Bohemian Rhapsody – 2018
I must admit I knew nothing of Queen, not my music era. I did visit Mercury’s Restaurant while roaming about Zanzibar. I can hum along with We Are the Champions and stomp along with We Will Rock You but I couldn’t have told you before this movie who they were by. Ergo, I watched Bohemian Rhapsody as a complete outlier. I was probably camping with my two young sons during 1985’s Live Aid Concert, missing Queen’s twenty-one minute performance, voted the greatest live performance in the history of rock, an embarrassing omission of my pop culture heritage. Mea culpa. Now, with these mildly humiliating disclosures out in public, let me enthusiastically add my vote and say I loved this movie! Everything about it entertained and held my interest: the music revolution, the band evolution, the intertwined relationships, and the rise, fall & redemption of Freddie the superstar, the musician, man, son & friend. The 135 minute film duration was engaging, intriguing and provided full throttle fascination from start through the credit roll. While I doubt the Academy Awards will align with the Golden Globes, there are better 2018 films for an Oscar nod (A Star Is Born is NOT one of them), Bohemian Rhapsody well earns the price of admission and Rami Malek’s sensational & mesmerizing performance as Freddie Mercury without question deserves nomination for Best Actor. 👍
