he storytelling may not have the operatic quality of Queen’s music or the unforgettable notes of Freddie’s voice, but as a film, this is easy come, easy go.

A Shamelessly Passionate Movie About A Hopelessly Passionate Musician…This is not so much a historically inaccurate biopic as it is a celebration of art through its artist

Rami Malek puts in an astonishing bit of work getting Freddie right (especially with those teeth), and makes light work of it, his eyes reflecting the hunger the film never sweats to show.

Rami Malek does his best as the iconic Freddie Mercury but could still not save the film that is only looking to make the people sing along to Queen’s hit songs and give a superficial look at their story.

Bohemian Rhapsody’s crowd-pleasing nostalgia cheers Freddie Mercury’s exhilarating sound and infectious power play with such all-out gusto, you WILL break free all over again…

The film is never less than watchable because the performances are first-rate even when the writing isn’t.

As Malek takes centre stage in the final Live Aid act as Freddie, the director gives you a glimpse of the moments before he takes the podium. The camera follows him like a shadow. It captures his nervous energy, his pulsating drive to entertain once again and the fighter that Freddie Mercury was. There was more to him than his nonconformist, outrageous and wild shindigs. Bohemian Rhapsody celebrates his undying spirit beautifully through his music. From exploring Freddie’s take on mixing genres, innate desire to taking risks, not wanting to ‘fix’ his teeth to doing the good deeds — this one’s an uplifting tearjerker!

The makers have smartly named the film ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and not Queen because more than the band, it focuses on the life of its lead singer Farrokh Bulsara who was later known as the legend, Freddie Mercury.

The script has the necessary wit, Freddie’s break-out antics are well documented and the excellent tech work makes it all blend in to form a composite whole

But by the end of the film, that is what it feels like… listening to a ‘Greatest Hits’ compilation instead of experiencing the band’s discography from within. We did not need all their big hits
stitched into the narrative. What we needed is the film to offer us something much more. I waited very patiently for that. Sadly, it never came.

Describing the band to manager John Reid (Gillen), Freddie says, “Now we’re four misfits who don’t belong together, we’re playing for the other misfits. They’re the outcasts, right at the back of the room. We’re pretty sure they don’t belong either. We belong to them.”

This is why Queen remains iconic and, even though the movie may not do either the band or the singer justice, you will be singing Bohemian Rhapsody all the way home.

Bohemian Rhapsody may not be “the film”, Queen fans wanted it to be, but it surely is a sweet, sugar-coated memento for the legendary singer.

The superficial biopic on Queen refuses to look beyond its heteronormative worldview

In the end, the movie belongs to Freddie Mercury, the Bohemian rhapsodiser of the title, who conquers with his voice from beyond the grave. The movie comes alive every time Mercury’s sonorous voice booms out of the screen. His powerful singing makes it possible to endure the flat writing and staging with your eyes shut and your ears open.