On July 13, 1985, a day destined to be remembered by all rock enthusiasts, a massive rock concert called Live Aid took place simultaneously in London, UK, and Philadelphia, USA. This rock spectacle, organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, aimed to raise funds for the famine in Ethiopia and mobilized 90,000 live attendees and nearly 1.5 billion television viewers. What renders this concert truly memorable is the gathering of some of the most prominent rock musicians from the 1970s and 1980s, such as Bob Dylan, U2, Paul McCartney, and notably, the focus of our conversation today, Queen. Lasting for an impressive 16 hours, this performance managed to raise an astounding $80 million and attracted substantial attention during its time.
Within this grandiose performance, the show by one particular band has been hailed as "one of the greatest rock performances in history" for decades, and that is the electrifying performance by the legendary rock band Queen. Queen stands as one of the most triumphant bands in rock history, their songs not just claiming numerous music awards but consistently reigning atop music sales charts. Timeless classics like "We Are the Champions" and "We Will Rock You," still chanted today, hold a revered place as essential tunes for significant events. The legend of Queen extends beyond the innovative style of their music; it resides in the defiance and critique embedded within their performances, urging individuals to discover their self-worth and rise above immediate adversities without succumbing to defeat.
At the 76th Golden Globe Awards, the film "Bohemian Rhapsody" emerged as the surprise success of the evening. Not only did it secure the Best Actor in a Drama award for its lead, but it also claimed the prestigious honor of Best Motion Picture – Drama. This film, titled after one of Queen's most iconic tracks, "Bohemian Rhapsody," delves into the personal journey of Freddie Mercury, the frontman of the band Queen. It intricately weaves together the legendary tale of his life while chronicling the band's evolution into the celebrated rock music phenomenon that is Queen.
Every year, a varied array of biographical films hit the screens, from titles like "Hidden Figures" and “The Disaster Artist” to "Darkest Hour," for which Gary Oldman earned the Best Actor Oscar. Assessing the quality of biographical films remains a topic of diverse opinions. Some argue that as long as audiences witness these legendary figures on the big screen, the ticket price becomes justified. However, I find it hard to agree with this viewpoint. Unlike documentaries, if a film about a real individual merely "re-enacts" their life, one might question why not opt for a documentary instead. Documentaries often offer interviews and factual content related to the person without the need for an actor's portrayal. This approach sometimes allows for a more intimate understanding of the idol.
Therefore, a biographical film is by no means complete by merely putting a prominent figure on the screen. It should allow the audience to understand the "ordinary" side of the protagonist through the film, showcasing their pain and struggles. The nuanced expression of emotions that we can empathize with is the basic criterion for evaluating a good biographical film.
Just like the Oscar-winning films "The King's Speech" and "Darkest Hour," where we are familiar with the famous events and figures, the intimate moments that reveal how the stuttering king dealt with his identity and relationships, how the iron-fisted prime minister grappled with internal struggles before turning the tide, how he balanced the choices between family and career, and the pressures of the nation's fate—these are perhaps the private emotional moments we want to see.
Returning to the discussion about "Bohemian Rhapsody," it's crucial to highlight Rami Malek's portrayal of Freddie Mercury, which stands as a testament to the film. Malek's dedication to the role is evident throughout. What the audience witnesses on screen is a departure from the tech geek character of "Mr. Robot" to a complete embodiment of a rock enthusiast. Malek authentically embraces Freddie's persona, meticulously capturing every facet of his demeanor, from the makeup and wardrobe choices to the mannerisms and speech patterns. Particularly noteworthy is the final 20-minute Live Aid concert sequence, where Malek's portrayal shines. Every dance move, microphone gesture, interaction with the crowd, and the sheer passion reflected in his eyes are incredibly memorable and utterly convincing.
Furthermore, in its homage to Queen, the film attains an unparalleled level of tribute. It beautifully portrays the band's journey, from its inception to the launch of their debut single, chronicling their evolution from performing in underground venues to embarking on tours across the United States and the globe. Queen's music possesses an enchanting quality, akin to a magical amalgamation that blends rock, heavy metal, classical melodies, disco rhythms, and intricate piano solos into a distinctive and captivating style. Those who don't understand Queen may view them as madmen. Take "Bohemian Rhapsody," for example. When Freddie presented it to the record label, they rejected it as the lead single due to its strange style and lengthy duration, even insulting the song as rubbish that would become a laughingstock. But as we all know, this song not only quickly topped the UK charts upon its release but also stayed at that position for nine consecutive weeks, breaking the record for the longest stay at number one on the UK charts for a single at that time.
