Review: Rami Malek electrifies as Freddie Mercury in the sanitized biopic 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

Review: Rami Malek electrifies as Freddie Mercury in the sanitized biopic 'Bohemian Rhapsody' ...

Review: Rami Malek electrifies as Freddie Mercury in the sanitized biopic 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

Gwilym Lee as Brian May and Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury in 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

Review

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (2018)

Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Tom Hollander, Allen Leech, Mike Myers

Directed by Bryan Singer

Rami Malek electrifies the screen as Freddie Mercury of the rock group Queen in the biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The “Mr. Robot” actor is mesmerizing as he personifies the flamboyant singer-songwriter in this sanitized version of Mercury’s life. The film gets its title from the song that opens with the lyrics “Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?” which judging by Anthony McCarten’s screenplay, falls in the “fantasy” category. Facts are sacrificed for entertainment in Bryan Singer’s crowd pleaser which never delves too deep into Mercury’s promiscuity resulting in a play-it-safe PG-13 rating. This is the abridged version of Queen’s story, which despite its inaccuracies remains gratifying thanks to Malek, the music, and a dazzling finale as the band performs during 1985’s Live Aid.

We’re first introduced to Mercury (Rami Malek), known then as Farrokh Bulsara the son of Parsi immigrants, working as a baggage handler at Heathrow Airport. When he’s not writing songs, the aspiring performer spends his free time at the local dive bar watching his favorite band Smile which includes astrophysicist-turned-guitarist Brian May (Gwilym Lee) and dental student-turned-drummer Roger Taylor (Ben Hardy). Just after Smile’s lead singer quits to join another band, Mercury approaches May and Taylor in the parking lot to introduce himself as a fan which leads to an impromptu audition. He becomes the group’s new lead singer and the rest, as they say, is history.

The scene where Mercury auditions in the parking lot for the band is reminiscent of Ally’s parking lot audition for Jackson Maine in “A Star Is Born” with Lady Gaga as the aspiring singer. Both scenes feel bogus and in the case of Merc ury this isn’t exactly how he joined the group in real life, but authenticity is sacrificed for enchantment and so Queen is born and Ally becomes an overnight sensation. Coincidentally, Lady Gaga born Stefani Germanotta, took her stage name from the Queen song “Radio Ga Ga” after citing Freddie Mercury as a major influence.

The night that Mercury auditions for the group he meets his true love Mary Austin (Lucy Boynton from “Sing Street”) after admiring her coat at the bar. She helps Mercury release his inner diva by outfitting him with clothing from the women’s section at her department store job. The two become best friends and eventually marry even though she suspects him of being gay. She is the only character in the film we get to know outside of Mercury. Band members May, Taylor, and bass player John Deacon (Joseph Mazzello) are rarely seen outside of their public personas. The only thing we really know about any of them is who came up with what riff or beat.< /p>

“Bohemian Rhapsody” suffered many setbacks before making it to the big screen. Director Bryan Singer (“X-Men”) was fired by the studio with just weeks to go before wrapping production, Dexter Fletcher took over so we’re not sure how much of the final product can be attributed to Singer’s replacement. Sasha Baron Cohen was originally cast to play Mercury but dropped out of the project after disagreeing with the decision to make a PG-13 rated film that wasn’t going to focus on Mercury’s gay lifestyle complete with drugged fueled parties and unprotected sex. Mercury died of complications from AIDS in 1991. There are quick scenes of leather-clad men showing up at Mercury’s home and Malek kisses a couple of guys but that’s about it. Reportedly the film’s producer wasn’t interested in making a dark film, rather a movie that would pay tribute to the band. If that was the case, why focus on just Mercury?

Despite the many inaccuracies that include the way Mercury met Mary Austin (it wasn’t the same night he auditioned for the band), getting the band back together right before Live Aid (they never broke up), and Mercury finding out he had contracted AIDS which motivated him to perform at Live Aid (he actually found out two years later), the film accomplishes what it was meant to do, entertain the audience while paying tribute to Queen, one of the world’s greatest rock bands and Freddie Mercury a great performer. Look for a cameo by Mike Myers as EMI record exec Ray Foster who didn’t believe the song Bohemian Rhapsody would be a hit. It’s funny to see Myers in the role as an inside joke from the actor that rocked the song in 1992’s “Wayne’s World.”

Despite Malek’s prosthetic teeth which are too pronounced to the point of distraction, the actor is compelling to watch. You can’t take your eyes off him. Mercury was born with four additional incisors which he credited to his vocal range, so he never got them fixed . “Bohemian Rhapsody” will rock you with Malek’s electrifying performance and a grand finale that feature’s Queen’s 1985 Live Aid performance, a 22-minute set that featured “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Radio Ga Ga,” “Hammer to Fall,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “We Will Rock You,” and “We Are the Champions.” Undoubtedly the band stole the show just the way the film’s ending makes you look past any issues to focus on the music by the British rock band that burst onto the scene 48 years ago. Electrifying.

(3 stars)

jfriar

Joe Friar is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (Los Angeles) and the Houston Film Critics Society. He co-founded the Victoria Film Society and reviews films for Hit Radio 104.7 and the Victoria Advocate."

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