Actually, I was surprised at how the film handled Mercury’s sexuality. It was pretty much portrayed as his downfall and the beginning and root of all things bad for him, obviously including his death. His gay lover/manager was the villain of the movie, and the gay lifestyle was portrayed as seedy, dark and overly promiscuous. Not the portrayal I expected at all. That was my take anyway. Good flick about a great frontman and band.
I read that Sasha Baron Cohen wanted to do it ONLY if he could portray Mercury with warts and all.
Queen refused, and wanted it be be more about the band.
Apparently the "sanitized" version carried the day.
Not to diss the actor who played him, but Cohen would have made it much more interesting.
And accurate.
But I wager it would have never received a Golden Globe, or Oscar nomination on that basis.
It would make too many people uncomfortable.