I’ve always been a fan of the wondrous, groundbreaking band Queen and their lead singer, Freddie Mercury, so I was thrilled when I heard the movie Bohemian Rhapsody was coming out based on their journey as a band. For weeks I waited for the blockbuster film about the greatest rock band in history, and when I first got to watch it, I was not disappointed.

The movie starts with Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek) running up the stage to what we later learn is the well-known Live Aid Concert. Right before he actually gets on stage, however, the movie cuts back to before the formation of the band. We see future band members Brian May on guitar and Roger Taylor on drums playing in a band called Smile at a local bar as Freddie watches from afar.

The same night Smile’s lead singer quits and Freddie joins the band. After finding bass player John Deacon, the band does their first live performance, and the famous band Queen was born. The band encounters some trouble getting started, but after selling their van they get into a recording studio and produce their album. Eventually they start their tour of America where their album hit the charts.

Early on, the movie touches on the subject of Mercury’s sexuality, and whether he’ll stay true to his fiancée, Mary Austin. As success for the band increases, tensions rise all around, and Freddie gets sucked down an even darker path. The movie glosses over Freddie’s activities and leaves it mostly to the imagination but still manages to cause the viewer’s heart to ache, especially when they see how far he’s drifted.

Overall, the movie does a wonderful job summarizing the career of the band. Obviously in just a little over two hours not every album and tour can be covered, but the movie manages to play many of Queen’s hits, and each one is done extraordinarily well on the big screen. The ending number “We Are The Champions” is especially stunning when the band performs at the Live Aid Concert at Wembley Stadium.

In addition to the spectacular soundtrack,  Rami Malek does a spectacular job portraying the legendary Freddie Mercury. From the way he talks to the way he moves on stage, Malek embodies all of Mercury’s aura and presentation. Accompanied by the perfect supporting cast, Malek’s performance alone makes the whole movie worth watching.

Though the beginning of the movie starts off a little slow, once the band has actually been formed, there’s not a moment lacking entertainment. Along with the excellent cinematography and wardrobe designs, the dialogue is expertly written and is sure to make the viewer laugh. Simply put, everything comes together to make an amazing movie and is a wonderful entertainment.

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie Bohemian Rhapsody and Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury. This film is definitely worth watching, especially for fans of Queen. The scenes, the soundtrack, and the chemistry between the actors is absolutely perfect. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves Queen as much as I do or has an appreciation for cinematography. I give it 5/5 stars.