Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Director: Bryan Singer
Watched: 9/7/19
Rating: 3.5/5
“A Queen Concert with Acting Interludes”
Freddie Mercury-
what a fascinating man!
Queen’s frontman and star,
was born Farrokh Bulsara;
of Persian descent,
but raised and British at heart.
Zoroastrian
and conservative parents,
a younger sister.
His unique vibrato voice,
had four extra teeth-
anterior overjet-
never had them fixed,
afraid to lose extra range.
Aside from best friend
Mary Austin and bandmates
Brian, Roger, John,
loneliness consumed him whole.
Closeted gay man;
he had numerous lovers,
but few were sincere.
Sadly both shunned and shunned by
those who knew him best;
taken from us much too soon
by HIV AIDS.
He came alive when on stage-
music was his life;
his purpose and one true love.
How’s the film version?
Dedicated performance
by Rami Malek,
convincing and praiseworthy,
but overrated.
A film focused on fanfare-
music to rock out
and songs to sing along with,
culminating with
a re-creation of Queen’s
1985
famed six-song set for Live Aid.
They stole the show then,
and the film honors their feat.
So what’s the problem?
Fabulous costumes and set,
works as a purely
sensory experience;
fun for the masses-
but liberal with the facts.
History has been
tweaked for dramatic effect.
True to the music,
but sacrifices the heart.
Viewers still don’t know
the real Mercury offstage.
At the very least,
Queen’s legacy is revived;
Another One Bites the Dust?
Further Reading:
https://www.goretro.com/2019/01/the-curious-case-of-freddie-mercurys.html
https://informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/based-on-a-true-true-story/