‘Bob Marley: One Love’ Review – A Star Is Born

For such a complex figure, the biographical film Bob Marley: One Love is a relatively standard retelling of an incredible true story. While anyone might appreciate the shorter running time, coming at just 107 minutes, something feels amiss with Reinaldo Marcus Green’s film. That’s probably because the film feels incomplete in a way.

However, that may be because it was a life cut too short. It was an incredible life while we knew him as an artist, philanthropist, and activist. Ultimately, the performances and empathy the leads portray bring the film to a satisfying conclusion. Kingsley Ben-Adir, so good in One Night in Miami, immerses himself in the role that had me thinking one thing: a star is born.

Initially working with a script from Terence Winter and Frank E. Flowers, Green and scribe Zach Baylin began reworking the script. Bob Marley: One Love’s new focus is on Marley’s (Ben-Adir) struggle with his celebrity and political figure after an attempt on his life and that of his wife, Rita (an outstanding Lashana Lynch). In what is the film’s best-staged scene, men invade Marley’s home and are shot by a gunman’s bullet.

Jamaica is in the middle of a political revolution. For one, trying to separate from British control. The other is a war within the country over control. Rita survives despite being shot, but Marley, just being by her side, faces danger and is pulled away. And the saying, “The show must go on,” has a different meaning. Canceling the event with his songs laced with political messages means the shooters win.

Green’s film then spends a prolonged amount of time focusing on Marley’s struggle to embrace his activist roots and career. In the movie, he spends much time away from home for protection. So much so that even rival gang leaders from Jamaica visit him. Amazingly, they want him to return home to promote peace within rival factions. Marley’s music played a significant role in political awareness and activism.

His messages began to play an essential role in promoting political awareness and activism in his home country. His new album, Exodus, and subsequent tour began to shine a light globally on the conflict. What the film does astonishingly well is present clearly how his music’s powerful messages of resistance and social consciousness resonate powerfully still. 

Unfortunately, the film largely skips over his historic tour of Africa and the artist’s tragic demise. However, Bob Marley: One Love is worth watching for two lead knockout performances. Lynch’s powerful turn evokes the sense of resiliency needed at the time to survive such turbulent times, personally and professionally. Lynch’s fierce and focused portrayal is undeniably compelling.

Then you have Ben-Adir, who melts into the role so well that you forget you are watching a performance. This is the highest compliment you can pay an actor. Ben-Adir shows complexity and depth with intensity, passion, and surprising grace. For instance, in the film’s most powerful scene, he shows unprecedented forgiveness in the home he came back to after several years away.

It’s an astonishingly moving scene that will undoubtedly draw criticism from cynics everywhere, but it doesn’t take away from its poignant turn of compassion that is lost in films today. The fact is, you cannot take your eyes off Ben-Adir. He’s a born movie star who embodies the role with stunning ease that powerfully resonates.

Bob Marley: One Love can be called a paint-by-numbers biography. And to a certain extent, anyone who says so has a point, considering the movie begins to plateau around the time it focuses on creating Exodus with little insight. However, as an actor’s showcase, the cast proudly pays tribute to the figure.

Even though this may not be the movie Bob Marley and his fans deserve, it’s an honorable tribute to the reggae superstar who defined a generation.

Bob Marley: One Love will debut exclusively in theaters on February 14, 2024, courtesy of Paramount.