Bob Marley: One Love — Review: A Great Icon in a Simple Story
by KJ Proulx
Knowing that Bob Marley was too young when he passed away and knowing that he made fantastic music that was meant to bring peace and happiness was really all I knew about his life. Anytime I hear his music today I will gladly listen, but the fact that I didn’t know too much about him is the main reason I wanted to see Bob Marley: One Love. I’m glad that I did because I think it’s a solid film, but I believe only focussing on this one moment in his life made his story feel too short and simple. It has a lot of elements going for it, which is why I’m going to be positive, but it’s not without its issues. Here are my thoughts.
At a time in Marley’s life when crime was high in Jamaica, Bob Marley: One Love explores his life towards his final years. He has already made music and performed concerts but is now focussing on the album, Exodus. Aside from him making this album with The Wailers, the film’s substance ends up coming down to his personal life and the crime surrounding it. It’s a great showcase for the person he was and is still seen today, it’s just that I think I expected more meat to the story. There are multiple times when he is about to perform a concert but the film doesn't show any of it, or text on screen to explain things that would’ve made for some great filmmaking. What was filmed for the…
