114. Bob Marley - One Love; movie review

 

BOB MARLEY

Cert 12A

107 mins

BBFC advice: Contains drug use, moderate violence, infrequent strong language

Is it possible that Bob Marley died more than 40 years ago?

The music of Jamaica's most famous export before Usain Bolt was the backdrop to my teenage years.

He brought a message of love and hope that contrasted with the violent 1970s and the angry words of punk.

But his music wasn't cheesy - only the hippest people were into Bob Marley.

Reinaldo Marcus Green's Bob Marley - One Love is focused on the period between the mid-70s and the singer's death in 1981.

It covers the period of high violence in Jamaica during an election campaign that saw Marley, his wife Rita (Lashana Lynch), and manager Don Taylor (Anthony Welsh) wounded in a shooting at his home.

Kingsley Ben-Adir, who played Malcolm X in One Night In Miami, plays Marley as a fun-loving, easygoing, loyal husband and doting father.

This may be how his family, who have endorsed the picture, might have wanted him to be remembered, but it has raised eyebrows among those aware of his many mistresses and 12 children.

Anyway, Green's film is a reasonably faithful chronicle of the critical moments in Marley's life and career over his final years and Ben-Adir does an excellent job of bringing the singer to life.

The film also has a wonderful soundtrack, including many of Marley's hits.

But, for us, it somehow lacked punch - even during its supposedly most dramatic moments, possibly because they were passed off too quickly.

Those who really want to explore his life would be better off watching Kevin MacDonald's superb documentary, Marley, which was among my top ten of 2012.

Reasons to watch: Tribute to a music hero

Reasons to avoid: Misses key elements

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 6.5/10

Did you know? When Marley and his mother moved to Kingston, Jamaica was still under colonial rule and he was bullied by neighbours who derogatorily referred to him as “White Boy”.

The final word.  Kingsley Ben-Adir: "I had access to everyone. Everyone who knew him and who loved him and who was connected to him. And also people who just worked with him on a more professional level, who had much more of an objectivity in a way. Everyone's got different stories." Man About Town

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