes of how things might sort have been. Malek, struggling as he is with a mouthpiece to replicate the famous overbite of the Queen frontman, imbues the persona of Freddie with applaudable skill. Equal parts confident, showman swagger, and sensitive weakness, his performance is uncanny throughout. Gwilym Lee’s calm and considered Brian May is utterly convincing to the point where it would almost be impossible to tell them apart. The banter with the band, whilst fast tracked to show quick flashes of genius rather than credit the craftmanship and hard work, is delightful and fun (Ben Hardy’s Roger Taylor often taking the brunt of the gags).

Really, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ achieves what it sets out to be. A fun retelling of key parts of an iconic man’s life with some insights into the man behind the mask, albeit brief insights that never delve deeper than the surface. It’s an enjoyable fantasy that takes inspiration from reality rather than go for all out real life. You won’t really learn anything about what made Freddie tick, but watching the journey of a conflicted man as he revels in his incomparable ability to entertain and touch the lives of many is still a story worth watching.

CONTENT: IS ‘BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY’ SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?

When Freddie first goes on stage to sing, someone in the crowd yells out ‘who’s the Paki?’ Paki is a derogatory term for someone from Pakistan but is often used as an insult for anyone who seems to have of Indian / Asian heritage. The term is used again a couple of times throughout the film although Freddie ignores the insult.

Freddie and Mary are attracted to each other. One scene shows her coming into his bedroom whilst putting her clothes back on. He lies on top of her and kisses her, insisting that she stay instead of go to work. She reluctantly leaves. No nudity or sexual language is used although it is implied they have just been intimate.

Freddie meets Mary’s family. Her father is deaf and communicating in sign language, which Mary translates. Freddie asks her to relay certain things, which she says she has already. He then mutters to her that she should tell him that his daughter is an ‘epic shag’.

Queen are recording a segment for Top Of The Pops. The scene moves to the control desk where one camera is focusing on Freddie’s crotch. The director yells into the comms for the camera to be moved saying, “no-one wants to see that!”

Whilst playing the piano, Freddie is approached by a man who suddenly kisses him. The kiss lasts a few seconds, although Freddie rejects the man saying that they just work together.

Freddie is on the phone to Mary at a truckstop but gets eyed up by a man who then walks into the men’s toilets. Freddie watches and looks conflicted before the scene cuts.

Whilst recording the high vocals for ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, Roger Taylor complains and says ‘my nuts are in my chest”. Later, during a record company meeting about releasing the song, one character states that legally the record company have the band’s ‘balls in a vice’.

Freddie wakes up to find his personal assistant is also there as is a random man who his PA brought back with him. The man is asleep in nothing but underwear.

In a limo Freddie, his PA and the band’s manager have a conversation about him going solo. Freddie gets given a pill which he takes. It isn’t specified what is but it is implied it is an illicit drug as he is later asked if he should talk once he is not ‘high’. Freddie loses his temper and shouts at a character to get out. He calls the man ‘piss flaps’ and says “Get out or I’ll kill you”.

During the section of the film where Another One Bites The Dust is played, it is cut to a montage of Freddie visiting gay nightclubs. Men can be seen dancing and kissing in the background. Nothing seedy is shown although Freddie often looks either drunk or pale / drawn.

During a press conference Freddie is asked a series of increasingly personal questions. He gets more and more frustrated and responds with rude and insulting answers. One female journalist presses him to talk about rumours of sexuality and he refers to there being a cold clamp between her legs. The cinematography of this scene shows distorted images with extreme close-ups on faces to imply that Freddie is high or drunk at this point.

Freddie coughs into a handkerchief and flecks of blood are shown. He is disturbed by this and hides it away.

Mary visits Freddie unexpectedly. She sees a large amount of empty alcohol bottles lying around and the camera focuses on some unspecific white powder on a table. A large group of men in leather clothes also arrive.

There are brief descriptions of the AIDS virus in a TV segment which states that it is a death sentence with no cure. Freddie sees a doctor and learns he is infected. He doesn’t show much emotion but at several points later in the film refers to not having much time left.

CAN I SEE A CLIP?

VERDICT: IS ‘BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY’ FOR KIDS?

‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is a family angled telling of a story that could otherwise have been much more hard-hitting. Homosexuality is dealt with throughout although mostly chastely and the drugs that were undeniably there are barely seen. With some bad language and several sexual references (albeit not explicit) we would recommend this movie as suitable for ages 9 and up.

• Violence: 1/5 (some angry pushing and shoving)
• Emotional Distress: 3/5 (Freddie is shown to be a lonely man hiding his sadness. When he learns of his death sentence by AIDS diagnosis he struggles to contain his emotions. The band are distressed when told)
• Fear Factor: 0/5
• Sexual Content: 4/5 (constant, albeit non-explicit, sexual references)
• Bad Language: 2/5 (infrequent mild use, one strong usage)
• Dialogue: 1/5 (some racial slurs)
• Other Notes: Deals with themes of loneliness, stage personas, bisexuality and homosexuality, the corruption of success, the poisonous influence of hangers-on, how four people pulling against each other can work better than one alone, and the power of music

Words by Mike Record