By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Matt O'Casey
Country: united_kingdom
Year: 2012
Running time: 120
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1977894/
Bruce says: “A story is told early on in QUEEN: DAYS OF OUR LIVES about catching Freddie Mercury in tears, ‘I’m not going to be a pop star……I’m going to be a legend.’ Then he was a gawky youth from Zanzibar who grew up in India. Now, of course, he and Queen are legendary. The film, which was a BBC production in two parts, follows the band – Mercury, Roger Taylor, Brian May and John Deacon – from the beginning. The two episodes should have been edited into a single piece to make the film more fluid.
“Success did not come easy for this band. Their first album was a flop; then, when they finally did start selling, the record companies and agents got all the money. Sheer Heart Attack and A Night at the Opera did not, contrary to popular opinion, make them rich. It wasn’t until they were well established and released A Day at the Races that they finally got their due. While most famous bands have histories of horrendous infighting, Queen never went down that path. The four did have an occasional squabble but they respected each other’s talents, each playing an important role in almost every song they wrote.
“The rock concert coverage is excellent. We see many of their hits performed; We Will Rock You, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, We Are the Champions, Radio Ga Ga, Another One Bites the Dust, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Under Pressure. Too much time is spent on the concept of making it big. In England, in Europe, in America and globally. No doubt the craving for success propelled the band to write bigger and bigger songs.
“The film does mention that several band members went off on their own and released solo albums. The biggest disappointment of all for me is the omission of any mention of Barcelona, the iconic cult album that featured Freddie Mercury and opera diva Montserrat Caballé. Although we ultimately find out a bit about Freddie’s personal life due to his decline after contracting HIV, we never find out very much about the personal life of the other band members. The two albums, The Miracle and Innuendo, made during the years Freddie was ill brought the band members close together and they shared all the writing credits. There are a few touching moments surrounding the release of Made in Heaven which was released three years after Freddie died. The information and footage in the film no doubt was input with the approval of the survivors. This is not groundbreaking reportage, just a chronicle. 3.5 cats
“(QUEEN: DAYS OF OUR LIVES screened as part of the 2012 Tribeca International film Festival.)”