'Bohemian Rhapsody' movie reviews & impressions

Is there any mention anywhere of Freddie saying Paul Rodgers is his favourite singer?

They would make history, with David Fincher...now they did rubbish with a mediocre filmmaker like Brian Singer.

I dont like to watch a movie with a lot of mistakes..

Cmon, Freddie did not tell the guys that he had AIDS in 1985, he tell them in 1988/89.

I still hates the things like FBG wrote in 1974, Moustache Freddie recording WWRY, and why put they the songs The Show Must Go On and WWTLF in the movie? Their all came later than 1985.

And why they wont make a movie from Smile - Freddie's death, think that would have been a nice movie with a versie sadmovie ending.

Because that's a terrible idea??

99% of people watching the film know 'the end'. And that 1% who don't will experience a wonderful voyage of Queen discovery in books.

[QUOTE] [b]Kuijpy wrote:[/b]

Cmon, Freddie did not tell the guys that he had AIDS in 1985, he tell them in 1988/89.

I still hates the things like FBG wrote in 1974, Moustache Freddie recording WWRY, and why put they the songs The Show Must Go On and WWTLF in the movie? Their all came later than 1985.[/QUOTE]

I really think we should move on from the fact that the movie is all about drama rather than accuracy.

Currently at 52% average.

Ill see the film tomorrow.
I think, as Queen fans, we need to see this film with different glasses. It is NOT a documentary. It’s a film and with drama. Then it is just necessary to twist the facts slightly without making events untrue.
Regarding Live Aid, the band WAS in doubt how to move on after the Japanese tour.
Regarding Freddie telling he has AIDS, for the film it doesn’t matter if he tells it in 1985 or 1988.

You need to stop nagging about these details. Again, it’s not a documentary.

I was there last night and the event was great. The red (purple) carpet, the band being there. The buzz and excitement were very real (including the audience's reaction during the movie).

The movie itself left me a bit confused and now after sleeping on it, I must say I am a bit disappointed. Here's why (and many points do overlap what was said above).

First of all, and the most positive bit for me, was the acting. Although Rami (for me) does not do it as Freddie (in terms of looks, talk and mannerisms), his acting by itself was great. Much better, for me was the likeness of the other guys. Gwilym as Brian was spot on (the voice and guitar style) and so was Joseph as Deaky (the way he was sorta plucking his chin during some scenes was sooo spot on).

Second, the musical bits were awesome. Not only did it sound great, but also the way the sets were recreated and how live performances were re-enacted were an absolute joy to watch.

Third, and this is where the more negative bits come in. It is utterly unclear what the movie tries to achieve. It is not a Queen biopic (for it focuses way too much on the Freddie bit) and it is not a Freddie biopic (for it includes way too many elements that are completely irrelevant to the Freddie story (like the WWRY scene) and way too many key Freddie bits were not included (like his deeper personality). This also echos the genre of the movie. It actually has quite a lot of very funny moments and the editing style suggest a more lighthearted movie, however the movie also tries to be dark and more dramatic (the whole Freddie-Mary story arc and the Aids thing). So in some ways the movie is too much of a comedy to really hit you with the serious bits and the serious bits make you almost feel guilty for enjoying the movie.

Fourth, the story line is weak and thin as hell. If anything, the premise is: Freddie makes queen successful, Freddie goes solo, fails, gets aids, needs band, success again. So it is the classic: "things go well, things go to shit, things end well" story line, but it is never convincing. For example there are two or three scenes that zoom into "Freddie being lonely" and not only are these scenes kinda ridiculous (e.g. the flashing lights to Mary), the theme never gets explored entirely (you never feel like you are watching a lonely man). Also, the pivotal point in which John Reed tries to convince Freddie to go solo (which he does) comes out of nowhere and makes very little sense given the story before that scene. For example, if anything the movie stresses the individual contributions to the band (the WWRY scene, the AOBTD bit and even the (quite funny) piece about In love with my car. So the movies hammers along about the quality of the band as a whole and all of a sudden it seems like Freddie is the only good one.

Fifth, the historical inaccuracies (as stressed many times above). Personally I don't have much of a problem with taking creative liberities if it fits the purpose of the movie (so if you want to create a "everything goes to shit at one point in time moment" and you pretend like Hot Space and Break Free happen at the same time, that is ok for me. However, certain things I feel harm the people involved (and could impact their legacy), which I am less ok with. For example, Freddie never took Jim to his parents as his lover. His parents would never approve and within his Zoroastrianism religion homosexuality is not cool. I feel this bit does an injustice to Freddie, his parents and his extended family. Other examples include the Aids triggers LiveAid thing and more importantly the movie suggests that only after queen started playing live aid did people start donating money. I think this is quite unfair towards Geldof and all the artists involved in the LiveAid thing.

Sixth, thinking about it, they could have made two (excellent) movies in different genres both ending at Live Aid:
1. A more 'family' oriented movie about queen (with most of the jokes) focusing on the following story arc(s):
- Queen meet
- Vastly different personality (which explains their success), leading to lots of bickering, but also brilliant outputs
- The rise of success, (from empty school auditoriums to vast venues)
- And as the success rises, so do excess and tensions in the band (people being late, more fighting, production takes longer)
- At the height of their success several things happen at the same time: a) music changing (cue scene between Freddie and Johnny Rotten) so Queen is deemed irrelevant, b) them desperately trying to change course leading to 'flop' album (Hot Space), c) more fighting and arguing and poor decisions based on egos and stupidity (IWTBF), d) 'quasi' break up (i.e. they have a fall out and call for a break).
- Period of struggle for each band member (Brian struggling with relationships and booze, John struggling with his life choices (not liking touring and not really wanting to be in a band), Roger partying and making shoddy solo albums, Fred partying in the gay-scene and also making shoddy solo albums.
- Rock bottom could be something different for all of them (Freddie suspecting he might have HIV, Roger being frustrated with his solo music, Brian being totally unhappy without Queen, John???)
- They call for a band meeting and decide they are better off together and decide to give it one last shot: cue live aid.

