‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ adds to Freddie Mercury’s legend

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IMAGE / Autumn Prescott

“Bohemian Rhapsody” captured Queen’s one-of-a-kind rise to fame in a brilliant way.

British rock band Queen topped the charts in the ’70s and ’80s. With the latest 20th Century Fox film “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the band is once again making waves in pop culture.

The movie documents the journey of the popular band, specifically the story of lead singer Freddie Mercury. Mercury amazed audiences with his vocal range and on-stage persona, which is illustrated in the biopic, released Tuesday, Oct. 23.

Audiences quickly learn the background of Mercury, who was born in the Sultanate of Zanzibar (Tanzania) as Farrokh Bulsara. After moving to England with his family and studying art, he formed Queen with musicians Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon.

The film depicts many struggles the band faced, including the managerial criticism of their one-of-a-kind albums along with other behind-the-scenes drama and stories.

For each conversation or recording session documented in the film, the audience also gets a musical number.

For the 1977 hit “We Will Rock You,” viewers actually get the story behind the tune. After lead guitarist Brian May suggests writing a song anyone can sing along to, the iconic beat and lyrics quickly follow, creating an easy transition into the next scene.

The clip made me want to stomp my feet and clap along, a feeling any musical should strive for.

Actor Rami Malek portrayed the late singer (Mercury) tastefully. He brilliantly showcased Mercury’s hardships of exploring his sexual orientation and balancing his private and public life.

Scenes from the movie can easily be compared to real-life events, especially when looking at Mercury’s vibrant outfits. Outfits like his iconic jumpsuits, regal cape and crown, and toned-down Live Aid ensemble (consisting of a white tank top, jeans, and black armband), are all recognizable in the movie.

Senior Madeline Raysin took note of the movie’s attention to detail.

“Rami Malek played the character really well,” Raysin said. “I watched the actual Live Aid performance (the finale of the film) after the movie and it looked just like the real thing.”

The film scored a 62 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, though the website also reports that 93 percents of audiences enjoyed it.

It was a fantastic depiction of how Queen evolved as a rock band and how the group faced many challenges from the public, music industry giants, and even themselves.

“I think the movie showed us a side of the band that no one has seen before.

— Madeline Raysin, senior

The acting talents of Ben Hardy (Taylor), Gwilym Lee (May), and Joseph Mazzello (Deacon), along with supporting performances by Mike Myers (Ray Foster) and Lucy Boynton (Mary Austin) created a beautiful story dedicated to one of the best rock groups in history.

Raysin believes the movie provided an unexplored perspective of the group’s rise to fame.

“I think the movie showed us a side of the band that no one has seen before, and I was actually shocked,” Raysin said.

Every detail was intricately placed into every scene, bit of dialogue, and character presentation. Queen is a name everybody recognizes, and the movie had to emulate the band’s unique and original identity.

Mercury summed it up perfectly, saying in an interview before he died, “I won’t be a rock star. I will be a legend.”