Starring Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch, James Norton, and Tosin Cole
Directed by Renaldo Marcus Green
Music and Lyrics by Bob Marley and others
Our first biography this week covers a musician who was popular around the same time as Ray Charles, but in a very different place and genre. Bob Marley and his group the Wailers started out in the mid-60's, but they were at the height of their popularity from the mid-70's through the early 80's. His "I Shot the Sheriff" was recorded by Eric Clapton in 1975, leading fans in the US and around the world to discover his work. By the time this movie begins in 1976, he was hoping to use his clout to end civil war in his native Jamaica...but it didn't go anywhere near as he planned, as we'll see here...
The Story: Marley, his wife Rita (Lynch), and his band are attacked by unknown assailants at his home in Jamaica. Everyone survives, and he does go through with the concert. Still shaken by the attempt on his life by his own countrymen, he sends Rita and his children to his mother's home in Delaware, then heads to London with his band.
Rita rejoins him as he struggles to come up with an idea for his next album. He finally gets it from hearing one of his bandmates playing the soundtrack from the 1960 film Exodus and comparing it to their own situation. This leads to the recording of their album Exodus, which would be a best-seller in the UK.
Their European tour commences to sell-out crowds. Marley is so encouraged, he wants to take the band to Africa in order to encourage independence there. Rita's not crazy about the idea, or about his many affairs. He's not overly delighted with her affairs, either, or that their long-time manager Don Taylor (Anthony Welsh) has been pocketing money intended for the Africa concert. None of that matters when Marley discovers that a toe infection turns out to be something far worse, and he literally has nothing to lose in going back to Jamaica and trying to unite the people again.
The Song and Dance: I'll be honest. I didn't know much about Marley before this other than he was influential in reggae and died young. This was an eye-opener for me in more ways than one. I do appreciate that it took a slightly different approach to a musical biography. Focusing on one time in Marley's life allows us to get to know him and the people in his life in ways they often don't get away with in a standard through-the-years film. Ben-Adir and Lynch rise above all as the laid-back musician who only wants to bring worlds together, and his frustrated wife who loves him, but doesn't love his lifestyle. Terrific cinematography too that shows off Jamaica and London in all their 70's grit and glory.
Favorite Number: Our first actual song is "Get Up, Stand Up," which they play at Marley's home during a party before the first concert. We see in a flashback how they get "Roots, Rock, Reggae" early on. The Wailers rehearse "I Shot the Sheriff" the night of the assassination attempt. A shattered Marley performs "No More Trouble" and "War" at the first concert, showing off his wounds from the gunshots. "So Jah S'eh" shows off Marley's conversion to Rastafarianism.
We get a montage of the Wailers recording songs from his Exodus album and later performing them to enthusiastic crowds on tour, including the title song, "Jammin'," "Natural Mystic," and "Three Little Birds." "Turn the Lights Down Low" underscores a love seen between him and Rita in the past. "No Woman, No Cry" gives us the sound of the real Marley. We finish with footage of the real second Jamaican concert and "One Love/People Get Ready," "Redemption Song," and "Is This Love."
What I Don't Like: While this gets closer to the truth than Ray, it's still full of cliches. It barely mentions that Marley had many other affairs than the one that sets Rita off (and Rita had numerous affairs of her own), or that Marley produced children with other women besides her. To this day, they haven't found out who tried to kill Marley and the Wailers, and they certainly never apologized to him for it. There's also the characters' Jamaican accents and language. It's entirely accurate to the place, time, and characters, but they're so thick that the movie could have used subtitles in places.
The Big Finale: There's enough good performances and music here for fans of Marley, reggae, or the music of the 70's to check out.
Home Media: Currently available for pre-order at Amazon Prime.
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