Although the film has many classic tracks and numerous emotionally moving moments, is it really perfect? The global box office exceeding six billion dollars indicates the audience's love for this film. But ultimately, are viewers cherishing Queen through this film, or is the film genuinely well-made?
From my perspective, as a Queen music enthusiast, I would naturally have an indescribable love for those songs. Personally, I was deeply moved when "We Will Rock You" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" appeared in the film. Certainly, despite the emotional teary impact, there remains a sense of unease with the film. When scrutinized as a biography, several regrettable issues come to light, particularly concerning character development.
Since it is a biographical film about Freddie himself, the film should entirely focus on every aspect of his private life from the beginning. However, it is evident that the director loses control of the pacing in the first half of the story. The issues related to Freddie's family background and the resulting misalignment and struggle with identity and culture are merely touched upon and quickly glossed over. The film rushes to start Freddie's legend, neglecting the most discussable aspects of the character itself.
Even the formation of the band is briefly glossed over by the director. How Brian May and Roger Taylor accepted this immigrant rebel, Freddie, is depicted as a collaboration achieved merely through Freddie's powerful voice. Perhaps this is how it happened in reality, but it's evident that more dramatic treatment could have been applied here to reinforce the hard-won core spirit of Queen—“family.” The current impression is that everything in the film is too smooth, for both Freddie personally and Queen as a whole.
Perhaps the director assumed that the audience already knew everything behind the scenes, but, as a biographical film, aren't those subtle emotions and feelings the most important? By missing the moments where characters establish an "identity" with the audience, no matter what happens later, we are more like bystanders, and there is always a layer of separation between us and the characters. This makes it difficult for the audience to truly empathize with Freddie when he hits rock bottom in the later part of the film.
Similar issues occur frequently in the latter part of the film. For instance, regarding Mary Austin, Freddie's lifelong love, why is she his destined partner? Is it just because they exchanged glances in a crowd? The director does not emphasize and highlight the relationship between them as soulmates. In contrast, "The Theory of Everything" portrays the meeting and understanding between Hawking and his wife in a delicate manner, allowing the audience to understand their importance to each other. In comparison, this film lacks such depth, and Freddie's feelings towards Mary seem more like guilt, and later, dependence. Even the person who directly helps Freddie out of his low point is Mary. Such an important character should have been more emphasized in the film, but unfortunately, this part is clearly lacking.
Furthermore, another aspect worth portraying and presenting for Freddie is his "homosexual" identity, his exploration and the re-definition of his sexual orientation. This should be an important part of Freddie's life story, yet the portrayal of this aspect of the character remains simplistic and direct. Apart from a few ambiguous shots during concerts and sporadic scenes interspersed with Queen's development, there is no dedicated segment showcasing his personal gender identity exploration. This inevitably leaves the audience with questions—how did Mary discover Freddie's sexual orientation? How did people around him perceive him? How was he treated when his identity as a homosexual was exposed? These aspects are not shown to the audience. Throughout the entire viewing process, viewers only see the character's "state" and "result," but not the "process," which is often what we want to see in a movie.
Due to the lack of basic character development, Freddie's character in the entire film feels more like a simple imitation rather than an immersion into the character's inner self. Everything seems superficial, such as the reconciliation with his father at the end, his relationship with Mary, and the bonds within the band. The audience is present, but they are always on the outside, merely observing instead of participating.
In comparison, the film "The Disaster Artist," which was considered a dark horse but was eventually sidelined due to some negative comments about the director, might be more relatable to the audience. The absolute loser, the born oddity, Greg, who produced a film equivalent to "Citizen Kane" in the realm of bad movies—perhaps he is one of the most incomprehensible characters. However, the director, Frank, accomplished it. Why is it relatable? Because the director didn't rush into the epic filming process of that historically bad movie, which would have been the film's biggest attraction. Instead, he first solidly established the character's motivations and his cinematic dreams, his relationship with his good friend, and his aspirations, making everything that followed reasonable and empathetic.
The position of Queen in the history of rock music is undeniable. It may not be the greatest, but it is undoubtedly one of the most memorable bands. As Freddie's father eloquently put it, "Noble thoughts, beautiful language, meaningful actions," this, in a sense, is the spirit of Queen and what everyone should strive for. Holding onto ideals, acting in ways that are true to oneself and worthy of loved ones, and doing things that are worthy of one's conscience—Queen achieved this, and so did Freddie. From this perspective, perhaps the film is not perfect, but the inspiration and insights each person gains from it might be the true significance of the movie.
Share your thoughts!
Be the first to start the conversation.