I Won’t Be A Rock Star, I Will Be A Legend!

Bohemian Rhapsody

After a long break from writing, I am finally back! If there was anything that would reignite my love for film, it couldn’t be anything other than Bohemian Rhapsody! There are many things in life that I simply cannot get over - the tragic death of James Dean, Jim Morrison, John Lennon and, of course, the passing of Freddie Mercury. I often find myself wondering how different our lives could have been if these people were still alive, if only we were able to enjoy their talents much longer. Growing up, I was very lucky to have been surrounded by great music, rock legends, countless vinyl, CD’s and even cassette tapes. Music certainly is a passion me and my dad share and something that I will always be grateful for. It was my dad who introduced me to a whole new world, something of a great importance. I wasn’t always a fan. I would have to be a liar to say that I have always been an outsider listening to rock ballads while my friends listened to mainstream pop songs. Yet still, even when I couldn’t fully grasp the concept of good music, the magnetic energy of the likes of Mercury, Bowie and Jagger just overpowered me; I couldn’t fully comprehend the idea of the art of music having such an impact on me.  Being of such a curious nature, even as a child, I loved reading about these remarkably famous and successful people; these people forever inspired me. I can’t recall the first time seeing any live material of Queen - it must have been a typical Saturday night where my dad and I would watch concerts on TV. What I do remember, however, is how fixated I was looking at this immensely talented  and captivating human, moving, singing, engaging with the crowd; a human with super powers. What I also remember is thinking to myself, how can someone be like this? And by ‘this’ I mean so self aware, dominating, oozing in confidence and so liberated. It was extraordinary and unattainable for most people to not only be watched by thousands, but to be in full control.  The boldness and confidence was contagious and inspiring, and if you were to ask me then  (or even now) what I wanted to be in life, I would proudly point at Freddie, and say that this is how happy and in love I want to be doing my job.  

There hasn’t been a film this year, which I was just as eager to see like Bohemian Rhapsody. I couldn’t wait to see the trailer, and once it was released, I watched it over and over again! I was in awe and utter shock at just how much of a resemblance there is between Rami Malek and Freddie Mercury; it’s uncanny. Of course, the inevitable fear crept in, and I began to wonder if the film will actually live up to the hype that the trailers were able to create. One thing that stood out for me in the trailers was the immense talent, passion and hard work of Malek. Boy, you could see that this guy dreamt about this role! A good film not only consists of a good plot, vivid visuals, but also music. As Lynch once said, films are 50% visuals and 50% sounds; often sound overpowering the visuals. Therefore, the film was off to a good start because you can’t go wrong with a Queen soundtrack. The trailers built up an appetite in me and many more Queen fans, for sure! You can imagine the heartbreak I felt upon seeing the reviews one day prior to seeing the film. I don’t tend to listen to reviews; I mean it sounds pretty ironic that as a film reviewer I shy away from reading about films. However, let me explain that as someone who is passionate about films and dreams about pursuing a career in film reviewing, I feel obligated to have an open mind, to engage in discussions, share opinions and give constructive critics, yet, for some, film reviewing is a way of forcing opinions down on the public, often very snobbish opinions and that honey, will not do! Let’s face it, nothing could stop me from seeing this film. 

