Queen and Mike Myers aren't so surprised by Bohemian Rhapsody's Golden Globes upset
Golden Globes viewers expecting A Star Is Born — or BlacKkKlansman or Black Panther — to win Best Drama on Sunday night were shocked that the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody took the prize. But none of the people behind the movie appeared to surprised when asked about it backstage. Guitarist Brian May said he thought most reviewers panned the movie based on watching the trailers, and the tearful audiences got the movie, one of several that could have been made about Freddie Mercury.
Producer Jim Beach noted that "Queen has had a history of some of the worst press of any major band in the world," and a poorly reviewed musical in London's West End ran for 14 or 16 years. "This movie has been accepted by the public, and I believe the public is the great arbiter," he added. "And the one important thing is that Freddie believed that as well."
Mike Myers, who plays an EMI executive who tells Queen they couldn't put the song "Bohemian Rhapsody" on their record, recounted how he'd play that song driving around suburban Toronto, and said he threatened to quit his breakout movie Wayne's World if it didn't include the song in a pivotal scene. (Myers told Stephen Colbert earlier that the movie's producers wanted a Guns N' Roses song.) "These are gods that walk as men, and I can't believe I'm here," he said, pointing to the members of Queen. People come up to him and tell him "how much it made them cry, and how much it just celebrates these geniuses, so I'm just thrilled to be part of it," Myers added. You can watch the whole press conference below. Peter Weber
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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
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