2. A more dramatic movie about the life of Freddie in which his troubled personality is the central theme (e.g. the duality between shy Freddie and extrovert Freddie, his loneliness and his sexuality. With all of these driving both his creativity and leading to self-destruction):
- Would start on Zanzibar with his dad being stern and sending Freddie to board school
- Fred is lonely and very shy, discovers love for arts and finds out that he enjoys being on stage (cue hectics)
- Then England where Freddie arrives as an outcast, without friends and we see him in his room doodling and deciding he needs to adapt personas in his live to overcome shyness and loneliness
- Queen meets, Brian and Roger are surprised by the juxtaposition between shy Freddie and stage Freddie
- Freddie being creative and the more successful he is, the more outlandish he becomes
- Freddie exploring his sexuality and finding out he needs both love (primarily from Women) and sex (primarily from Men)
- Freddie discovering that he both loves the attention (being on stage) and hates it at the same time (the press, the interviews)
- More excess and success leading to more arrogance and Freddie confusing success with happiness more and more (thus alienating his family and the band)
- Towards the end (early 80s), Freddie drowning in success and extravagance ("I am doing everything with everyone darling") and just when we think this man is on top of the world, all comes crashing down.
- Solo success is lacking
- Getting tired of sex and finding out it is unfulfilling
- Finding out that partying is shallow and does not lead to long-term fulfillment
- Then; discovering he is probably HIV positive
- Need to drastically alter life choices, settles into Garden Lodge, finds a long term partner (Jim) gets back together with Queen
- Realizes it is the small things that make him happy and discovers what is really important in life
- Life Aid, and while he knows he is going to die (or at least has a hunch), he is fulfilled and happy...

My 2 cents..

All That Jazz, I agree...I have the whole script in my head on how I would make a Queen movie...You nailed It....The bonding for Innuendo would be added in the movie, With a Winter's Tale or Mother Love as the closing song. Not sure how they could mess this up so badly..Queen have such a unique story that deserves better. Never make me boring Freddie once said, It seems Brian is on a life mission too make Queen as boring as he could.

First off and most importantly there is only one scene where Freddie is accurately referred to as Frederick Mercury - so Sebastian won't be happy! ;)

I've seen the film reviewed as a "glorified Wikipedia entry" and I'd say that's about right. But only about 20% of it has any basis in fact. I'm not talking about Queen playing Rio in the mid 70's, Freddie angrily firing John Reid or WWRY with a moustache. I can live with all that. I feel Freddie was portrayed as a tragic Elvis style figure who was out of control with drink and drugs because he couldn't accept who he was until he was diagnosed with Aids and suddenly he got his shit together and realised what was really important in life - his Queen family and that being gay was ok. I wouldn't say he was straightwashed but the theme seems to be that Freddie was happy and confident until his gayness (and Paul Prenter) dragged him down a dark, unhealthy place. If he'd been able to stay with Mary he'd have been much happier - which is rubbish. It didn't portray him as a fun loving gay man who partied hard because he enjoyed it and who, in his quieter moments would have loved a more meaningful, settled relationship. He seems troubled throughout the film apart from at the start and then after the rest of Queen "allow him back into the band once he says he's sorry for pursuing a solo career and getting too big for his boots". That's not a direct quote, but it is the gist of it. But it's during the first few scenes and towards the end that we get a glimpse of the Freddie most of us on this forum would recognise. Ultimately I felt the hand of Brian May all over this which isn't a good thing. And poor John Deacon was the butt of several jokes as being a bit of a nobody. It was quite emotional seeing Rami/Freddie/Frederick in the performance scenes but ultimately I don't think many of us here will enjoy it, even allowing for the timeline whoppers and factual porkies.

Loved it

It's not a documentary so forget about timelines and tashes... it's entertainment pure and simple
Very emotional at times, also funny, slightly clunky editing at the start with a few points were you feel they could have expanded a little, but as it goes on the film captures you and as a fan you get caught up in the gear and the shoot itself. the story possibly sticks too close the real life at points when it could be exaggerated to dynamic effect, and at times some of the timelines get blurred which will piss off those that think it's a true to life doc
It's not its a feature film based in a band
Go see it it's fun....

Ok, I think I got the idea. And some of you thought the Lesley Ann Jones article was bad ;-)

More seriously, I'll be really pissed off if it is as bad as it seems and for that begging scene alone Brian and Roger have ruined whatever was left of my sympathy for them. Some will say it's just a movie, but for me it's more than this. It will damage Queen's image for years and many people who did not know Queen well before will be put off by the final product and the way they handled it. They had an opportunity to work with the best directors and screenwriters out there and create something truly magnificent (which I am sure Freddie's unique tale deserved) yet they fucked it up to "protect the legacy".

It;'s not a documentary (besides, what makes you think documentaries are always truthful and honest?) but it's about real-life people and events, and one of those people isn't around to defend himself any more. I'm sure Fred would never have approved a script where he has to beg to be let back into the band he created. And as if Queen without Fred could have continued and been successful? Fuck that shit.

I hope that begging scene is exaggerated....I think it's time to cut off Brian May for who he is these days...Remember him for who he was instead. This isn't Freddie losing the plot for Hot Space and Bad Guy, that stuff happens....This is Brian blaming Freddie for going solo for one album, and making Freddie look like a fool by begging the mighty Brian if he could come back...very sneaky on his part. I don't think Roger was as involved with this film and doesn't look so thrilled when speaking of the film...This was all Brian.

John must be absolutely losing his shit reading all this!!