This review was made possible by an advance screening of Bob Marley: One Love. Bob Marley: One Love releases in theaters on February 14, 2024.
Ever since the box office success of Bohemian Rhapsody back in 2018, it feels as though we’re receiving a regular flow of musical biopics, with each year’s releases increasing. This year begins with Bob Marley: One Love, which is set over two years of Marley’s life following the release of his album Exodus and reaches its end with the One Love concert in 1978.
The Heart of ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ Lies In The Performances
As far as performances go, both Kingsley Ben-Adir and Lashanna Lynch bring enjoyable acting skills to the screen, with both going that one step further by lending her singing skills to their roles in some scenes, with Marley’s studio recordings editing in and out of scenes. Lynch was a joy to watch in this, bringing back her singing which I absolutely loved when she took on the role of Miss Honey in 2022’s Matilda the Musical.
The film showcases the pair’s relationship, from when they first meet up until the end of Marley’s career, showing their ups and downs, but only touching upon briefly the core of the pair’s relationship and trust. The film noticeably sidesteps delving into Bob Marley’s infidelity during his peak, opting instead to focus on his musical genius and cultural impact. As someone not particularly enamoured with it all, I found this omission glaring and reflective of a selective portrayal of his life.
Back and Forth Through Marley’s Life
The film’s narrative structure and editing are easily the weakest elements of the film. The film’s script, from Terence Winter, Frank E. Flowers, Zach Baylin and the film’s director Reinaldo Marcus Green attempts to juggle between the past and present, focusing on key parts of Marley’s upbringing that feel necessary to the story being told in the present, but the end result just feels unnecessary, rushed and altogether confusing. Biopics with a more straight and linear narrative seem to work so much better, allowing audiences to follow with ease and get a better picture of the story being told, take 2019’s Judy for instance.
A sequence in the film, which heavily focuses on Marley’s European tour during 1980 alongside the release of his album Exodus is easily the best in the film. Literal goosebumps throughout the whole scene, created by the sensation of seeing his stardom rise to the very top, performing to sold-out audiences all supported by the film’s soundtrack creating an unreal feeling that many directors would kill to achieve. I would have loved for more of the film to have had the same feel to it as this sequence did because it would have ended up being a really well-crafted film.
Playing It Safe
I did enjoy the film for the most part, but a lot of it just felt too safe. There was nothing happening that I hadn’t seen before in a biopic and I think it needed some more stylistic choice from Reinaldo Marcus Green to make it stand out when placed in comparison with other films.
To some, this next paragraph may feel as though I am essentially spoiling the film, but a huge part of this film’s identity, or so you would think based on the marketing campaign is the “One Love Peace Concert”. The film’s ending is an abrupt one, Marley gets up on stage after returning to Jamaica for the first time in 2 years, and you’re sat waiting to see this much talked about event unfold on screen until it doesn’t. An absolutely ridiculous decision.
Instead, the film fades to black, and we receive the stereotypical context which would bridge the rest of Bob Marley’s life between the concert and his death followed by the credits with “One Love” playing over it all. Either the footage was cut in the editing room or the concert was never going to be in the film, it was really odd and the ending did not feel natural whatsoever.
‘Bob Marley: One Love’ – Final Thoughts
In contrast, I think fans of Bob Marley and the Wallers will enjoy this film, as the gentleman sitting next to me in our screening was having the time of his life, describing it as “beautiful” as the credits rolled. A shame we couldn’t have the same feelings, but I still enjoyed some of the film. Two strong lead performances paired with the great discography of Bob Marley and the Wallers makes for quite a safe biopic.
Check out the trailer for Bob Marley: One Love below. The film releases in theaters on February 14.
