Sacha Baron Cohen talks about Freddie Mercury Biopic on Howard Stern

[QUOTE] [b]Sheer Brass Neck wrote:[/b]

^^^

I saw Brian at HMV in Toronto in June '91. He was asked about touring North America amidst reports of Freddie's poor health. He responded by saying that Freddie wasn't dead yet. Certainly true, but didn't answer question of Freddie's health. He was asked if Freddie sang on TMLWKY as it sounded like Freddie was on it, but Brian said no, he was channeling Freddie even though Freddie sang on the BTTL track. He's lied countless times to protect Freddie and the band legacy, not sure why anyone would think e's being honest now and SBC is lying.[/QUOTE]


Sadly this is true.

As much as I love Brian May, sometimes I find it a bit pathetic how he goes to great lengths to protect Queen's and Freddie's legacy. Besides, he's the one who has talked on numerous occasions about the amount of excess going on, particularly during the late 70s, and early 80s; but then when it comes down to talk about what Freddie's life was like, he wants to sweep the dirt under the rug.

[QUOTE] [b]Mr.Jingles wrote:[/b]

(...) but then when it comes down to talk about what Freddie's life was like, he wants to sweep the dirt under the rug.[/QUOTE]

Like a true friend!

[QUOTE] [b]Mr.QueenFan wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE] [b]Mr.Jingles wrote:[/b]

(...) but then when it comes down to talk about what Freddie's life was like, he wants to sweep the dirt under the rug.[/QUOTE]

Like a true friend!

[/QUOTE]

Yes exactly.

BM tales about "Queen" because he was part of it. He has never spoken about the personel side of any of the band members lives in any detail

Funny how so many people can't see how genuine Brian is as a person and friend to those closest to him.

^^^

True, but this is a motion picture which is an industry where truths have always been elusive. I sincerely doubt that SBC was going to have or expect to make a movie that showed Freddie fucking anything that moved. But, his sexuality and his demons were part of him. Sanitized movies may be nice, but Freddie himself boasted about his love life and I believe Elton John said that Freddie could do ridiculous amounts of cocaine. That's part of who Freddie was. Not all, but part. Wouldn't want to see a movie about his sex/drug proclivity, then again, wouldn't want to see a movie about his work with orphans. "Do what you like, just don't make me boring." Who said that ;)

Brian May is the friend you want when you die. He will delete your browser history. <3

[QUOTE] [b]The Fairy King wrote:[/b]

Brian May is the friend you want when you die. He will delete your browser history. <3
[/QUOTE]

Amen to that!

Hi all,

I don't think I have ever posted here before but I love the discussion of the greatest band here.

My thoughts on this are that the movie could have it both ways. With Freddie's death in the middle and Live Aid at the end. I wouldn't personally have anything about his death though.

If I was to write it, I would have the movie start during the Made in Heaven sessions. You would have a frail Freddy from the start showing immeasurable strength. Exposition through dialogue could be about the 'moment' that the band stayed together. Then flash back to early life for Freddy and build the story from there. The great moments, the poignant ones, the made for Hollywood ones. For me that would be the meeting of the band mates, the first album, A Night at the Opera and into The Game when they had conquered the world. This would be done in 30 - 40 minutes. Then the breakdown in their popularity after Hot Space, this is where I would interject Freddie's over indulgence with juxtaposition of the Made in Heaven sessions. Seeing a partying Freddy alongside a soulful one at the end of his life.

On both sides of the story they could then show brilliance rising from despair. They could show the band at the point of breaking up before Live Aid and after some well placed expletives Freddie could nail Mother Love down some vodka and thank you all. Fade to black to show what happened after that. No need for explicit detail. While still in black, more expletives from Fred as Queen find out their spot on Live Aid. 'During daylight!? F'k Geldof, f'k them darlings.. lets f'ck them all'

Slow fade to white and Queen walk on to stage and do just that.

Roll credits.

My thoughts anyway

[QUOTE] [b]apeman wrote:[/b]

Hi all,

I don't think I have ever posted here before but I love the discussion of the greatest band here.

.[/QUOTE]

Welcome!
Of all of the atempted scripts, you just wrote the best one so far. I can see how something like this could work.

Thank you Mr Queenfan,

I think this setup gives writers the opportunity for real contrast, humour, drama, light and shade. It also gives Queen the band a large part while still being able to call it a Freddie biopic.

I'm not sure they need to any further back than the late 60's. Delving into childhood would take too much time away from the story I would tell.

^It should start with the riots on Zanzibar. He arrived in England as a refugee...more and more drama people...Hollywood really need that.

Apeman's script paints too perfect and heroic a picture of Freddie. The film is not going to do well unless he seems relatable. And so many flash backs and forwards are going to ruin the film. So far they haven't name-checked any directors well known for their expert execution of time jumps.

Hey Saif, you are right, too many time jumps would be hard to pull off, it would need to be very well done to be understood. I guess having the 'one time' as the anchor to all time jumps would make it a little easier to follow.

I also didn't mean to make Freddie seem too heroic. Just start with him and show his strength and his struggle in Montreux. He was so ill that it could be a painful experience. I would finish that section with Freddie saying he needed a rest and would finish the song when he felt stronger. Obviously the end at Live AId would be a big 'hero's return' but everything in between would be time that could be spent on all his foibles. A 100 minute piece showing him as perfect would be boring. There needs to be falls, stumbles and failures not only to make a film worth watching but to make the Live Aid performance mean to the audience what what it did at the time for the band.

Anyway, I haven't written up a treatment or anything. These are just thoughts on a movie I would watch and am enjoying discussing with you all.

Cheers

[QUOTE] [b]apeman wrote:[/b]

Hey Saif, you are right, too many time jumps would be hard to pull off, it would need to be very well done to be understood. I guess having the 'one time' as the anchor to all time jumps would make it a little easier to follow.

I also didn't mean to make Freddie seem too heroic. Just start with him and show his strength and his struggle in Montreux. He was so ill that it could be a painful experience. I would finish that section with Freddie saying he needed a rest and would finish the song when he felt stronger. Obviously the end at Live AId would be a big 'hero's return' but everything in between would be time that could be spent on all his foibles. A 100 minute piece showing him as perfect would be boring. There needs to be falls, stumbles and failures not only to make a film worth watching but to make the Live Aid performance mean to the audience what what it did at the time for the band.

Anyway, I haven't written up a treatment or anything. These are just thoughts on a movie I would watch and am enjoying discussing with you all.

Cheers
[/QUOTE]

We also need to see Freddie in bed with five other dudes!

[QUOTE] [b]The Real Wizard wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE] [b]Vocal harmony wrote:[/b]

Freddie's use of Bolivian marching dust was well known to certain people including the Met drug squad who for a while were keeping an eye on Freddie. [/QUOTE]

Citation needed !?

That's quite the claim, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

[/QUOTE]


An un detailed mention in Peter Freestones book (page 62) points toward this.

My other source I'd rather not name on a public forum :)