Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody is certainly rhapsodic but unfortunately not quite as bohemian as the story and man at its centre. The long-gestated project has finally come to screens documenting the rise and rise of Queen and their fallen legend Freddie Mercury. The story, like the press at the time, is enamoured with the lead singer but original Director Bryan Singer (credited despite Dexter Fletcher completing the unfinished film) is careful to give due credence to messrs May, Deacon and Taylor. It’s fairly standard biopic fare, as family friendly and crowd pleasing as Queen’s music, but lacking a little bite, controversy and charm, a little like the current incarnation of Queen with their conveyor belt of touring singers. Their meteoric rise goes off without a hitch as we’re whisked from well-received first gig to arena and stadium shows, pierced with studio scenes of the band creating some of the bigger hits. The soundtrack is typically excellent and used considerately and well but there’s a certain reverence paid to the band which, whilst not undeserved and expected considering the surviving member's contributions, leaves the film with an intangible something missing that not even its lengthy run time can satisfy. By far the biggest triumph of the movie is the performance of Rami Malek as Mercury. True, original casting choice Sacha Baron Cohen (which would have been very interesting) has a closer resemblance (Malek looks rather like Mick Jagger in some scenes) but that will quickly leave your mind as soon as he utters his first words. It’s a domineering, all-encompassing, awards-worthy portrayal that deserves its showering of praise. He gets the best of the script as well with some great one-liners, particularly in a late press conference scene. The film as a whole though does leave the feeling that not all was harmonious in production as has been reported. There are hints at the depravity, hints at Mercury’s inner turmoil, hints at his later relationships and a very fast flick through his disease prognosis but all of this seems to have been tampered with, toned down for an audience used to dancing in the aisles. For all of Mercury’s lines in the film about Queen being for the outsiders their film, like their most famous music, is for the mainstream. A too safe, too reverent portrayal of an icon and musical behemoth. Happy to Play The Game rather than offer A Kind Of Magic. 3 stars ***