5 days ago
Queen fans have just days to watch Oscar-winning biopic 'gripping' viewers
The movie has been available to stream on Netflix for some time - but it's set to leave the platform this week
The 2018 biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, which chronicled the extraordinary life of Queen's lead singer Freddie Mercury, made quite a splash upon its release.
The film primarily focused on the iconic musician's journey, from the formation of Queen in 1970 to their unforgettable Live Aid performance at the original Wembley Stadium in 1985, and was a resounding success.
Bohemian Rhapsody was a colossal commercial triumph, raking in an impressive $910.8 million globally against a production budget of $50–55 million.
This led to it being crowned the highest-grossing biographical drama ever, until it was recently toppled by Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer in 2023.
It also ranked as the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2018. Despite currently being available on Netflix, Bohemian Rhapsody is set to depart from the streaming platform on June 15.
The screenplay for the biopic was crafted by Anthony McCarten and produced by Queen's manager Jim Beach and Graham King. Bryan Singer directed the film, which was first announced in 2010 with Sacha Baron Cohen slated to portray Freddie Mercury, reports Surrey Live.
However, the Borat actor left the project in mid-2013 due to creative differences with the producers, causing the film to be put on hold until 2016 when Rami Malek was cast in the lead role. The film's production troubles didn't stop there.
Bryan Singer, who was the director for most of the principal photography (which kicked off in London in September 2017), was sacked from the project in December 2017 due to his regular no-shows on set and conflicts with the cast and crew. Dexter Fletcher, who was initially considered to helm the film during its early development stages, was then roped in to complete the movie.
However, due to Directors Guild of America rules, Bryan Singer retained the sole directing credit, while Dexter Fletcher was acknowledged as an executive producer. Rami Malek took centre stage as Freddie Mercury, supported by a star-studded cast that included Lucy Boynton, Ben Hardy, Tom Hollander, Joe Mazzello, Mike Myers, Gwilym Lee, and Aidan Gillen.
Queen band members Brian May and Roger Taylor also lent their expertise as consultants on the film. Bohemian Rhapsody had a remarkable run on the awards circuit, scooping four major accolades at the 91st Academy Awards: Best Actor for Rami Malek, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing, along with a Best Picture nomination.
Rami bagged a Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor for his performance. Bohemian Rhapsody also clinched the Best Motion Picture – Drama, at the Golden Globe Awards that year, as well as the BAFTA Award for Best British Film.
The biopic garnered a mixed bag of critiques, yet Rami's depiction of the iconic Queen frontman was universally lauded, with one reviewer noting: "Malek does an impressive job of re-creating Mercury's moves onstage, but the core of the performance is Malek's intensely thoughtful, insight-rich channelling of Mercury's hurt, his alienation and isolation even at the height of his fame."
Another critic was captivated by Rami's portrayal, saying: "I can't remember the last time I have been so gripped by an actor's performance, from the first frame to the last." One review acknowledged the film's merits, saying: "Bohemian Rhapsody doesn't suck.
"There's a soul inside it, and some anguish, too." Yet another offered a mixed view: "Rami Malek is a revelation, but his performance feels wasted in Bohemian Rhapsody, a movie that can't decide if it wants to honour Queen frontman Freddie Mercury or punish him."
Criticism arose regarding the film's treatment of Freddie Mercury's sexuality, with a commentator remarking: "Bohemian Rhapsody is a movie that consciously tries to position a gay man at its centre while strategically disengaging with the 'gay' part as much as it can..." Conversely, audience reactions were more favourable, with a viewer sharing: "This biopic shows us a glimpse of who Freddie was and became, the emotions given are pure at heart, you felt every beat and followed every step.
"This story may not have been entirely factual but we are given a blue print of where the band stood and the relation to Freddie. The performance the actor has given has matched both persona and musically, the energy and time has been well placed, the cinematography is crisp.
"This may be one of the few biopics that would stay true to its fallen legend. The fact Brian May was involved made this bio pic official and not superficial.
"It is a must see for any Queen fan." Meanwhile, another film-goer penned: "5/5 great movie, I've seen it more than twice.
"I'm not going into more details. I don't want to argue with a bunch of wanna be Queen fans. A must see movie."
