Long may she reign
It is a testament to the legacy of Queen that the crowd at Friday night’s screening of “Bohemian Rhapsody” was comprised of people of all ages — every one of which could be heard singing along with the film. It is also a testament to what is a trend in many biopics that the movie seemed to take more than a few liberties with the story it was telling. Throughout its runtime, “Bohemian Rhapsody” does manage to hit a few high notes, especially with Rami Malek’s portrayal of the legendary Freddie Mercury, but the movie as a whole feels a little off-key.
While Malek’s performance is incredible, the rest of the cast feels a little too one-dimensional at times. Out of all the other characters, the only one that seemed to even approach the level of characterization the film afforded to Mercury was that of Mary Austin, Mercury’s one-time fiancée and life-long friend, played by Lucy Boynton. This is a shame, as her character fades from the story after her split from Mercury, only making a few brief appearances later on. After her, the next best character has to be Mike Myers’ portrayal of Ray Foster, forever known as “the man who lost Queen,” although his role is severely limited in length and can only be described as a short cameo. The rest of the cast is passable, with some good moments here and there, but none of them truly embody the iconic status of the individuals they portray.
Malek, on the other hand, is astounding. His portrayal of Mercury is achingly heartfelt, and the time he spent preparing for the role shows in the finished product. Known mostly for his starring role in the television drama “Mr. Robot” and an appearance in HBO’s “The Pacific,” Malek nails the on-stage persona of Mercury and the energy and magnetism he was famous for. But even more than that, Malek gives life to the Mercury that lived off the stage. He makes the hurt and alienation that dogged the singer a real and tangible thing for the audience, and he brings a level of authenticity to his performance that it truly does help alleviate the rest of the film’s rather monotonous tone.
But even while Malek’s performance is outstanding, it is limited by the script he was given. The movie spans the period of time ranging from just before Queen’s formation to their historic performance on the Live Aid stage. As a result, there never seems to be enough time to truly delve into any one moment in time, instead allowing each event to pass quickly by as if you were watching from a train. Nowhere is this as apparent as in the film’s portrayal of Mercury’s sexuality. The film takes a few liberties (including how Mercury met his partner, Jim Hutton), and only focuses on a select few of Mercury’s partners: namely Mary Austin, Paul Prenter and Jim Hutton. The movie does allude to his more casual affairs, but glosses over them in a way that almost feels as if the movie is trying to present a sterilized and subdued view of the singer’s private life. Additionally, the film makes a few alterations to the timeline, most notable with the timing of Mercury’s HIV diagnosis and the band’s breakup and subsequent reunion.
All in all, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is an adequate movie held up by an outstanding lead actor. Is it a perfect film? No. Is it a true representation of its source material? Not always. However, it gets one thing absolutely right with its portrayal of Queen’s enduring popularity. Don’t see this movie because you want an accurate, well-made film. Go because seeing Malek’s performance is the next best thing to seeing Mercury back on stage once again.
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