Bohemian Rhapsody isn’t a terrible movie per se. If you like
Queen and you don’t mind turning your brain off, you’ll have a ball. However,
if you’re a normal person who appreciates any semblance of good storytelling,
this one is not for you. In fact, I’m not surprised if the Razzie for worst
screenplay goes to this promotional video. It was truly that bad. I’ve never
written a screenplay or helped produce a movie, but I can tell you that this is
not the film I’d look to for inspiration if I ever wanted to get into the
business. For marketing purposes, sure. It makes the band look GREAT. But
considering how tragic and complex the life of Freddie Mercury was, it’s a shame
it turned out this way. The movie is basically a polished point-by-point account of
the goings on of the band, from their inception to their concert at Live Aid in
the 80s. There isn’t much more than that. There are some conflicts along the
way, like a music producer who doesn’t believe in the band’s vision and
Freddie’s bisexuality turning him into the tamest party animal you’ve ever seen
on film, which causes a rift between himself and his girl. Nothing is ever
truly explored though, because every time some conflict arises, it gets settled
somehow by the band members showing the audience how they came up with a brand-new
hit song followed by several minutes of the band playing to bigger and bigger
crowds. Freddie’s loneliness and hidden sexuality are portrayed in such a
glossed-over way that I can’t possibly see it being as simple as the movie made
it out to be. There’s barely any mention of drugs, for crying out loud! And I
just came upon this
article, which tells you all you need to know about why this movie is worth
skipping: they left out every interesting story and replaced it with lip
service to the remaining band members, who get to be the heroes.
If you like Queen and their music, this movie might be worth
your time. They have some inspiring recreations of their sets, though I think
I’d still rather watch the YouTube clip of Queen at Live Aid than the
re-enactment here. It’s fun and all, but they focus so much on random extras rocking
out that it feels kind of cheap, taking away from the actors who are doing a
serviceable job to inject some energy into the film. You don’t go to a concert
to see the audience up close either, and I sure as hell don’t care to see
people cheering the band on in a bar. The Live Aid scene also goes on for quite
a while; it felt like 15 minutes of watching them play, which was bothersome
but might play well with those coming for the music.
Bohemian Rhapsody isn’t a BAD movie. It’s well-produced,
decently acted, and has a positive message. I just can’t get over how
disingenuous it all is to the legacy of Freddie Mercury, who probably would have
bared it all for the camera in the name of showmanship and honesty. Without the
whole true story of Freddie, the entire thing becomes an after-school special
that’s as lazily written as anything I’ve ever seen. That Sacha Baron Cohen ditched
the production when the band members vetoed his ideas about centering the film
around Mercury is telling. The band wanted the movie to be about Queen, not
Freddie, but when it all comes down to it, well…the band’s story is pretty much
all about Freddie, no matter how you spin it. Otherwise, the whole production
felt like a sham meant to cater to the band, which is too bad, because Freddie really deserved better.
Very accurate opinion of this movie. I still enjoyed it, as I liked their music since high school.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your take on this film. I'm a fan of the music & acting but it did seem quite sugar coated version of reality.
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