By Ben Thompson
On the day I saw ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, it’d been exactly twenty seven years since Freddie Mercury had passed away. Dying at only 45 years old, Mercury left behind a legacy that is yet to be outdone. This film not only does his story justice, it is a perfect love letter to Queen and to music in general.
The film does not give a sanitised version of Mercury’s story. The audience see him at his lowest points, and we’re almost drawn to dislike him in those moments – but who could stay angry with Freddie Mercury?
These moments also make it all the more satisfying when we see him triumph. The Live Aid scene is an immersive cinematic masterpiece, positioning the audience as concert spectators, creating an overwhelming urge to tap your feet and sing along.
While fans of Queen will almost undoubtedly love this film, some creative liberties have been taken. The casual movie-goer may not pick up on some inaccuracies – Freddie Mercury didn’t know he had AIDs before Live Aid, for instance, as presented in the film – but some die-hard fans may be raising an eyebrow here and there.
This is not a documentary, however, and as a biopic, it is a triumph of its genre.
Featured image: Netflix Action, drama, comedy, and a strong 80s aesthetic: Stranger Things is something of a modern classic and, for Gen Z, a familiar piece of contemporary media that seems to transcend age. My first taste of legendary bands such as New Order and Echo & The Bunnymen came from those first couple of…
Featured image: Anna Torrance Blending music and literature in a whirlwind of a weekend of talks, performances and discussion, Louder Than Words Festival returns to Manchester for 2025, bringing together musicians, writers and photographers from around the UK. Set within the intimate chambers of the INNSiDE Hotel, the festival offers a packed programme of acoustic…
aAh! Magazine invites all Manchester Met students with a passion for journalism, writing, design, illustration, and photography to pitch ideas for our upcoming print issue: The REAL Issue. This issue will explore what realness means today, especially for young people and students navigating a world dominated by digital life, social media and AI. What does authenticity…
By Adam Taylor It’s time to post your top artists to show how cool and different you are. Spotify Wrapped for 2025 has finally dropped. This stat-loaded list of listening habits gets everyone excited, revealing top artists, songs, podcasts, music genres, and hours listened – which can be a bit concerning… Spotify adds new features…
Leave a reply