After watching the movie I definitely think the guy was miscast. He lacked the natural charisma and self-assurance. It came across as an act to overcompensate for his height and creepiness. To me, Freddy was not creepy like he was in this movie.
shareMalek didn't look the part. After we watched the DVD my friend brought up footage of the real Live Aid show on her computer, and we were astonished to realize how much more handsome and robust the real Mercury was! I mean Mercury always had a very good-looking face, he was much better looking that Malek will ever be, and at that point in his life he was also much more muscular than the spindly little Malek.
But the looks didn't really matter. Malek did what few actors could do, he absolutely nailed the exhibitionist personality of a born performer, and he brought Mercury's blazing star quality to the musical performances. How many actors can bring blazing star quality to lip-synching?
Mercury was Persian. Malek is Egyptian. Malek shares the overall look.
shareThe perfect lookalike to play Freddy would have been Sacha Cohen (borat guy)
shareHe looks inbred. Big bug eyes and creepy face.
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