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Bohemian Rhapsody: The Story of Freddie Mercury returned to the popularity that the famous rock group never lost
The film tells the story of the band from its creation in 1970 to what is possibly the group's most famous show, Live Aid., held at Wembley Stadium on 13 July 1985.
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Source: YouTube. 20th Century FOX Spain
Although the writers and the script take certain licenses, because as the producers pointed out to the BBC: «Bohemian Rhapsody It’s not a documentary”, the film is made from the story of Queen and Freddie Mercury. It charts the band's beginnings in small venues and universities, their first tour, their subsequent rise to fame and the process of recording their first major masterpiece, the album A Night at the Opera. The different relationships that exist within and outside the group also appear, as well as their apparent separation in 1983.
However, group member Brian May stated during the premiere on October 24th at Wembley which «Bohemian Rhapsody It's not a movie about queen, It’s a film about Freddie.” The group's singer is, without a doubt, the one who spends the most time on screen and whose story can be seen in greater depth. From what he points out as his great love, Mary Austin, to his last known partner, Jim Hutton, the artist's bisexuality is one of the themes covered in the film along with his addiction to drugs and extravagant parties and, finally, his condition as a patient with HIV.
The soundtrack is, without a doubt, one of the most significant elements. It consists of 21 songs that mix studio versions of the band, live versions and even a mix of we will Rock You produced especially for the film. The film starts with Somebody to Love and from then on his biggest successes such as Another bites the dust any Do not stop me now passing by Love of my life, to which special importance is given, until concluding with We are the champions in the form of a beautiful metaphor. It's no wonder Bohemian RhapsodyBeing the song that gives the tape its name, it has a special mention regarding its recording process and its subsequent rejection by major producers.
As for the reception, the box office points to big numbers, caressing the 300 million dollars raised from its 52 million budget, close to becoming the biggest musical biographical film of all time, according to Dinero.com sources. According to Frames, the film managed to gross 50 million in the United States and Canada in the first three days.
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On the contrary, American criticism has not been so benevolent. According to Frames, from Digital Spy, they guarantee that “it is a film aimed, without shame, at Queen fans” and The Guardian, in turn, he believes that “a bolder film could have explored the relationship between Mercury's hedonism, his almost closed-off sexuality and his characters on and off the stage in a more subtle way”.
The only point on which all critics seem to agree is the brilliance of the lead actor, Rami Malek's performance. The actor says that to prepare such a charismatic character, he spent hours studying videos of the artist to be able to imitate his movements on stage, received singing and piano lessons and had to have his teeth removed. Last month, his name became one of the most popular as a candidate for oscar.