Bohemian Rhapsody is arguably Queen’s most famous and widely discussed song. Similarly, the film adaptation faced considerable skepticism prior to its release. Critics cited concerns such as “genre mishmash”, “superficiality”, and that it was “not a masterpiece,” with some even suggesting it was “trying to imitate Led Zeppelin” while others deemed it merely “good enough.” A Queen biopic had been in development for over a decade. Following Sasha Baron Cohen’s breakthrough role as Borat, he quickly became the frontrunner to portray Freddie Mercury, the band’s legendary and charismatic frontman. However, disagreements arose between Cohen and the band regarding the narrative’s direction. The band members reportedly favored focusing on Freddie’s death and “Queen’s continued career,” a potentially contentious choice. This led to the project’s suspension. Eventually, director Bryan Singer (Usual Suspects, Apt Pupil) took the helm and relaunched the film (with Dexter Fletcher contributing directing work for a week after Singer’s dismissal by Fox). The film went on to receive numerous nominations and an Oscar for Rami Malek’s lead performance (despite some criticism regarding his resemblance to Mercury), and achieved a record as the highest-grossing musical biography ever (grossing $1.1 billion at the time of writing). Given its turbulent production, does the film deliver a compelling cinematic experience? The answer is a resounding yes.
Bohemian Rhapsody recounts the story of Farrokh Bulsara (Rami Malek), a young British man born in Zanzibar and raised in an Indo-Persian family. He encounters a group of musicians who would later form Queen. The film chronicles how Farrokh transforms into Freddie Mercury, a charismatic performer with a unique voice and captivating stage presence. Queen defied conventions, incorporating elements of pop, opera, anthems, disco, and musical theatre into their repertoire. The film depicts Freddie’s life of luxury and immersion in the international gay community, culminating in his death from AIDS in 1991, which significantly raised global awareness of the disease. The narrative explores themes of ambition, camaraderie, betrayal, redemption, and the transcendent power of music.
The UHD edition features Dolby Vision-HDR and delivers generally high picture quality, although it may not exhibit the absolute sharpest detail or deepest contrasts and colors. The lighting sometimes appears slightly dated, introducing some noise and presenting challenges for the digital transfer. Despite being reportedly shot on Arri Alexa 6.5K, the image occasionally appears upscaled from a 2K master.
The Dolby Atmos sound design is particularly dynamic, enhancing the drama and recording scenes with its object-based audio. The concert sequences are especially immersive, creating an exciting experience for the viewer with detailed sound, warm instruments, and meticulously recreated vocals (Mercury’s iconic singing voice benefits from digital enhancement). Bohemian Rhapsody is best enjoyed on a home theater system with quality picture and sound at elevated volumes.
The supplemental material includes a recreation of Queen’s 20-minute performance at Live Aid (refer to this YouTube video for a demonstration of the meticulous recreation of details from the real concert. This is one of the film’s strongest scenes). The Blu-ray disc also features two documentaries focusing on Queen’s sonic identity and Malek’s transformation into Mercury.
Bohemian Rhapsody is a biographical film crafted in classic Hollywood style. This is a genre in which Hollywood excels. While Bryan Singer’s reputation may be controversial, his directorial skill is evident (dating back to his breakthrough with The Usual Suspects). The film may not offer major narrative surprises, but the pacing, emotional depth, humor, and exploration of the band’s history, alongside the musical highlights, create a viewing experience that encourages repeat viewings. And the music is undeniably fantastic. One minor critique is the omission of more Queen songs (although Show Must Go On plays during the end credits), and a sequel has been discussed.
Criticism of the film has been varied. While Rami Malek’s physical appearance may differ from Freddie Mercury’s, he effectively embodies Freddie’s body language, energy, and emotional depth, which is a fundamental aspect of acting. While physical resemblance is outside of an actor’s control, efforts were made to capture Freddie’s unique mouth shape and speech patterns using prosthetics and vocal coaching. Some critics have also suggested that the film “sanitizes” and downplays Mercury’s homosexuality. However, the film depicts Mercury’s relationships, including his long-term relationship with Mary Austin (Lucy Boynton), with sensitivity and honesty. While the complete truth is known only to those who knew Freddie personally, the assertion that Bohemian Rhapsody is a calculated attempt to diminish Mercury’s homosexuality and lifestyle is unsubstantiated.
In summary, Bohemian Rhapsody is a compelling music biography featuring strong performances, engaging pacing, and an exceptional soundtrack that warrants playing loudly in a home theater environment.
