That was a good documentary but I personally enjoyed the 1984 “ Bob Marley and the Wailers Caribbean nights “ documentary more. Closer to the time of the events and fresh recollections. The Netflix documentary about the assignation attempt was very good as well.
@@alansjf33 the 84 doc. is so good too but harder to find where I am. so I've only seen it once. Not seen the netflix one, will check it out thanks for the suggestion.
I did not know this. It explains so much now about the NZ dub legacy (Fat Freddy's Drop, Trinity Roots, Katchafire, Salmonella dub, Pitch Black, Rhombus et al) . I need to research more about this.
My Jamaican family and I saw the movie on Valentine's Day, and we enjoyed it. I left Jamaica 🇯🇲 as a teenager in the late 70th. So, this movie 🎬 was every educational in regard to his personal life. The movie was showing in 6 Sold Out rooms. The actors were exceptional. I hope they make a Netflix mini series 🎉😊 Blessings to All!
That's why we are individuals; your takeaway is yours, and my takeaway is mine. The movie has already exceeded open-day expectations GLOBALLY, almost $20M🎉...Stay Blessed! 😊
@@legacyjeetkunedo492 See I actually thought it should've been quite a lot longer, which I don't usually think with most movies. I agree that I was hoping it would explore his rise to fame from a child or a young man up until his death. It just jumped right into the peak of his success which I was kind of unhappy with.
@@jasperr3just leaves room for a sequel and/or what ever you call a sequel that goes back in time. Probably a prequel now that I think about it 😅. So prequel one year later then sequel from exodus to his death.
Thank goodness they stayed true to the Jamaican Patois and didn’t sanitize it - Bob didn’t talk di Queen’s English, so why would they mek him do dat inna di movie? People who truly appreciate Bob and Jamaica’s culture should make more of an effort to understand the dialect, rather than complaining that it wasn’t whitewashed for their ears. Can’t wait to see it tomorrow.
Fully agree with your points. I was expecting more but generally OK. The flashbacks are not given a timeline and thereby adds to the disjointed feel of the film. I agree the family were myopic and way too close to be objective.
Great review Dan, definitely was waiting for your thoughts before deciding if I would see it in my theater. Your comment about having a hard time understanding the dialogue sealed the deal for me. I’ll wait until I can watch it with close captions.
People from Jamaica are are complaining that Kingsley did not sound Jamaican enough. There were a few moments that I could not understand Kingsley. I think he did a good job but unfortunately I would have liked to see more portrayals of Bob Marley performing. I love Bob Marley’s music but did not enjoy the movie. Script was amateur, cinematography was amateur, direction was amateur. I do admire Bob Marley’s family producing to honor this Legendary artist
I completely agree with the points you said and I want to also say that I think that the filming and the way they color the shots are amazing, thank you for this review
I wish subtitled-showings of movies at the cinema existed as well. I'm not deaf but i know this has been a long running desire from that community as well.
In the UK cinemas have to do accessible showings by law (discriminaton otherwise). Of course nothing says they have to be at convenient times 🙄 That said if you want subs you don't always want audio descript.
AMC usually has one showing a day for some movies with captions. I know for some people, that is distracting,but I wish it is for all movies. I also had problem understanding some lines because of the Jamaican accent. It was also a joke in the movie .
I found the movie very disappointing with no depth. Why not show his good and bad? Why not focus more on his relationship with Rita? The concert scenes were horrible. It was like a cheap Lifetime movie. Who cares about the embezzlement when Bob had issues with his marriage and had affairs. I wanted more about his cancer. They needed subtitles. I left the movie very disappointed as a Marley fan. I love Bob and his mission and music but the movie was cheesy at best. No depth. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being great), I’m struggling to give this a 3.
I'm impressed that I didn't recognize most of what you talked about, given that I've seen so many trailers for this I feel like I've seen this movie 3-4 times
The concept of a movie "not being" something is a line of criticism I always struggle with. When I saw Oppenheimer this summer a good friend of mine really disliked the movie because it didn't focus on the Japanese experience or the experience of women in that time. I took umbrage with that because it did not seem fair to downgrade a movie based off what they wanted it to be when that was never what the director and creatives behind the movie intended it to be. Like getting mad at an apple for not being an orange. Idk, I completely get what Dan is saying here, but if what the movie presents is enjoyable and it achieves its intended purpose then it sounds like a good movie to me (not implying that Dan said it was a bad movie).
I thought the flashbacks were very important to the themes of the movie. It really ties together with the ring as we realize a specific flashback is a metaphor. Also, I’m glad the accents are there without subtitles. The biggest laugh is when a producer asks Bob to repeat himself. Even if you don’t get all the words, you understand what is being said.
