The Legend Lives on with Bob Marley: One Love

Bob Marley, one of the most globally recognized figures, whose spirit has transcended through his music, immortalizing his message for peace, love and revolution. Bob Marley: One Love paints the beautiful visual of his life through the peak of his career in the late 1970s. 

The all-star cast Kingsley Ben-Adir (Bob Marley), Lashana Lynch (Rita Marley), and James Norton (Chris Blackwell) put on powerful performances, bring this legendary story to life. The cinematography, wardrobe, and linguistic adaptations truly draws audiences into Bob's world.

Produced by the late artist’s family members, Rita Marley (wife) and Ziggy Marley (son), and Cedella Marley (daughter), the story is told with a soft and loving touch in its delivery. With the film release date being on Valentine’s Day, the notion and concepts of love are truly fitting. 

“When you talk about unconditional love and when you talk about if you love somebody” said Ziggy Marley. “”It’s like, you know them have this saying about ‘ride or die’…Yeah, well this is the real ride of die, it actually happened. You know, when you really love somebody, take them to see this [movie]. 

Indeed, the storyline takes a regarded approach in protecting and pertaining Bob’s overall image as a beloved icon. Yes, there were small mentions and highlights of the common scenarios that come with the celebrity lifestyle, such as betrayal, infidelity, and deception. However, the film strayed away from diving too deep into highlighting these blemishes of his personal life, which left the plot feeling a bit light. 

Also, given the violence taking place in Jamaica at the time, it would have been nice to have a more drawn out explanation as to why Bob Marley posed as such a threat in the crossroads of the opposing political campaigns and gang rivalries. Having an additional storyline integrated into the film of what exactly led to the assassination attempt on Bob, resulting in him, his wife and band mates being shot in their home just before his initial One Love Peace Concert in 1976 and resulting in his flee to London. Although the dialogue briefly covered the contributing factors, a more insightful visual depiction could have added a bit more depth to the overall impact of Bob’s being. 

Following the release of his record-breaking project, Exodus (1977), the icon was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, which he succumbed to at the young age of 36 years old in 1981. In such a short time period, Bob Marley left an everlasting impact and remains to be an eternal symbol of love, compassion, peace and social justice around the world. His work was more than music, it was a message. 

The film, Bob Marley: One Love, is now open in theaters today, February 14th.