In January of this year, in Kingston Jamaica, Bob Marley: One Love, a film about the world-renowned artist, hit the cinemas. Fans were hyped for this creation to hit theaters.
This film portrays the reggae legend’s rise to fame. Bob’s unique sound and powerful message of love, peace, and unity attracted the world’s attention through his songwriting and put reggae music on the map. The controversies and his extremely different views on the events going on in his home country angered people, which is why he was targeted.
Throughout the movie, it highlights his performances, as he spread joy to the crowds. It also shows the struggles Bob faced throughout his personal life. The pain, confusion, and the beauty he found in all of it, was the deep dive we were all waiting for.
In the movie, you can find that beautiful soul music that many were expecting and the ever-so-lovely handsome Bob Marley.
The movie had many memorable scenes, but one key reenactment showcased how he survived an attempted assassination and was forced to flee Jamaica. The production team did an incredible job on the portrayal of it, and the acting felt as if the viewers were experiencing it for themselves.
He lived in exile in London and during that time he recorded Exodus, which would be hailed by Time Magazine, “as the most important album of the 20th century.”
Sadly, on May 11th, 1981 he died of melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer. Though he is no longer with us, this movie is a way to tell the story of his life and commemorate him and the impact he had on the world.
Acting Ability:
I’m just going to say the casting was on point, and you can tell the movie put effort into this production. It really paid off in the end.
The acting was great from start to finish, and Kingsley Ben-Adir who played Bob Marley, embodied him very well, especially his dancing style.
Personally, my favorite scene was when Bob and Rita were arguing in the street, as it demonstrates their wide range of acting abilities.
Extremely Entertaining:
In the first few minutes of the movie, Bob is shot immediately, striking interest. Talk about an eye-catching movie from the start!
So, I was interested right off the bat, and with the spot-on soundtrack matching perfectly to every scene, it was hard not to dance in my seat. Yet, even though these are my straight opinions, many commenters disagree.
One Reddit user says, “ I watched it last night, and I want my refund back.” Another reply was “I didn’t pay, but I want a refund.” A bit harsh, if you ask me.
Storytelling Style and Visuals:
The details in the shot compositions express Bob’s feelings in the film. While watching the movie, you can see that there is intentional visual imagery throughout. When Bob pictured Selassie giving him the ring that the crown prince of Ethiopia gifted him, it showed how Bob felt like this gift was different and it had a unique value to it due to the camera angles and frame composition.
Another instance was when Bob was scared after he and his background singers were shot at while rehearsing for his concert. After almost losing his wife and being the reason his other band members were injured, Bob was worried that it would happen again at his concert. The movie expresses his fear by making Bob see the shooter targeting with a gun in the crowd during his peace concert. His facial expressions really grasp the magnitude of the situation at hand.
Even if it doesn’t win an Oscar, it’s still a successful movie in my eyes. This movie had wonderful acting, but even better visuals. While watching, the viewers can really feel all the different emotions that Bob felt throughout his journey to fame. The movie was beautifully made and though some people didn’t enjoy it, I think it’s worth watching.