So, let’s begin! I must star with the obvious, which is the cast. Starring Rami Malek, Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, Gwilym Lee along with Lucy Boyton and Aidan Gillen (who will always be Little Finger in my mind, sorry) the audience are certainly in for a treat. As a big fan of the 70s and 80s fashion, I was happily surprised to see just how spot on the costumes were. You would think that only Freddie Mercury could pull them off, right? Wrong. Here comes Rami Malek, striding in, head held high, and darling, he is fabulous!  Not only does Malek resemble Freddie visually, his passion and love for the art definitely levels with Freddie’s. The performance of Malek, is not only outstanding and powerful due to the fact that he resembles Mercury, but because his performance is not a mere copy of the legend, it’s an original and convincing take on this enigmatic character. While the role required Malek to morph into Mercury and mirror his behaviour and quirks, it is clear to see that Malek played the rock legend the way he saw him from a personal level. There was no need to follow a distinct choreography in order to portray Mercury, all that was required was the freedom to become the legend, to improvise and not do what Freddie DID, but play him from the perspective of someone who adored him as a fan. Freddie Mercury might have been a very distinctive and original man, however, he was also very protective of his personal life, he built a barrier around himself and didn’t let people in. Therefore, in order to accurately portray him and depict his life, an actor must have a tremendous imagination.  Also, it is only fair to praise Gwilym Lee and his take on Brian May... I mean, for a moment I could not tell whether it was actual Brian May, or whether it was all just an illusion! The whole cast was chosen exceptionally well. Queen was a family as Freddie would often highlight, and the cast was able to translate that onto the screen as they had superb chemistry, which can clearly be seen in their interviews; these guys really understood each other’s visions. One thing which I must also add, is that the film deserves admiration and recognition due to the fact that it did not attempt to whitewash Freddie Mercury, instead the film enables the audience to see just how much of a hard time Freddie had not being a typical, English white man. Casting Rami Malek was not only a good choice due to his artistic abilities, but also because he is a man of a foreign descent and that further honours Freddie Mercury for who he truly was , instead of trying to make him into someone he was not. The sorrow not only comes from Freddie’s illness and death, but also from all the racism that he had to endure, something that I personally can relate to as someone who came to this country as a little girl. Today, Freddie will always be remembered as a British icon of rock, nevertheless, the unfair treatment and prejudice that he faced should not be forgotten. What comes to mind is the famous saying regarding Andy Murray, he’s British when wins, but Scottish when he loses.

 I just cannot praise Malek enough for his hard work, and I can’t imagine a better person chosen for such a challenging and demanding, but also very rewarding role. Watching interviews of Malek before the premier of Bohemian Rhapsody, it is clear to see that not only has Malek contributed to the legacy of Freddie Mercury, but playing the role has enabled this reserved man to become more confident in himself. I came to know Malek as an actor, probably during the Night at the Museum era where he played Ahkmenrah, and what stood out for me were his unique and enigmatic characteristics, the unconventional and exotic handsomeness, but most importantly, his contagious energy as an artist. One of Malek’s most defining features, that as an audience we get to see through his work, is the way he puts his whole heart and soul into his characters and that translates beautifully onto the screen. As previously mentioned, the role of playing the legendary man that is Freddie Mercury, is rather challenging, what made Freddie such a great performer and such a likable man was the way he performed WITH the crowd and not for the crowd. The persona of Freddie Mercury, or at least the one he tried to maintain, was a fabulous, lavish, flamboyant, yet still, a very masculine one, however, never has he approached his career, or most importantly the fans, from a superior position;  another thing which both Malek and Freddie have in common, humbleness. Rami Malek wanted to do Freddie proud, there’s no doubt about that, and I can assure you, he certainly did! What Malek achieved was not only of great importance artistically, but also culturally as through his magnificent performance, he enabled the new generation to get to know the legend that Mercury was, is and always will be. As many are aware, Sacha Baron Cohen was also considered for the role, however, I doubt that anyone would have been able to translate the soul of Freddie, the real Freddie, just like accomplished by Malek. What comes into question is the fact that while Sacha is an extraordinary performer, a very talented actor and many may not realise, a very intelligent man, his vision of the film differed from the director’s intentions. As shown in the film, many tried to exploit Freddie, use him, his kindness and sadly also his loneliness, for their own gain and benefit, therefore I don’t think the audience would have been happy with the entire narrative of the film solely relying on the wild aspects of the rock star’s life. 

