Nowhere in America is Bob Marley’s enduring legacy more palpable than in Miami, a city that pulsates with Caribbean rhythms, sights, and flavors. When I was growing up there, he was the quintessential symbol of good times — his iconography and music emblazoned on T-shirts, posters, murals, and even national TV commercials. Despite his immense popularity, however, the essence of Marley’s significance remains elusive to many.
Bob Marley: One Love, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard), attempts to unravel the mystery by exploring a pivotal period in the music legend’s life: from his miraculously escaping a 1976 assassination attempt amidst Jamaica’s political unrest to relocating to London and achieving global stardom. The film is also intertwined with flashbacks to a difficult childhood, the early days with his band the Wailers, his bonding with his future wife, and his Rastafarian initiation.
Determining whether One Love does justice to Marley first requires understanding his immense cultural impact. Long before he was enshrined in the haze of dorm-room lore, Marley was revered as a symbol of peace, resistance, and unity. His music, deeply rooted in Rastafarianism, gave voice to Jamaica’s political struggles. His legacy is complex and continues captivating and challenging us decades after his shockingly premature death from cancer at just 36.
Green’s wise selection of a narrower time window presents an opportunity to delve into the deep cuts of Marley’s rich inner life. Yet like a greatest-hits compilation, the film often prefers to skim the surface. For example, we know Marley was caught up in Jamaica’s political turmoil, but One Love glosses over its complexities. Similarly, despite the widespread acclaim of Marley’s Exodus (heralded by Time magazine in 1999 as the best album of the 20th century), the movie barely probes its cultural significance.
At its best, One Love is elevated by remarkable performances from Kingsley Ben-Adir and Lashana Lynch as Bob and Rita Marley. Their compelling portrayals add texture and authenticity (Ben-Adir depicts Marley dancing on stage with documentary realism) to a script that otherwise does not fully develop the supporting cast or Marley’s footprint.
Recent biopics help illustrate both the pitfalls the film avoids as well as its untapped potential. Unlike Napoleon, One Love prudently sidesteps the least interesting aspects of the superstar’s life. Who wants a mundane two-hour study of Marley’s sexual fetishes? Thankfully, in contrast to Archie’s neutering of Cary Grant, One Love allows Marley to continue being cool, a testament to his estate’s participation in the project.
Despite eschewing the sprawling storytelling strategy that mired 2022’s Elvis, the movie struggles with a similar hurdle as Bradley Cooper’s Maestro: Neither fully unpacks the allure of its subject; it merely presents the public’s adoration as a given.
For instance, a striking contrast is drawn when, just a few short years after a checkpoint officer fails to recognize him, Marley is greeted with a hero’s welcome upon his return to Kingston. But the film doesn’t capture his profound connection to the island.
Granted, encapsulating Marley’s impact in two hours is a daunting task. Nonetheless, an alternative approach could have integrated a vital aspect of Marley’s life, such as his groundbreaking influence on reggae, into a cohesive theme throughout the film. Using its wide-screen format more creatively could have also heightened audience immersion.
In fairness, One Love does offer fleeting glimpses of profundity. In a particularly poignant scene, Marley, driven by his faith, forgives one of his assailants and is thus liberated from his own fears — a powerful testament to his spirituality. Expanding on such sequences would have significantly enriched the film.
Though imperfect, One Love delivers a breezy cinematic experience that is more enjoyable than critics are giving it credit for. The soundtrack alone will have fans jammin’ in their seats — even if those yearning for soulful narrative riddims may have to groove to more basic beats.