Amazing

Rating: 10/10 (9 December 2018)

This is an amazing movie that deserves to be seen on the big screen. It leads up to Queen's legendary Live Aid performance on July 13, 1985 and focuses heavily on Freddie Mercury on particular. It show Freddie's family life (they came to England from Zanzibar), how the band was formed and how they eventually rose to stardom, including how a couple of their songs were created. It also shows his relationship with love of his life Mary Austin, played sensitively by Lucy Boynton, and how he eventually comes out as gay.
Of course, pretty much all the major Queen songs are played throughout and used very well to support the story line - from what I understand, the singing is a mix of Freddie's, actor Rami Malek's and singer Marc Martel's, but Freddie's is heavily featured. The Live Aid scene is incredible and it gave me shivers to see just how many people were there that day and how Freddie interacted with the audience. Rami Malek is incredible as Freddie, capturing his speech and gestures and energy. The actors playing bandmates Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon are also great. While there are some quite funny moments and powerful concert scenes, there are quiet and sensitive moments as well and it is very moving particularly at the end; I cried quite a bit and I definitely was not alone.
Yes, some things are not completely accurate but I believe they had to be changed to fit the movie, and at the end of the day the main purpose of a movie is to make you experience and feel something and this definitely does that. It is a movie that stays with you for a long time, and it will make you want to listen to Queen music and probably also see Freddie and the band in a new light.