The reviews read along the lines of ‘’certainly not Queen’s greatest hit’’ ... but aren’t greatest hits a collection of pivotal, important and best songs, therefore if we accept this definition of such a casually used phrase, then that’s exactly what the film offers to it audience; a collection of essential and crucial moments of the band and its members. Furthermore, this makes me wonder about the expectations of the audience; what did we, as fans, as cinephiles, or simply as cinema goers expect to see, or learn. Surely, no one goes to the cinema for a history lesson. So, how much of the film is an accurate recreation of real life events? Well, there has been a broad discussion, with some claiming that the film carries some inaccuracies, but the question to ask here is whether the film’s intention was to simply educate the viewer, or to entertain, and through that honour an immortal legend, to keep him alive in a new generation, and I think that the latter has far greater value than anything other.  The band was formed in 1970, Freddie Mercury died on November 24^th, 1991, the famous Live Aid concert happened on July 13^th, 1985. So just by looking at these 3 significant dates, we can see the greater scope of things and begin to question just how much a 2 hour film will be able to convey. The bigger question is however, just how much as an audience do we want to see, what aspects interest us the most. Is it the beginnings of the band, their friendships, first tour, or perhaps do we want to see more of Freddie as Freddie, not as a Queen front man. Well, the answer isn’t straight forward, you can never please everyone. Critics have made claims that the film fails to accurately illustrate the tours and doesn’t live up to the hype. If you want to know more about their tours, watch their concerts. The film is a medley of melodies, memoirs, feelings, nostalgia, loss, happiness and betrayal. The initial belief that the film is about Queen is not incorrect; however, the film IS about Freddie Mercury, as it could not have been any other way. Brian May, has admitted that the idea behind the film was to honour Freddie, to create something that will make him proud, something that he would have enjoyed. As bold and extravagant as Freddie was, or seemed, there was more to him than meets the eye, and that is one aspect that the film did very well in terms of showing and not exploiting  Freddie’s delicate nature, his struggle with his identity, sexuality, appearance and not belonging. Not many will suspect this, I definitely did not, but Freddie Mercury, or Farrokh Bulsara, was not always the daring and fearless man that he was while on stage performing to millions of people. It’s as if he compensated for his insecurities and flaws by his dominating persona. As Freddie once said, he was a musical prostitute, and he gave us, the audience and the fans, his soul, passion and talent. What one can learn watching this man in action is how he proved people wrong, how no one believed in him, but he believed in himself.

One thing is for sure, the film does give us a ‘taste’ of the outrageous life that Mercury, along with the whole band lived. I refer to it as a ‘taste’ as the film attempts to cover a wide spectrum of events, from the beginnings of the band, to Freddie’s home life, his relationships and struggles, the bands troubles and ,of course, Freddie’s tragic illness which lead to his death. I have to admit that the narrative of the film focuses on some of these aspects more than others. For example, we first meet Freddie as Farrokh, living with his parents, facing discrimination based on his ethnicity, however more could have been covered in terms of Freddie’s family life and how the tension between him and his traditional father, affected Freddie and is career .The film however, does not disappoint and the family drama, as one would call it, is somewhat resolved. As mentioned previously, there has been an uproar in regards to an apparent misrepresentation of Freddie’s sexuality, as the film heavily focuses on the relationship of Freddie and Mary. However, whether people like it, or not, Mary was an important figure in Freddie’s life, not only did they have a romantic relationship, their friendship lasted throughout Freddie’s whole career, and while they both took different paths in life, there is simply no reason as to why the film should ignore the influence of Mary on Freddie’s life and his story; what purpose would this serve? Showing that Freddie loved a woman, by no means is an attempt to stigmatise, or deem his homosexuality inappropriate. For many, Freddie Mercury is a gay icon; however, he was more than his sexuality. Therefore, in order to do this man justice, by telling his story, we must accept his choices as they are and not pick and choose what we like, or dislike, what we agree, or disagree with, as that simply is none of our business. 

As a whole, the film visually stimulates the audience by its colourful and time appropriate colour palette, iconic costumes and makeup, and most importantly, an epic soundtrack! The film is  well put together, and while it’s still a conventional biopic, it has the gift of a very unconventional star, Rami Malek. What some don’t understand is that there isn’t a film long enough, that would enable us to truly see the unimaginable lives of these extraordinary people. A film cannot compare to the real Freddie, in fact, nothing compares to the real Freddie Mercury, yet still, the film and its whole cast deserves respect for even attempting to enter the world of such a remarkable man. What biopics offer its audience is the humanisation of their characters; these films portray real people, not robots who perform and entertain, but real people with real struggles, relatable and just like us. Lastly, I would like to add that if the band is happy with the film and how it gave insight into their lives, most importantly Freddie’s life, then that’s all it should matter; pleasing everyone is impossible. As much as we think we knew the legend, no one knew him quite like his own band mates, not even hardcore fans. Therefore, if the remaining band members are happy, then we should be too, happy to see the man we adored, loved and admired, still being a part of our culture.

If you haven’t seen the film, then PLEASE go and watch it! No matter how many concerts I go to, nothing will ever fill the void of not being able to see my hero, Freddie Mercury, performing live in all his glory. Sadly, or perhaps, fortunately, all our generation has left is the marvellous records, countless music videos and films, just like this one! So let’s enjoy and appreciate what we have!

