"Bohemian Rhapsody"? Sorry, I'm just not feeling it.

[edelsont]

So far, I have watched not quite half of "Bohemian Rhapsody," the recent film with a central character named "Freddie Mercury."  The idea of finishing the thing fills me with revulsion, so I probably won't.

Yes, I am aware that "Freddie Mercury" is also the name of a real person, one with some biographical details similar to the one in the movie.  I don't know, however, whether this Freddie—the one played, here, by Rami Malek—actually resembles the real one, in any fundamental way.  And I don't care; the reactions I am expressing are to "movie Freddie" ("MF", for short.)

I think MF is a disgusting human being.

One might jump to the conclusion that I am being homophobic.  But I don't think I am.

How do I defend myself against this charge?  Like this:

The character of MF does, in some ways, match one stereotype of gay men.  But that's not a full description of his personality.  He has some additional traits that are not part of the stereotype.  Most notably, he's a malignant narcissist.

Think: one part flamboyantly gay, one part Donald Trump.  It's the combination of the two that I really don't like … or at least, I can't stand the idea of subjecting myself to any more of a movie centered on him.

Do remember, though, that I feel this way only about "movie Freddie," and not (so far as I know) about the real Freddie Mercury.  And not, I hope it goes without saying, about Rami Malek, either.