Release Date: Nov. 4, 2018

Director: Bryan Singer

Starring: Rami Malek, Ben Hardy, Lucy Boynton

Our Rating: A-

The charisma and confidence of the late Freddie Mercury are unlike anything history has ever seen. After forever changing the world of rock and roll, and later dying a tragic death to AIDS in 1991, there have been many attempts to recreate the idiosyncratic persona of Mercury, and in turn, many failures. In reality, anyone tasked to play the role must be ready to face relentless criticism seeing as a figure as beloved as Mercury is always followed by flocks of loyal supporters. In the 2018 “Bohemian Rhapsody,” someone finally got it right. Rami Malek flawlessly captured the charm, flamboyance and altogether aura of Queen’s lead singer, and in doing so was an integral part of the film’s success.

Bohemian Rhapsody as a whole told the story of the creation, rise to greatness and struggles of the band Queen, led by lead singer Freddie Mercury, and instrumentalists Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor. A heart-warming story at its core, the film was a semi-realistic depiction of the band’s storied history. What truly made the movie though was not the story, which was predictable and also, more importantly, historically inaccurate in multiple aspects. Instead, it was the intense character development of Mercury himself – the star of the show whose real-life persona had often been that of mystery, lavishness and glitz.

“Bohemian Rhapsody allowed me to appreciate the musical accomplishments of my favorite band Queen,” junior Charlie Sommer said.

Malek was able to perfectly construe the image of a rock and roll superstar that was indifferent of other’s opinions, changing the game one hit song after the other. The disregard for his record label’s opinion epitomizes the carefree and often impulsive nature of Mercury. As he recommends an Opera Album and is immediately turned down, instead of following the wishes of Ray Foster, Mercury rallies the band behind him and storms out of the room, leaving forever and not once looking back. Malek encompasses the free but often volatile attitude of Mercury with every word, reaction and bodily movement.

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Rami Malek continuously amazes me with his performance. He is flawless in all that he does.

— senior Sutton Payne

An important portion of the movie delved into the often ambiguous nature of Mercury’s sexuality – a topic that in films is often either sensationalized or ignored. Bohemian Rhapsody undoubtedly got it right, capturing the internal struggle, denial and eventual acceptance of his bisexuality without overdoing it and making it the central focus of the film.

Other than the masterful performance by Malek, the filmmakers’ ability to not take themselves too seriously made it an extremely enjoyable experience. Not quite a musical but packed with the top songs of the storied band’s history, any fan of Queen would have an undeniably wonderful experience within the theater. I know that I enjoyed belting out the lyrics to classics such as “Killer Queen” and “Another One Bites the Dust” surrounded by a room of strangers, because well, who wouldn’t? The final performance at “Live Aid” was a masterpiece. 20 minutes of uninterrupted perfection, resembling the historic real-life concert in every way imaginable. Malek paid homage to the late Mercury through an unrivaled performance, capturing the attention of the audience. This final set was the culmination of an altogether solid film, which was entertaining for each and every person present.

Overall, this film combined fantastic lead performances with the classic music of a legendary band, creating a product that wowed audiences around the world.