Episode Details

The tournament continues on The Battle! Hosts Matt Sidhom and Jenn Tully kick off the Gone Too Soon Division, putting two legendary music biopics to the ultimate test: 2018’s Oscar-winning Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody vs. 1987’s iconic Richie Valens story La Bamba. 

Here's the mixtape:

https://my.superawesomemix.com/mix/bohemian-rhapsody-vs-la-bamba-073a

In this Round 1 matchup, Matt and Jenn judge both films against two strict criteria: historical accuracy and lead performance: 

• Fact vs. Fiction in Bohemian Rhapsody: Examining Rami Malek’s Oscar-winning performance as Freddie Mercury—including the famous four-extra-incisors teeth prosthetic—and why the film took major timeline liberties regarding Queen's history and Freddie's real-life AIDS diagnosis relative to Live Aid. 
• Realism & Heart in La Bamba: How the active involvement of Richie Valens' family (including half-brother Bob Morales) helped director Luis Valdez capture an authentically moving 8-month snapshot of Valens' life.
• Breakout Performances: Analyzing Lou Diamond Phillips’ endearing portrayal of a teenage Richie Valens, Esai Morales' standout turn as Bob, and how Los Lobos brought the iconic soundtrack to life.
• The Bracket Upset: Will Bohemian Rhapsody's blockbuster star power win out, or does La Bamba's raw heart and accuracy secure the win to advance in the tournament bracket?

Whether you're a rock 'n' roll historian or a movie lover, hit play to see which film advances to the next round!