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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Monday 5 noveMber 2018
With $50 million debut, 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is no poor boy

By JAKE COYLE the studio's third misfire this
Associated Press year following the under-
NEW YORK (AP) — The Fred- performing "A Wrinkle in
die Mercury biopic "Bohe- Time" and "Solo." The stu-
mian Rhapsody" and 20th dio's CGI-stuffed resurrec-
Century Fox are — for now, tion of E.T.A. Hoffmann story
at least — champions of was positioned as an early
the world. holiday season release, but
"Bohemian Rhapsody," star- flopped with critics (34 per-
ring Rami Malek as the late cent "fresh" on Rotten To-
Queen frontman, shrugged matoes) and sparked only
off production troubles and modest interest from audi-
mediocre reviews to debut ences. It grossed $38.5 mil-
with $50 million in weekend lion overseas.
ticket sales in U.S. and Can- "Bohemian Rhapsody" was
ada, and another $72.5 mil- largely dismissed by critics
lion internationally, accord- as an overly conventional
ing to studio estimates Sun- rock biopic (60 percent
day. That was well beyond "fresh" on Rotten Toma-
expectations, which had toes), but the film proved
pegged the film closer to more popular with movie-
$35-40 million in its opening goers, who gave the PG-13
weekend. This image released by Twentieth Century Fox shows Gwilym Lee, from left, Rami Malek and Joe release, produced by Gra-
But audiences rushed to Mazzello in a scene from "Bohemian Rhapsody." ham King, an A CinemaS-
theaters to see the widely Associated Press core and 4 1/2 stars out of
praised performance by five on Comscore's PostTrak
Malek, the "Mr. Robot" star, including a lengthy re-cre- release trounced one from "We were hoping for a survey.
and to hear Queen's foot- ation of the band's 1985 Disney, which will soon own stronger start, but we do "Even in the negativity that
stomping anthems like "We Live Aid performance. the studio. The Walt Disney think it's a film that people came out of critics, there
are the Champions," ''An- "It really is a celebration Co.'s lavish, big-budget will find as we head into the was always a 'but,' almost
other One Bites the Dust" of Queen and their music, "The Nutcracker and the holidays," said Cathleen universally: 'But Rami is
and the operatic title song. and I think we did a really Four Realms," despite a Taff, head of theatrical dis- great,'" noted Aronson. "I'm
The movie, which Bryan good job of letting people production budget of $125 tribution for Disney. very happy for Graham
Singer directed before be- know that that's what this million, opened with just Though Disney's record of and Rami and the entire
ing replaced by Dexter is," said Chris Aronson, distri- $20 million. Disney is set to success is the envy of Hol- filmmaking team. And I'm
Fletcher, at times has an bution chief for Fox. merge with Fox in the com- lywood, "The Nutcracker happy for the home team.
almost concert-like feel, In soaring to No. 1, the Fox ing months. and the Four Realms" marks This is a big win for Fox."q

Streisand's 'Walls' strikes strident

anti-Trump tone

chose to devote much of gloom, she combines John
her new album, "Walls," to Lennon's wistful "Imagine"
a series of laments about with the Louis Armstrong
the U.S. president's policies. classic "What a Wonder-
Streisand never mentions ful World" and also covers
the president by name, "What the World Needs
but she doesn't have to. Now" in a paean to the re-
Opening track "What's on demptive power of love.
My Mind" speaks of her But those more hopeful
dashed hopes in the cur- tunes don't really save this
rent era and asks, "How did offering from its lugubri-
This cover image released we come to this divide?" ous tone. Streisand's vocal
by Columbia Records shows The next one, "Don't Lie to range and control are still
"Walls" a release by Barbra Me," is even more direct, extraordinary, but the lyr-
Streisand.
Associated Press beginning with, "Why can't ics often fall flat, as in "Lady
you just tell me the truth? Liberty," which calls for the
By GREGORY KATZ Hard to believe the things Statue of Liberty to "show
Associated Press you say." us how to stand and feel a
Barbra Streisand, "Walls" The title track complains little prouder."
(Columbia Records) about the divisive nature of Her magnificent voice, at
It's no surprise that fervent building walls — a familiar times quivering with deeply
Hillary Clinton supporter Trump campaign promise felt emotion, may not be
and longtime Democratic — and even picks up Clin- the perfect instrument for
Party fundraiser Barbra Stre- ton's campaign theme that expressing pointed political
isand doesn't think much of it is better to build bridges anger, and the soft string
Donald Trump. The surprise instead. accompaniment becomes
is that the legendary singer As a counterpoint to this a bit predictable.q