[Mick]

if you have not already, go see Bohemian Rhapsody

Finally got around to seeing it.  The music was, of course, great, but I couldn’t help but think that I got a highly sanitized version of Freddie Mercury’s life.  It was also factually inaccurate in several places (for example, Mercury was diagnosed with HIV after the Live Aid concert, not before as in the movie).  Quips aside, it was an enjoyable two hours, and the music was, of course, wonderful.

BC

That was my take exactly.  I thought Rami Malek (Mercury), Ben Hardy (Taylor) and Gwilym Lee (May) were superb. Taylor and May had artistic control over the movie, so it was unlikely to be anything other than sanitized.

Sacha Baron Cohen was originally set to play Mercury. Now THAT would have been interesting.  But he left over "creative differences."  Guess he couldn't be outrageous enough.  He wanted a gritty, R-Rated "tell-all."

Director Bryan Singer and Malek didn't get along at all.  Singer quit 2/3 of the way through, but was still listed as the Director (Academy rules state that there can only be one director).  

A couple of real-life edits to the film: 
* Mercury was not the first band member to release a solo album.  May and Taylor each released a solo album before Mercury.  Taylor actually released TWO albums.
* John Deacon was not the first bassist, he was the fourth.
* They didn't have to "get back into shape."  Their last tour had ended just eight weeks earlier.
* Live Aid was in 1985.  Band members weren't made aware that Mercury was HIV-positive until 1989.

[Mick]

if you have not already, go see Bohemian Rhapsody

Finally got around to seeing it.  The music was, of course, great, but I couldn’t help but think that I got a highly sanitized version of Freddie Mercury’s life.  It was also factually inaccurate in several places (for example, Mercury was diagnosed with HIV after the Live Aid concert, not before as in the movie).  Quips aside, it was an enjoyable two hours, and the music was, of course, wonderful.

BC

That was my take exactly.  I thought Rami Malek (Mercury), Ben Hardy (Taylor) and Gwilym Lee (May) were superb. Taylor and May had artistic control over the movie, so it was unlikely to be anything other than sanitized.

Sacha Baron Cohen was originally set to play Mercury. Now THAT would have been interesting.  But he left over "creative differences."  Guess he couldn't be outrageous enough.  He wanted a gritty, R-Rated "tell-all."

Director Bryan Singer and Malek didn't get along at all.  Singer quit 2/3 of the way through, but was still listed as the Director (Academy rules state that there can only be one director).  

A couple of real-life edits to the film: 
* Mercury was not the first band member to release a solo album.  May and Taylor each released a solo album before Mercury.  Taylor actually released TWO albums.
* John Deacon was not the first bassist, he was the fourth.
* They didn't have to "get back into shape."  Their last tour had ended just eight weeks earlier.
* Live Aid was in 1985.  Band members weren't made aware that Mercury was HIV-positive until 1989.