Having spent my entire life thrown into a music-centric world, music has always been one of the most influential forces in my life. I’ve played the piano since I was five years old, and I’ve played the saxophone as well as having sung as an alto in multiple separate choirs. Music is important to me, and I feel as though I have a decent understanding of it as an artform as well.
Having gone through a Queen phase(as everyone does) in middle school, it had been too long for me to have remembered how their music affected me when the film Bohemian Rhapsody came out. Yet, I was intrigued and compelled to watch this movie that would bring a semi-accurate image of what life is like being a rock star to life. It’s an idea we’ve all thought of at some point in our lives–the life of a celebrity always seems so glamorous until you do some more research. Most artists actually have been described as having been quite lonely or troubled after their time. Queen, being extremely successful and having such a powerful message, also had their times of doubt and struggle and that being reflected in the media makes a powerful statement.
Needless to say it did not disappoint.
Having had small glimpses at what Rami Malek’s characters have been and his talent was before, I was aware that he is no small actor. Yet, I had never seen him tackle a character with as much gusto as Freddie Mercury had. That is not a small task for any actor: no matter how talented. Yet, Rami Malek completely outdid himself and captured Freddie Mercury in a way that I don’t think any other actor would have been able to accomplish. Taking a character and turning it into your own as an actor is one thing, but taking a real person and bringing them to life is a completely different story. You have those who knew them to stand for you, and you must do an idol justice.
In interviews Malek remains cool, calm, and collected; he has shown a humbleness that is difficult to find nowadays in someone as talented as he is. He speaks eloquently and comes across as genuine and well-rounded on the camera. Both on screen and off-screen I have been impressed with his performance and his persona. The actors that we have to look up to in our generation are far and few inbetween. Not only is Rami Malek a new, fresh face in the acting scene, but he’s also unique and he doesn’t allow himself or his talents to be typecast into one roll.
The film is incredible, as many of his films have been in the past. Despite the ways it deviates from the true timeline of the band, it does bring the essence of their time together to life. Having such a powerful actor bring Freddie Mercury to life will hopefully bring the current generations attention to the dynamic of music and reality that life as an artist holds.