Is Rami Malek heading to the Oscars?
The first reactions to Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody have been shared online – and there’s a lot of love for Rami Malek’s turn as iconic frontman Freddie Mercury.
The film debuted at a screening in San Francisco last weekend, along with a Q&A featuring Malek and co-stars Gwilym Lee and Lucy Boynton.
But while official reviews are yet to emerge, a few early reactions of the film have emerged online.
Among them, there seems a general consensus that the film itself isn’t entirely spectacular – but it’s defined by a career best performance from the Mr Robot star.
“Bohemian Rhapsody is a straight-on biopic with plenty of Queen music and a strong performance by Rami Malek”, wrote IndieWire’s Anne Thompson .
“It will get mixed reviews. It might play with audiences.”
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
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
Bloody Hell! Absolutely did not expect @BoRhapMovie to be a thousand degrees of fantastic. Rami Malek has a kind of magic and one vision of a champion performance. Prepare to be rocked!!! #BohemianRhapsody pic.twitter.com/dzJ7UO6hYu
— @jazzt (@jazzt) October 7, 2018
just did a double feature of A STAR IS BORN and BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY and yeeeeesh that contrast didn’t do the latter any favors. Rami Malek sure nails that imitation, tho.
— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) October 8, 2018
Kyle Buchanan of the New York Times said: “Bohemian Rhapsody is a glorified Wikipedia entry but Rami Malek plays Freddie Mercury (and wears his wonderful costumes) with incredible gusto.”
However, there was also some more effusive reactions that praised the film as a whole.
Critic Wolf Mantz wrote: “HOLY HELL!! #BohemianRhapsody is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!! A rousing emotional cinematic champion that will rock you!”
Actor Adam Hann-Byrd added: “Got to see #BohemianRhapsody last night. @ItsRamiMalek is absolutely amazing in it. The voice, the physicality… he’s so so good!”
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
— The WolfMantz (@MovieMantz) October 7, 2018
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
Meanwhile, a teaser video was released last week that showed the extensive training undertaken by Malek as he prepared to become Freddie Mercury.
Bohemian Rhapsody is released on October 24.