The Low Down on BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

ABOUT BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
Bohemian Rhapsody’ is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury, who defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet.   Freddie is played on screen by American actor Rami Malek best known for his Emmy Award winning role in the television series ‘Mr. Robot’.

BEING FREDDIE
In order to get all of Mercury’s nuances just right, actor Rami Malek obsessively studied interviews and performances of the rock legend. It was important for the actor to “understand the different sides of him, from his brash entertainer persona to his more “reclusive” side behind closed doors.

SMILE
The most surprising track in the movie is a new recording of “Doing All Right,” which is a song from May and drummer Roger Taylor’s earlier band called Smile. This 2018 version features May, Taylor & Smile vocalist Tim Staffell singing vocals.

LIZA WITH A Z
Malek revealed that he mastered Mercury’s stage moves by looking at performers who inspired Freddie like David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and Liza Minnelli. “It was almost more useful at times to watch Liza than it was to watch Freddie himself.” Said Malek, “You found the inspiration and birth of those movements.”

UNDER PRESSURE
The film was first announced in 2010 but took 8 years to reach our screens, the production wasn’t plain sailing, finding the right actor to play Freddie was a challenge with both Sacha Baron Cohen & Ben Whishaw involved at one stage. Every time there was a challenge on set, Rami Malek asked himself “What would Freddie do?” The actor says Freddie’s energy saw him through all the drama on set, including a change of director half way through the shoot.

THAT’S MY FREDDIE
Rami Malek got to meet Freddie’s sister while in full 70’s glam rock costume. When she saw him she gave her seal of approval saying “Thats my Freddie.” Malek revealed, “She wrote me the most moving email, it was very powerful. To get that vote of appreciation from the people who were closest to him meant everything.”


14
Queen’s single “Bohemian Rhapsody” was number one for 14 weeks. Nine weeks in 1975 and a further five weeks when rereleased in 1991.

22
The soundtrack from the movie will feature 22 tracks, including previously unreleased recordings from Queen’s iconic Live Aid concert.

81
Queen’s Greatest Hits album released in 81 is still the best selling album of all time in the UK.

REVIEW
Movies.ie gave the movie 3.5 stars – calling it ‘A Kind Of Magic’ – check out the review here

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY is now showing in Irish cinemas