Get up, stand up, and go see the new Bob Marley biographical picture, “One Love.” While confusing at times, it is a vibrant film with rousing images, a spectacular amount of drama and a brilliant soundtrack. Running at one hour and 44 minutes, it wasn’t one of those movies that is way longer than it needs to be.
I’ll start with the marvelous casting. Kingsley Ben-Adir as Marley was a choice I hope they don’t regret. Not only was the resemblance astounding, but Ben-Adir’s commitment to the accent and indulging in Marley’s lifestyle was very entertaining. Lashana Lynch played Rita Marley incredibly well, showcasing strong emotion in every scene while also portraying a very open and honest version of what Rita’s life was like. The other cast members were also extraordinary.
The images in the film were just astounding. Color was abundant, fitting for the film’s setting in tropical, culture-rich Jamaica, and the scenes were fantastically realistic. The visuals added to the essence of the movie and provided a wonderful viewing experience. I felt like I was there in the movie at some parts, and it honestly made me feel like it was time to start saving for a trip to Jamaica.
The plot was confusing, mostly because its format was so different from other biopics. It focused on just a few specific years in Marley’s prime as opposed to his life from birth to death. It was a great format to keep things interesting and concise; however, I often felt left without context. The movie included short little flashbacks, but they just didn’t cut it. I would’ve liked to see more context, which could’ve been accomplished by skipping irrelevant details from his prime and instead focusing on key parts from his childhood in poverty, time spent learning music, and meeting Rita.
Some scenes also chose to focus on less interesting aspects than they could have. For example, one scene took place in the studio and focused on what the “Exodus” album cover would be when it could’ve focused on Marley’s process of songwriting, which would’ve been far more fun and informative to watch.
Despite the flaws of the plot line, boy was it dramatic. Many scenes had me on the edge, wondering what could possibly come next. That’s not typically a feeling a biopic would induce, mostly because biopics tend to focus on the larger details as opposed to the small things. Director Reinaldo Marcus Green did an outstanding job displaying those little details, largely through his specific time frame, which I greatly appreciated.
The real star of the movie was the soundtrack, though. Built from Marley’s discography, which was better than having someone else sing, it included all his classics and made for exuberant background music in many scenes. “Get Up, Stand Up,” “I Shot The Sheriff,” “No Woman, No Cry,” “Three Little Birds,” and many more were all present in the movie, and the reggae sounds made me feel at ease. I honestly wished they had played more music.
The soundtrack’s impact even went beyond the movie. YG Marley, Bob’s grandson and the offspring of Bob’s son Rohan and the iconic Lauryn Hill, went viral on TikTok and music streaming platforms for his song, “Praise Jah In The Moonlight.” The song feels like it could’ve been performed by Bob himself, and in many ways resembles his style of songwriting and performing. The success of this song alone shows how influential the soundtrack was to the positive connotation of the movie.
If you’re interested in the king of reggae, the face of Jamaica, or just need to hear a good soundtrack with stimulating visuals, I would highly recommend seeing “Bob Marley: One Love.” It is a decision you will not regret.
