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BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
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Dir: Bryan Singer (15, 106 mins)
This Freddie Mercury biopic has had a troubled production history. Director Bryan Singer and his Freddie, Rami Malek, have had a turbulent relationship, with Singer fired from the production towards the end of shooting and British actor/director Dexter Fletcher taking over at the helm. The film follows Mercury’s ascent with Queen, the tensions that arose when Mercury wanted a solo career, the band’s rip-roaring performance at Live Aid and, finally, Mercury’s diagnosis with AIDS. Malek, from TV’s Mr Robot is all buck teeth, strut and ‘tache as Mercury – kitted out in his glam rock leotards and larger-than-life stage persona, supported by Ben Hardy as drummer Roger Taylor, Gwilym Lee as guitarist and badger defender Brian May, Joseph Mazzello as bassist John Deacon. Elsewhere, Lucy Boynton plays his lifelong companion Mary Austin while Tom Hollander is manager Jim Beach. The music is front and centre but whether it will offer any true insight into Mercury and his life is open to question. Can you do the fandango? Opens Oct 24
words Keiron Self