Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?

You would be excused if you burst into song, on or off key – head tilted towards the heavens as you shuffle your way down Carnaby Street this past Christmas. At this time, London was lit in all its glory and Carnaby Street danced to its own tune. Londoners and vacationers had a special Christmas treat.

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Look closely at the photo. The iconic words of Bohemian Rhapsody shone brightly in neon lights the whole length of the street. Artists are accustomed to their names emblazoned in lights, however this was truly spectacular.
It heralded good things to come as recently Rami Malek won a Golden Globe Award for best actor in a drama for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury. I was eager to know whether this dazzling display was justified; it was time to go to the cinema.

My "take"

How often do you go to a film and noisy foot stomping singers do not annoy you? Why? Because you are either singing to the well-known songs yourself, stomping to the beat or at least muffling the familiar words under your breath.
Bohemian Rhapsody was such a film. It was a celebration of Queen’s meteoric rise to success. Freddie Mercury, the extraordinarily talented and artistic lead singer was at the forefront in this film. However, no one was left out as we got a flavor of the character and contributions of the other band members.

Bohemian Rhapsody struck a good balance and did not focus heavily on the sex or drug use of these rock and rollers. It was most certainly present - however some aspects were done subtly. As a result, it was not too gaudy hence the PG13/14 rating. The film does address a lot of topics which viewers will hopefully process with an open mind. One thing that was apparent was the sense of family amongst the band members. This “family bond” is still seen today as the film was co-produced by two of the original band members - Brian May and Roger Taylor. The film also presented Mercury's real family and the complicated relationship between Freddie and his father. The love story of Mercury and Mary Austin is also highlighted.

The acting was great. I believe Queen fans will not be disappointed. Rami Malek’s depiction of Mercury was amazing. He seemed to have tapped into Mercury's energy and became his living embodiment. The clothing and hairstyles were as colorful as the era in which it was set - 1970 -90’s. (Incidentally Brian May still dons his 70’s hairstyle) The film was beautifully shot hence drawing the audience in; especially for the concert scenes. Most spectacular was the phenomenal recreation of Queen's participation in the Live Aid Concert in 1985.

As a 2 hour biographical film, it was enjoyable, funny and entertaining. Queen gave the world some unforgettable music, which is still being enjoyed today. I will not throw in any spoilers – to find out more you need to go to the cinema.

Queen at the Live Aid Concert on July 13, 1985

Photo of Canarby Street London taken with iPhone 6S - December 2018