“Do people still go to the cinema?” I thought, as I was so surprised to see the cineplex so crowded. I have to say that since the advent of pay-Tv, Netflix etc. for me cinemas smell of Middle Age. My sitting-room, in fact, has been transformed into a cozy movie theatre: a wide big screen, a comfortable, reclining sofa and for what concerns snacks, well, my husband is usually in charge of food, he is such a great cook; that is why I got out of the habit of going out to see a movie and I thought that most people did likewise. I was wrong. Actually, I’m wondering if this is nothing but the first symptom of the approaching old age! By the way, let’s not think about it, for “Bohemian Rhapsody” I made an exception and I am glad I did it.
I don’t know about you, but for me “Bohemian Rhapsody” is one of the 3 pop rock music gems along with Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” and Pink Floyd’s “Wish you Were Here”; it evokes the sounds and the colour of my youth. If one decides to watch the film having in mind to live those emotions again, well, he won’t be disappointed as from the very first shots, you are catapulted into the atmosphere of the time, which for us who did live it, let me say , “is a kind of magic“.The movie focuses on the first fifteen years of the rock group the Queen and their frontman Freddy Mercury, from the birth of the band in 1970 to the Live Aid concert of 1985.The reconstruction of places, people, clothes is absolutely amazing, while the narration is not always faithful to facts as it is clear the intent to consecrate on the screen a legend. Rami Malek is a convincing Freddie Mercury, even if sometimes he is a little over the top and seems having trouble in controlling the Mick Jagger hidden inside him, yet, despite my words, his interpretation has been worthy of an award nomination, so: chapeau !
The narration of the beginnings, the worldwide success, Freddie’s vicissitudes and illness are engaging, but the climax of the movie is at the end, with the Queen’s epic performance at the Live Aid. The power of music along with the memories that bring about make the final 15 minutes absolutely amazing and you find yourself there, back to 1985. I started to notice that the people around me couldn’t refrain from singing the songs, following the beat and even dancing. The atmosphere had become joyous and with the help of the darkness of the theatre, it was easy to imagine ourselves for a while the boys and the girls we used to be. When the lights were on, I could see mostly men and women in their fifties or sixties with the sparkling eyes of youth again. A spontaneous, long clap sealed the end of the movie.
It was a clap to the band, to Freddie but also to an age when we were still able to dream a better world. Thanks to the great intuition of Bob Geldof, the billion people, who watched the concert all over the world and united by the enchant of music, truly believed that all together could fight starvation in Africa. In was an age when walls were crashed rather than erected. In little more than thirty years “things have changed, changed utterly”, how was that possible? I thought. We have been defeated, that is the truth. Yet, while I was absorbed in these thoughts, I could hear a little voice inside me, a young voice which had been dormant for too long, which told me not to give in and kept on singing that eventually “we will, we will rock you!”💪
Excellent review. Not only was the movie well done, it was fun!
Thank you, Frank. 😉🙋
I loved that movie – Malek is just glorious in a difficult role!
He was indeed!!
A great review of a fantastic movie. Queen involved their fans like no other band did. I also thought that Malek did a good job, although a little over the top at times as well. Thanks for sharing your review …
Malek was very good, but it seemed a bit less “manly” than Freddie, maybe because he is smaller. I wonder, how often he must have rehearsed the Live Aid scenes to make all Freddie’s moves so well.
Bravo. So loved this post!
I’m glad you enjoyed it , David. 🙋
Nice one
Thanks.🙋
We watched the movie on the ship. We liked the movie but I couldn’t buy the Freddy portrayal. Perhaps he was really like that but I remember a documentary I watched while he was still alive and this was a departure from the persona we saw in the documentary.
However, as I said, it was a good movie. I agree the climax of the movie was the concert . . . but, again, it seemed less than what I remember of the actual event.
I was trying to work out if they mixed actual footage with the movie or even if they used Freddy’s voice, but I’d have to do a back-to-back comparison. I think they did capture the dynamic of the event but the sound sounded off.
Freddie’s voice belongs to the Canadian singer Marc Martel, who had gone on a tour with the Queen in 2012 and for that occasion they were renamed the Queen Extravaganza.
I was never a huge Queen fan, and also rarely go to the theater for movies, but your great review may change that! Thank you!
I’m sure you will enjoy it ! 🙋
Great review of a great movie. Love the video you posted.:)
I’m glad you enjoyed the video. I thought it was just amazing !
You did me smile with this one, hey! I don´t go to the cinema probably since I was a teenager, bohemian rapsody? You are that. Good morning from Spain to Italy Mrs. Tink.
I see a little silhouetto of a ( Spanish ) man….!!! 😉🙋
MAN I´m a man, now we can get married? I do have a lot of money, I still remember the picture of your boat. Seems unconsciously I remember things….go figure.
Buenos días guapa.
A strong urge to see ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is now even stronger.Your writing has the charm to attract reader’s for forever.
You are very kind. Thanks a lot.
Stefy 🙋
*Neha
I loved Bohemian Rhapsody. Well done performances and of course great music.
They were great indeed!💪