Anna Gaszkowska

What Hides Behind The Utopian 'Americana'

The Florida Project

While 2017 may not have been the best year of our lives, it certain has been a great year celebrating Independent films and their directors. With the upcoming film award season, Independent cinema is taking over big time and there is no one stopping them. Perhaps, finally the Independent sector of filmmaking is becoming a recognised and respected mode of film practise, arguably with a big thanks to A24, which is behind distributing and producing a whole lot of these massive hits. With the likes of Lady Bird, Get Out, I am Michael, Call Me by Your Name, The Disaster Artist and many, many more exhilarating films to choose from, the audience are certainly in for a treat. Sean Baker, ultimately rose to fame and became a recognised Indie filmmaker through his innovative and rather unconventional sensation, that is, of course, Tangerine, which was shot using only iPhones, a small crew and a low budget of $100,000. Baker comes back into the game with another superb picture! Starring William Dafoe, the amazingly talented young girl that is Brooklynn Prince and, of course, a whole cast of extraordinarily talented people, The Florida project attempts to answer the big question of what is the hidden truth behind the utopian idealisation of America, so what is it then?

The narrative of The Florida Project, places a group of young children at the centre of focus, the audience get a chance to follow them around, exploring and experiencing their life, living in the forgotten and hidden outskirts of Florida, one of the ‘’happiest places on earth’’ as many say. Their childhood is far from being blissful or filled with joy, as many would have imagined. Instead, from a young age they deal with issues that even the mainstream Hollywood films have been avoiding for far too long. However, Baker certainly does not shy away from portraying the harsh reality and the hidden truth of the forgotten people. Yet, still, the film beautifully manages to capture the sense of freedom of one’s childhood through the captivating and heartfelt portrayal of the sweet and innocent nature of those children, the love and pureness of their hearts and their need of belonging in a world that is not welcoming. With the progression of the narrative, the audience meet a variety of people, which all come from different backgrounds socially, culturally and economically, and learn their stories which are bold, yet, by no means, exploitative. The narrative aims to portray the downfall of the capitalistic society and simultaneously challenges the status quo. Baker certainly isn’t a stranger in exploring the problematic ways of life of those belonging to marginalised groups and minorities, as he has proven his openness to ‘difference’ in Tangerine through focusing on a distinctive group of people (transgender sex workers) and the issues that they face.  The Florida Project captures real emotions, which are raw and authentic and it does so through the brilliant cast and the relativeness of the story. By now, Baker is known for taking inspiration from real people, real places and transforming it into something that has the potential to have an impact on wider society. The Florida Project demands of a cine-literate active audience, opposing the mainstream convections of an audience being passive and viewing films purely for pleasure in the form of escapism. The film will certainly not evoke the same emotions a major action filled blockbuster may, but the film does something of much greater value as it educates its audience about the reality of life. The themes conveyed in The Florida Project are not of a light nature, as the film deals with poverty, abuse, prostitution and a whole range of problems covered up by the media.

The film opposes the idealistic view of the sugar-coated image of the ‘promised land’ that America so desperately tries to maintain, through the allegory it provides by the meaning behind the film. Baker simply is a genius, as he manipulates the screen through mise en scene in terms of a bold and quite contradictory colour pallet, intertextual cinematography which shows clear evidence of the inspiration behind it (from the likes of Cassavetes and Godard) and the smooth, yet, almost documentary like style of editing; after all, the nature of the film feels like one of a documentary, where the shocking truth is documented, to then be shown the world. The visual aspect of the film and its aesthetic is raw and rather poetic, at times, highlighting the irony. There is no doubt that Baker is on his way of becoming a true auteur, as his style seems to be consistent, nevertheless progressive in terms of technology and in terms of the overall aesthetic. The long distance shots, following the characters from behind, enable the audience to feel a part of the story, while at the same time being just an observer, while the sudden close ups allow the audience to closely examine and empathise with the characters and the bitter stories.

Baker intelligently, subtly and metaphorically exposes the selfish nature of people and the wider society, through scene such as tourist accidentally arriving at the motel expecting it to be a holiday resort only to find that, behind the cultural phenomenon that is Disney World, a whole different reality is sinisterly hidden away by the establishment. In addition, the scene also exposes the ignorance of people, as they have been injected with the false beliefs about America making it a place of wonder, ultimately the accidental ‘guests’ demand to be escorted to a different hotel, as they came to Florida with a set of expectation due to being brainwashed; therefore, while they indulge in the pleasures of Disney World and feed the capitalist government, those children, their cries and screams will not be heard. This raises the question of whether Baker is suggesting that, people are not aware and are blind to what is really going on, or whether they actively choose not to see it. As previously mentioned, the colour palette which Baker opts for in this film, is bold and contradicts the atmosphere and mood of the story, yet, it only does so in order to highlight the fact that while on the outside life in terms of colour is nourished (the motel is bright and appealing, only to hide what’s really inside) on the inside, there is suffering.

