Review of Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) by Christopher B — 22 Nov 2018

I grew up gradually becoming a fan of the band Queen but didn't know much about their history. Though my appreciation or criticism for the movie would be stronger had I had the knowledge beforehand, I can say that 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is a legitimately good movie.

To be fair, it runs on a bunch of musical biopic clichés but it somehow overcomes that; feeling rather fresh and honest. The pacing was a bit slow on first viewing. The details and development of the band's story on screen can be a bit glossy and only "skin-deep"; not quite the in-depth look at Freddie and his misfits that some fans would hope for.

However, I couldn't help but be pulled in by Ramin Malek's outstanding "embodiment" of Mercury, some emotionally gripping performances and an arresting directorial effort from Bryan Singer (despite the rumored turmoil behind the scenes).

As a bonus, the recreated concert scenes are superbly captured, especially the amazing "Live-Aid" concert finale. In the end, this is more of a celebration of Queen than anything and certainly worth a look.