‘Bob Marley: One Love’ Movie Review: The film shows that music can bring about political change

“Lets get together and feel all right’…”Bob Marley was flawed in a lot of ways and that’s what makes him special and memorable. Ever since his childhood days he had a burning desire to bring about a positive change and to unite the people of Jamaica through his music. He had this fire in his belly to be heard and the most inspiring thing about him was that he never made himself a victim of circumstances. His style and his music was a reflection of his political belief. Bob undoubtedly was one of the most influential artiste that we know of.

Bob Marley had a magnetic style and was way ahead of his time. He was a legend and a personification of music itself and had the power of transforming each and every concert into a grand success. But we failed to see that energy in the film that Bob carried in real life. The movie did a lazy job when it came to show the style sense of Bob. The way he carried himself, he could elevate anything that he wore. His songs continue to serve as anthems for justice, freedom and unity throughout the world.

Bob Marley brought reggae, Rastafarianism, and the culture of Jamaica to the world and was one of the most stylish rock stars of the ’70s. He was a swagger and his fearless rugged attitude is what made him stand out. He was a star, but that was never his intention. He was a brilliant team player too.

A stubborn optimist, he did magic with his music. But did the movie do justice. Well just partially. I felt a lot of emphasis was given to his wife, Rita in the biopic. Reinaldo Marcus Green’s Bob Marley: One Love was unable to bring about the greatness of the person. What makes him different was definitely his individuality. He was a true representation of the third world country and his style sense was affordable and effortlessly chic.

The film in the very beginning shows how music can bring about political change which the singers and musicians of today are not even trying. The film’s reminiscent scene was when Bob survives an assassination attempt and moves outside Kinston to think whether it is wise to go ahead with his ‘Smile Jamaica’ concert due to be held right before the country’s elections.

His life takes a dramatic turn when he moves to London from Jamaica. The film shows glimpses of his childhood and youth. He runs around in the burning paddy fields and a white man on the horse, who we assume might be his white father whom he hardly knew and this image keeps coming back again and again in the film. The movie also highlights the complexity of his relationship with his wife in a very subtle way. He truly was a distant father, but was a good provider. But was his strained relationship with his own father the cause of his aloofness?

Rating: 3 out of 5