My original title was going to be "Come for the music, stay for the Jamaican history" but honestly, the Jamaican history component is quite dwarfed for only a period of time that take place in the last few years of Bob Marley's life.
Disappointingly, this is not a biopic that I was expecting. I hoped to see young Bob getting into music and performing for the first time in the 1960s, but instead we have insta-star in the late 70s with flashbacks of his childhood, notably that spent courting young Rita.
What's missing? Well, everything.
Bob had a colourful love life, and apparently it was with Rita's knowledge and acceptance that he fathered so many children with so many women. (Three of which were born within 30 days of each other.) Rita also once told Britain's Daily Mirror that she refused him intimately, and he forced himself on her. Also, Bob's father, a white soldier named Norval, married Bob's mother when she was just 18 years old, with a whopping 40 year age difference. Bob was born 8 months after their wedding. Was it premature, or was there hanky panky out of wedlock which forced a marriage? None of these are brought to light or explained. What sort of This sort of dirty laundry within the Marley house is not brought up. This might have been on purpose, considering the Marley family produced the film. There is a scene with an exasperated Rita telling Bob she doesn't need riches to be happy, complete with a slap to his face. But that's about it. Bob's childhood is shown in moments of flashbacks, in particular, watching his father ride away on a horse.
This movie lacks so much movement. It's slow, as if you yourself just had some ganja and didn't know it. I'm not saying you'll be hypnotized with hallucinogens. It's not a psychedelic film. It's just slow and boring.
The dialogue is low and slow. The scenes where the band is recording is not really interesting. And the one scene where a gun is pointed and shot is also quite uneventful.
I feel like this film played it safe with everything concerning Bob. We only really saw what most fans know about, and honestly even non-fans would have known about too.
There are no secrets. There aren't even any thrilling scenes of love or violence. It's quite plain, focusing only on peace and music with of course, Bob's diagnosis of cancer to wrap it all up. And things wouldn't be complete without title cards. Only these title cards offer basic information people pretty much would have Googled while watching the film.
I didn't really get anything out of this film. I knew the basics of Bob Marley and since I was just fed the basics of who he was in the last few years of his life, I didn't feel that this was the biopic that thrilled me. The music throughout was the break-up between the monotony of the film otherwise.
If you're looking for something to watch late at night trying to fall asleep, this is my pick for you. Otherwise, if you're watching it midday, you're likely going to get a little bit sleepy.
Disappointingly, this is not a biopic that I was expecting. I hoped to see young Bob getting into music and performing for the first time in the 1960s, but instead we have insta-star in the late 70s with flashbacks of his childhood, notably that spent courting young Rita.
What's missing? Well, everything.
Bob had a colourful love life, and apparently it was with Rita's knowledge and acceptance that he fathered so many children with so many women. (Three of which were born within 30 days of each other.) Rita also once told Britain's Daily Mirror that she refused him intimately, and he forced himself on her. Also, Bob's father, a white soldier named Norval, married Bob's mother when she was just 18 years old, with a whopping 40 year age difference. Bob was born 8 months after their wedding. Was it premature, or was there hanky panky out of wedlock which forced a marriage? None of these are brought to light or explained. What sort of This sort of dirty laundry within the Marley house is not brought up. This might have been on purpose, considering the Marley family produced the film. There is a scene with an exasperated Rita telling Bob she doesn't need riches to be happy, complete with a slap to his face. But that's about it. Bob's childhood is shown in moments of flashbacks, in particular, watching his father ride away on a horse.
This movie lacks so much movement. It's slow, as if you yourself just had some ganja and didn't know it. I'm not saying you'll be hypnotized with hallucinogens. It's not a psychedelic film. It's just slow and boring.
The dialogue is low and slow. The scenes where the band is recording is not really interesting. And the one scene where a gun is pointed and shot is also quite uneventful.
I feel like this film played it safe with everything concerning Bob. We only really saw what most fans know about, and honestly even non-fans would have known about too.
There are no secrets. There aren't even any thrilling scenes of love or violence. It's quite plain, focusing only on peace and music with of course, Bob's diagnosis of cancer to wrap it all up. And things wouldn't be complete without title cards. Only these title cards offer basic information people pretty much would have Googled while watching the film.
I didn't really get anything out of this film. I knew the basics of Bob Marley and since I was just fed the basics of who he was in the last few years of his life, I didn't feel that this was the biopic that thrilled me. The music throughout was the break-up between the monotony of the film otherwise.
If you're looking for something to watch late at night trying to fall asleep, this is my pick for you. Otherwise, if you're watching it midday, you're likely going to get a little bit sleepy.
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