Assuming you’re familiar with the legendary band Queen and its iconic frontman Freddie Mercury, you might also know about the 2018 biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody.” This film brings to life Freddie’s journey to stardom and has been celebrated with numerous awards, including a 2019 Golden Globe for Best Picture.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” charts the rise of Freddie Mercury and Queen, capturing their music, struggles, and triumphs, culminating in their unforgettable Live Aid performance. Directed by Bryan Singer, with Graham King and Queen’s manager Jim Beach as producers, the movie narrates the band’s story up to their 1985 Live Aid concert.
Rami Malek, who stepped into Freddie Mercury’s shoes for the film, received widespread acclaim for his role, earning him a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, an Academy Award for Best Actor, and a BAFTA. A creatively edited video available online juxtaposes Queen’s original 1985 Live Aid concert with the movie’s recreation of that performance, showcasing meticulous attention to detail.
Early scenes of the movie paint a picture of Mercury’s relentless chase for musical greatness, juxtaposed with his struggle to reconcile his public persona with his private life. Despite Mercury breaking the mold to become an adored rock legend, the film poignantly poses the question: Could his life have been fuller had he been free to truly be himself from the start?
Rami Malek shared that he immersed himself in Queen’s original Live Aid footage on YouTube more than a thousand times to perfect his rendition for the film’s climactic scene. “It felt like I had it in my bones,” he remarked. Queen’s guitarist Brian May praised Malek’s portrayal as “flawless,” an acknowledgment for the actor’s dedication to authentically capturing Mercury’s essence.
Initially, the role of the legendary singer was to be portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen when plans for the film were announced in 2010. Yet, due to differing visions for the film between Sacha and the directors, he exited the project in 2013.
After a few years’ delay, Rami Malek was chosen to step into the iconic shoes of Freddie Mercury in November 2016. Despite this exciting casting, the production faced its share of turbulence. Bryan Singer, the film’s director for a significant portion of the principal photography, was dismissed following conflicts with cast and crew members and his subsequent exit from the set.
Dexter Fletcher, who had been considered for the directorial role early on, was called in to complete the movie, earning an executive producer credit, while Singer maintained the director credit following the Directors Guild of America’s guidelines.
Navigating through these challenges, “Bohemian Rhapsody” made its debut on October 24, 2018, in the UK, followed by a November 2 release in the USA. The film went on to amass a staggering $903.7 million at the box office.
Starring Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury, alongside Gwilym Lee as Brian May, Ben Hardy as Roger Taylor, Joseph Mazzello as John Deacon, Aidan Gillen as John Reid, Lucy Boynton as Mary Austin, and Aaron McCusker as Jim Hutton, the ensemble cast brought to life the story of one of the most cherished bands in music history. Their compelling portrayals contributed to “Bohemian Rhapsody” becoming the most successful musical biopic ever.
The “Bohemian Rhapsody” film has come under the microscope of both avid Queen fans and discerning film critics globally. From its script to its soundtrack, which interestingly includes vocals by Freddie Mercury soundalike Marc Martel, the movie has been praised for its faithful depiction of Queen’s band members’ lives. It even delves into the peculiar detail of Freddie’s dental structure, as Malek had to add four additional teeth to his upper jaw.
The Live Aid concert at the original Wembley Stadium remains etched in history as one of the most electrifying live shows ever. The 2018 biopic sheds light on the layers of Freddie’s life that led to this iconic performance, from his early days, his journey in music, deep bonds with his bandmates, his venture into a solo career, and his relationship with his lover Mary Austin. Furthermore, the movie charts his transformation from Farrokh Bulsara to the global phenomenon, Freddie Mercury.
“The only friend I’ve got is Mary, and I don’t want anybody else. To me, she was my common-law wife. To me, it was a marriage. We believe in each other, that’s enough for me,” the legendary performer said in an interview.
The movie sheds light on the journey to Queen’s iconic Live Aid performance, offering insights that might explain why they delivered one of the most unforgettable shows in rock and roll history.
Below is the complete set of Queen’s 1985 Live Aid performance, hailed as the pinnacle of live music experiences. Even without the context of the film, this performance is bound to stir emotions and perhaps even cause goosebumps.
For fans of Queen, the movie is a golden opportunity to see the buildup to this monumental event. While the original Live Aid footage could have served as a powerful climax for the film, the recreated scene is masterfully done, enriching the story with behind-the-scenes details and offstage dynamics.