The film sends out a strong message not just due to the visuals and the events the audience witness, but also through the ongoing metaphorical projection of the issues being raised. Dafoe and his character seems to be the only ‘positive’ aspect of many of those people’s lives; he is a parental figure for many and the last glimmer of hope. However, what Baker was trying to do through the portrayal of his character, was to represent the small percentage of people who care, who see what’s really going on, yet, find themselves being hopeless; while one person may have an impact, he alone certainly is unable to change the bigger picture that the film is trying to portray. The film also challenges the issues of entrapment, in the sense of being stuck in one place without any realistic hope for a better future, as the film and its action takes place within the walls of the motel and the isolated space around it, making the audience feel a sense of almost suffocation that these people feel. 

As a whole, the film is transgressive in terms of mainstream cinema and its codes and convections. The location of the film, potentially suggest the ideology of an idealistic story awaiting, yet, the viewers seen nothing as such, what they do see however, is what happens outside the doors of those magical places; while the poor stand outside, begging for money, trying to sell, or even steal, all of that is left behind once the doors open and the people see what the establishment wants them to see, yet, what Baker does, is he shifts the focus from what’s going on inside as that is irrelevant, what truly matters is those people, and the real problem we have as a society. The Florida Project, looks critically at society, allowing its audience to see what behind the ‘joy’ fuelled scene, this ideology is reinforced through the audience along with the characters, observing life and Disney World (or most importantly, what it really represents) from the outside; the only footage of the place is shown during the ending of the film, which Baker has admitted to obtaining that footage illegally with his iPhone (showing his dedication and passion towards the project), yet ,even then, Baker manages to provoke the audience, showing them that the people they have met through this story, especially the children, deserve to have a life filled with happiness and free from worries, just like the rest do.

Baker may have received critical acclaim for his work on Tangerine; nevertheless, the production of this film was far from being an easy one. While the director was in control of a considerably bigger budget, the nature of the film and the issues trying to be raised caused a few ups and downs among the director and the crew. In an interview, Baker admits that while he yearned to make a feature film, the transition from small autonomous projects, to a much greater one was not easy, he also suggest that, in order to make the film authentic like he intended, he needed full control in order to translate his vision onto the screen, yet, he somehow felt a little lost having a substantially larger crew to control. Baker, admits that he often doubted whether the footage of the film will ever be transformed into a feature film. However, what Baker also admit is that the project and transition from the small projects to the big screen, has made him more self aware as a filmmaker and overall it was a positive experience that taught him many lessons. As a filmmaker, Baker, is a great example of an artist with a vision trying to find a mode of expression, if anything, the journey that Baker has had (so far, especially during the making of Tangerine) with filmmaking teaches aspiring filmmakers to make the most of what they have, while the director may not have wanted to make another small film, he had a vision and used his inventive talent and some DIY skill, in order to produce something which, arguably, revolutionised the film scene. However, one thing that the production of this film highlights is a problem that, as a film industry, Hollywood has, as with the help and the wealth of powerful people and businesses, Hollywood aims to manipulate the audience through false ideologies, and misrepresentation, in order to brainwash society and force them into believing that, such problems do not exist within our society. Meanwhile, talented and fearless directors such as Baker and many others, struggle to create something that will not only please the eye on an artistic level, but will also educate and raise awareness, while the mainstream cinema receives financial support to produce films which are made, through a rose tinted lens. 

So, The Florida Project certainly is a heartfelt, compeling, honest and unique portrayal of life, all thanks to the courageousness and creativity of the genius that Baker has proven himself to be. Apart from leading the post modern progression within the film industry, Baker also manages to capture the realness and bleakness of live, he is an advocate for those whose voices are never heard and whom are rarely, if ever, seen in mainstream media. The film simply is a heart clenching, and, at times, shocking journey of people just getting by. The film offers a diverse portrayal of real people, giving the invisible a platform to be heard. As a director, Baker has set a high bar for other directors, not just by making a pretty picture, but through being an activist and aiming to bring social change and challenge the status quo. The film may not be an easy watch despite being fresh visually; however, it sure is a necessary watch for those who really care!

Anna Gaszkowska