Bohemian Rhapsody is a fanfare of celebration for anyone who has ever liked a song by the British rock band Queen.

The movie details the rise and fall, and rise again, of the band’s lead singer Freddie Mercury in the 1970s and 1980s. Rami Malek stars as Mercury, bringing endless energy and characterization to the role. There was never a moment in which he was not in character and Mercury’s mannerisms and spunk appeared to be innate for him.

The soundtrack, released last month for purchase and streaming, is a vibrant collection of Queen’s numerous and diverse hit songs that is used as a focal point of the band’s story. A large portion of the movie is music rather than dialogue, often paired with similar situations to the song’s theme.

Part uplifting, part grounding, Bohemian Rhapsody takes the viewer through an operatic storytelling of Mercury’s time with the band, while also documenting his personal life in many of its struggles. By the end of the movie, Mercury has become a symbol for confidence, perseverance and hope; we are shown his best and his worst and much of what’s in between— relationships, substance abuse and personal awakening.

One of the movie’s strongest themes is about Mercury’s long struggle to come to terms with his sexuality in the face of judgement not only from the public eye, but also his conservative Parsi Indian family. Though Mercury never publicly comes out, he is able to open himself up to those around him and in succession accept a part of himself that has plagued him.

Bohemian Rhapsody wrings you through the heartwarming and heart wrenching story of Freddie Mercury’s adult life as one of the most iconic performers of all time; it inspires emotions in not only Queen fans, but those who have at one point felt that they didn’t have anywhere to belong.

I give it an 8.5/10.