Queen, the infamous British rock band, has made it to the silver screen. The biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” named from one of their most famous songs, hit theaters on Nov. 2, 2018. Depicting the rise of a group that would go make history, the film follows Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon and takes a closer look at the life and career of Freddie Mercury. The infamous lead singer, with a stage presence like no other. Over the course of two hours and fifteen minutes, audiences are transported back into the early stages of Queen’s creativity and the birth of tracks that would make music history.

Mercury was like any other man on the streets, living and working as a luggage handler. One night, when he walked into the performance of a band he had his eye on, that Brian May and Roger Taylor were a part of. He approached them one night after a gig offering up his talents, and the rest is history. Once they came together, later adding John Deacon to the mix, they were an unstoppable force. They had a vision and a dream that could not be stopped. Whatever it took, the members of Queen were not afraid to be bold and take a risk. They never doubted their capability for greatness.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” shines a light on the life of Mercury. His wild personality and his larger than life actions. He was a force to be reckoned with. He was a spark within the band, a fire that was set ablaze by Queens’ success.

As we see Queen develop, as we witness four men go from just a band to a family. We also witness the birth of some of the most famous songs in history: ‘We will rock you,” “Love of my life” and the film’s title “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The creative process that shows a band that did not confine to one meaning. They experimented, they did not settle for one sound and they refused to fall into a routine. “No one knows what Queen means because it does not mean one thing,” said Rami Malek, who plays Mercury in the film. 

Mercury, though a wildly talented man, was a complicated individual. As shown in the film, he spent a great deal of time lost, looking for something to hold onto, hoping for a deeper meaning in the life he has created and the image to which he has made. He became consumed with the thrill of lavish parties, of a life in which the alcohol bottle is always empty. He wanted to impress those around him. As time passes, and his fellow band members move on, Mercury longs for something he pushed away long ago. He longs for a connection that he never realized he could not live without.

The film additionally touches upon Mercury’s sexuality. Though he spent several years in a loving relationship with Mary Austen, discovering his bisexuality eventually led to their break up. Though it does not delve into much detail, it is implied that Mercury had many sexual partners, tragically leading him to contract AIDS, the disease that would lead to his 1991 death. The audience is introduced to Jim Hutton, the man who was in a loving relationship with Mercury until his passing.

Queen was unlike any other band, and Mercury was unlike any other performer. He was unstoppable on a stage. He felt as if he could do anything in front of a crowd, and he proved his capabilities over the course of his life and career. Though he did briefly go solo, he ultimately made his way back. He belonged with Queen. He belonged with his family. He was a genius, but he did not get there without a push, without the love of his family and his fellow bandmates. This film is a masterpiece. Not just because it follows the story of a band and of a man who defied the odds, but because it makes you feel as if you are a part of these historic moments. One very important token that everyone should takeaway from this movie night, “Fortune favors the bold.”