A solid musical journey through triumph and turmoil.
This biopic based on the life of the legendary reggae star appropriately begins and ends in his native Jamaica. We are first transported to the mid-seventies, where Marley – played by British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir – is already a prominent figure, and he narrowly escapes an assassination attempt at his home. Fleeing to London for safety, he embarks on creating the iconic album Exodus, which propels him to even greater fame.
Later, Marley returns to Kingston to headline the One Love Peace Concert.
In-between these iconic moments, we see Marley through different points of his life. This non-linear storytelling approach effectively allows us to witness the challenges he overcame to become the iconic figure he is known as today.
Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (who directed Will Smith’s Oscar-winning turn in King Richard) the film is a solid enough effort – albeit one that seems to have been somewhat restrained.
In a day and age where films can run a good couple of hours plus, this is a fairly compact hour and forty minute ride.
This may be attributed to the involvement of Marley’s widow Rita – played by Lashana Lynch (Matilda the Musical) in the movie – and his children Ziggy and Cecelia as producers, which likely influenced the portrayal of Marley’s personal life.
While the film does gloss over certain aspects of Marley’s personal struggles, including his womanising and relationships with multiple partners, the decision to do so may be divisive among audiences. This definitely could have been ‘fleshed out’ some more.
The soundtrack – as expected – is fantastic, effectively capturing the essence of Marley’s musical legacy. Ben-Adir’s portrayal of the popular singer is nothing short of remarkable, marking a breakout role for the actor and showcasing his natural superstar talent.
But my main issues for negativity is that the script and structure of the film leave a lot to be desired. The narrative could have delved deeper into Marley’s story, and the editing occasionally feels choppy and confusing, detracting from the overall viewing experience.
That being said, Bob Marley: One Love will be a decent watch for most fans of the reggae legend – offering just enough to satisfy their interest.
However, it may not be quite compelling enough to ‘Stir it Up’ for those who are not already admirers of Marley’s work.
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ESP Rating: 3/5
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Mike Clarke
Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough, Out Now
Cast:Â Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch, James Norton, Tosin Cole and Michael Gandolfini
Running Time:Â 1 Hr 44 Mins
Director:Â Reinaldo Marcus Green
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