By Charles Nolde

I sit in the comfortable reclining chair in the large movie theater. The dim lights cast a calm ambience, creating an atmosphere of anticipation. It is cold, like always, but the loud, melodious reggae music accompanied with the chewing of popcorn warms my heart. The screen reads.“Bob Marley: One Love.” 

Kingsley Ben-Adir (right), who plays Bob Marley, and the real-life Bob Marley (left). Photo credit: IMDb via Paramount Pictures.

In the immersive biopic Bob Marley: One Love, released in theaters earlier this year, director Reinaldo Marcus Green and producers Ziggy Marley (Bob’s son), Rita Marley (his wife), and Cedella Marley (his daughter), take the audience on a captivating journey, beginning with Marley’s initial fame, through his assassination attempt, and to his death in 1981. Starring Kingsley Ben-Adir in the title role, and set against the backdrop of Jamaica’s political turbulence and social unrest, the film delves into the man behind the music and the impact of his profound messages on a deeply divided nation.  

One Love successfully portrays the violence and corruption of Jamaica during the tumultuous period from 1974 through 980. The film shows the clashes between the democratic socialist People’s National Party (PNP) and the conservative Jamaican Labour Party (JLP), showcasing the prevalent gun violence and police brutality that permeated the nation. Lashana Lynch delivers a powerful representation of Rita Marley, who in a discussion with her husband highlights the harsh treatment of the Rastafari community: “Police treat Rasta worse than dog.” Bob Marley and the Wailers, his band, identify as Rastafari, which is a social and political movement and also a religion whose followers believe in the Judeo-Christian God Jah. 

On top of illustrating this political violence, the film demonstrates some of the struggles of fame in a dramatic and touching way. Although Bob Marley is shown in the film as a kind, selfless uniter of people a majority of the time, he is also shown as a rogue. After Bob is cruel and impatient and fights with his wife, she tells him, “You swim in pollution, you get polluted,” suggesting he has let fame overtake him. These powerful arguments make the film even more compelling and leave the audience moved.  

Parts of the film I particularly enjoyed were scenes where the band tries to create new songs with freestyle methods. When writing the song “Natural Mystic,” the drummer initiated a heartbeat that resonated throughout the room, the bassist laid down a pulsating foundation, other band members clinked tea cups with spoons, and the keyboardist added a layer of soulful cords, connecting the instruments in a flow of improvisation. They experimented to find the right ingredients to make the new song and convey their message. The synergy between the band and the spontaneity of progress engages the audience and gives the feeling of watching the birth of a masterpiece. As a music lover, I relished these scenes. 

Another amusing aspect is Bob’s vague and mystical character, which is reflected by his word choice and demeanor. When asked if people will even like a new song he wrote, Bob replies in his mellifluous Jamaican accent, “Them don’t have to like it, them just have to hear it, and when them hear it, them like it.” In another scene, before a concert, Bob is asked by a newly-added electric guitarist where the set list is. Bob replies, “We don’t have one.” “Well, where do we start?” the man asks. “From the beginning, man,” Bob replies. These comical kinds of responses are prevalent throughout the film and depict Bob’s nonchalant and relaxed character. 

Collegiate Senior Kenley Campbell (‘24) said that now that she’s seen the movie, “I listen to the lyrics of his songs more because I now know their purpose.” I agree; learning about Bob’s life and witnessing his band write music through the film makes his songs more powerful. Others, however, were not impressed. Ben Wittkamp (‘24) said the film, “was extremely underwhelming, and the trailer was better than the movie itself.” 

Rotten Tomatoes critics had similar opinions as Wittkamp, and generally found One Love to be a standard biopic that didn’t fully capture the brilliance of its subject. While Ben-Adir’s performance of Bob Marley was praised, the film was criticized for lacking depth and failing to provide insight into Marley’s creative process. Owen Gleiberman of Variety showed more hate, saying, “It misses the catharsis of Marley’s rise and turns into a haphazard ’70s hang-out movie.”

I disagree with the harsh feedback the film received, but I do have one critique that pertains to the film’s outset. Bob Marley is introduced already as a famous musician, leaving a gap surrounding his childhood and initial passion for music. A better examination of Bob’s early life would have benefited the film by adding an understanding of the roots that shaped his musical journey. This may have satisfied Gleiberman’s complaints about lacking catharsis and Rotten Tomatoes’ users’ of not capturing the brilliancy of the subject. However, I believe the film’s intentions were not focused on Marley’s rise and creative process, but rather his story of spreading peace, which is showcased magnificently.

The film as a whole is inspirational and valuable for watchers today. We live in a violent world where compromises often seem impossible. Bob Marley, a uniter of people, reminds us to prioritize peace and love: “We need to love one another, live in peace and harmony.” 

Featured image photo credit: Paramount Pictures.