The summary posted about the film is, “The story of how reggae icon Bob Marley overcame adversity, and the journey behind his revolutionary music.”
This film is so much more than that. As a fan of Bob Marley and the Wailers as well as Jamaica and its history, this film takes us into the depths of Marley’s backstory.
He was the child of Cedella Malcolm, an 18-year-old Black Jamaican woman, and Captain Norval Sinclair Marley, a white British Army member in his early sixties. Some accounts say they were married, but the film skips over that. It does show that Captain Marley abandoned them.
Kingsley Ben-Adir is Bob Marley in every sense of the word. He embodies his movements, the smile, Marley’s spirit. While Kingsley sings a little in the film, the voice of Marley is what you hear in his songs. Kingsley does a fantastic job in the scenes; we truly believe he is singing. He even got the crazy way Marley danced down to a science. He makes real to viewers who Bob Marley the man truly was.
Marley’s wife, Rita Marley, is played by Lashana Lynch. She gives us a real, solid representation of Rita and the love she has for Marley. She is not a throw away, in the background, a character in the life of Marley. Lashana makes it clear she is the air he breathes, the person he could trust, his strength, the woman he truly loved.
So many times, when doing a piece, the director will have the actors give a little of the accent so the audience can follow along easily. I am so thankful to Director Reinaldo Marcus Green for keeping things authentic, especially the patois and deep Jamaican dialect. Yes, it will take your ear a moment to adjust to the cadence and speed at which it is spoken, but you will soon find the rhythm and it will be like music to your ears.
Speaking of music, I am sure the audience will break into song after song during this film, so don’t be angry, just go with the flow.
Bob Marley is more than a reggae star, a peacemaker, father of 11 children, and Rita Marley’s husband. This film shows us the spirit of the man, his love of his people and his redemption.
Both Kingsley and Lashana should receive award nominations for their performances in this film.
BOB MARLEY- ONE LOVE gets 5 Winks of the EYE.
Until next time keep your EYE to the sky!
