The very first reactions to Bohemian Rhapsody have hit Twitter and they’re mixed.
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First and foremost, it sounds like Rami Malek does an excellent job in the role of Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury so that’s a big “phew” moment.
But the actual film? Not so great.
The biopic, like most others, first takes us on a journey through the band’s rise into stardom followed by Mercury’s attempt at a solo career. Then, as Mercury manages to reunite the band, the film takes us to their iconic performance at Live Aid in 1985. The performance is regarded as one of the band’s greatest.
Ben Hardy, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Joseph Mazzello, and Aidan Gillen co-star.
Based on the early reviews from critics alone, the film’s quite basic and a couple of critics tore right through it. But, they all agreed Malek’s performance is absolutely phenomenal.
Up first, the good reviews:
Deadline associate editor Dino-Ray Ramos absolutely frothed Malek’s performance.
Rami Malik’s phenomenal and game-changing performance as the legendary Freddie Mercury/Farrokh Bulsara cuts through what could have been a very formulaic and basic story of #Queen in #BohemianRhapsody. He owns the fuck out of that film and breathes life into Mercury.
— Dino-Ray (@DinoRay) October 7, 2018
Legion of Leia founder Jenna Busch was also a big fan of Malek.
Absolutely beyond blown away by #BohemianRhapsody! Rami Malek is phenomenal. Gorgeous story, amazing concert movie…I don’t have enough words! pic.twitter.com/2lFZCX2O6d
— Jenna Busch-Henderson (@JennaBusch) October 7, 2018
Here’s Anne Thompson, Editor at Large at Indiewire, keeping it real.
Bohemian Rhapsody is a straight-on biopic with plenty of Queen music and a strong performance by Rami Malek. It will get mixed reviews. It might play with audiences.
— Anne Thompson (@akstanwyck) October 7, 2018
Actor Adam Hann-Byrd – another big fan of Malek.
Got to see #BohemianRhapsody last night. @ItsRamiMalek is absolutely amazing in it. The voice, the physicality… he’s so so good!
— Adam Hann-Byrd (@BigManTate) October 7, 2018
As was Wolf Mantz from the LA Online Film Critics Society.
HOLY HELL!! #BohemianRhapsody is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!! A rousing emotional cinematic champion that will rock you! #RamiMalek is magnificent! It’s great FUN & it will ROCK YOU!! #AStarIsBorn, you’ve been served!! #Queen #FreddieMercury #Galileo pic.twitter.com/grykKkGjoE
— Scott Mantz 🖖 (@MovieMantz) October 7, 2018
I’m counting this as a gewd one – from Mara Reinstein of US Weekly.
How do you turn an ok movie into a good one? Five words: Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury. #BohemianRhapsody
— Mara Reinstein (@MaraReinstein) October 8, 2018
Non-critics, otherwise known as very lucky fans, also got the chance to see the early screening of the film and from what I can see, they were all feeling it big time.
Last night I went to the first showing in the US for the new @QueenWillRock movie and it was sooo amazing I can’t wait for it to come out in November because it’s so beautifully done and I need to see it again!! #BohemianRhapsody
— Eliza ♡ (@eliza_machado5) October 3, 2018
Now, to the not so great reviews.
Eric Kohn, senior editor at Indiewire, wrote:
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY: That Live Aid performance gave me chills. The rest of the movie…
— erickohn (@erickohn) October 8, 2018
Kyle Buchanan, previously Vulture, now New York Times sent this bloody savage review into the world.
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY is a glorified Wikipedia entry but Rami Malek plays Freddie Mercury (and wears his wonderful costumes) with incredible gusto
— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) October 7, 2018
“GLORIFIED WIKIPEDIA ENTRY”
Also this is the first biopic I ever remember watching in which literally every scene I’m thinking, “there’s no way that’s how that actually went down.”
— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) October 8, 2018
I, uh, I think this is a negative one from Jen Yamato of the LA Times.
Watching BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY reminded me of the time I subjected a karaoke bar to Queen’s “Who Wants To Live Forever” (because HIGHLANDER, obvi) and, well, sometimes you’ve got to read a room pic.twitter.com/k6VaFylvm9
— jen yamato (@jenyamato) October 7, 2018
Bohemian Rhapsody will hit Aussie cinemas, November 1. Catch the trailer, below.