Agree. My family and I saw the movie on Valentine's Day, and we loved it.The actors' performance was exceptional. We also thought the flashback we relevant. Highly recommend 🎉🎉 Blessings to All!
A genius peace maker, ok... The guy was made an icon due to his looks, he was a guy who said things he did not necessarily mean, became extremely rich and did little for his island home and treated his wife like she wasn't his wife but ok....
@@beyourself2444 not all true .. . he gave a lot of money away to his home country and people, even when he wasn’t making a lot. He often performed for little or no money. His wife had a child on him during the marriage and one before yet he adopted both . You clearly do not understand talent which he undoubtedly had , nor the intricacies of the tribe of the Rastafarian religion that believes in a form of polygamy. The man wasn’t perfect but neither was Elvis who slept with underage girls. Do some more research before you attack Bob.
The movie had a huge level of authenticity much better than any big studio attempt of portraying Jamaica historically. However the scenes in Jamaica, the use of Jamaicans in many of the surrounding roles and the great job on the clothes, using the actual places in Jamaica was a gut punch to anyone who was in Jamaica between 1976 - 1978. This is a love letter to Jamaicans and a love letter to Bob & Rita Marley from Rita’s children. This is an important film and I agree there needs to be more meat, however if the meat was there it would have been a five hour film. The film was good. Lashana’s accent could have been been better, especially since her parents are Jamaican, that being said she did a good job at the very important moments. Kingsley did not get the accent right but he did a great job mimicking Bob’s voice and he definitely got Bob’s mannerisms down! Please watch the film 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲
A great review Dan and as a long time Bob Marley fan, your review very much resonated with me. I thought it was a great movie for those that don’t know his story but for those of us well versed in his story, I thought there was a lot missing and left me wanting more.
Having enjoyed Reinaldo Marcus Green's previous work like Monsters & Men, King Richard but especially on Netflix's Top Boy & HBO's We Own This City, a little disappointing to see the critics' consensus on this movie :( Was having 4 different credited writers also an issue with the movie (Terence Winter, Frank E Flowers, Zach Baylin & RMG)?! Audience Score metrics seem to be really positive though; an A CinemaScore & 94% RT (4.6/5). Does seem like documentaries in general are the way to go when it comes to Biopics!
The problem is that these films never have a focus because they try to cover too much and don't decide what they movie is supposed to be. Patrick Willems' video on this covers it very well and you should watch. Audiences simply resonate with the music so of course they will like it, but as films they blow.
The rating really hurt this movie, it could have really benefited from an R rating. Allowing the film the opportunity to really explore some of the darker elements that arise.
I just saw it here in Slovenia and i totally agree with what Dan said! I love it but i"m big fan of Bob Marley and also a musician who play a lot of his songs so my opinion is a bit subjective. Also here in Slovenia we have subtitles so i didn"t struggle with Jamaican patoise with which im quite familiar anyway!
For people that know BOB based on commercials in USA ,(security systems, resorts in MoBay etc) not due to advertising.. but THE LEGEND is exactly 💯 what Mr. Marley is about . I started frequenting his concerts around the world since 1976😮 yes I was blessed ...and so is the world. Both Kingsley and LaShana performances/soundtrack IMO excellent.. but the story line is all Ziggy the Producer's slant ..Nuf Said 🌹⭐💚
People just sat in the theatre after the movie over and listened to the music while the credits roll. It was introspection for me. I absolutely agree with your analysis, I told me husband the same thing.
The best critique of this movie so far. That translate to, I agree with you 100%, love the movie but some minor things missing that if they were present would make it one of the best movies over the recent past.
My only critique about this film is Hollywood has this thing where they cast African Americans in roles for Caribbean Black characters. I think it's important for representation if Caribbeans get to play roles of characters from their background so that accents and dialects sound more authentic and not washed. As a Jamaican that's the only thing that disappointed me about this film.
Eh, they got a British guy to portray Lincoln. As long as the performance is good what is the problem? I would rather get a better performance than someone who is from a place closer to the person they are playing.
@@miz4535 Performance matters yes but I think representation matters too especially if the dialect that I was born into and have doesn't sound like the actor playing Bob Marley a Jamaican-born musician. But I see your point.
I can't comment on how well the dialect matched, but I guess if it doesn't that would be a problem with the performance itself. On the other hand, how important is getting someone's exact way of speaking down? Some would say very, others might say it is more about the feeling the actor brings than trying to be a copy. Similar I guess to getting someone who looks the same. @@BrysonRyenn
I understand what you mean, because a lot of times Spanish people are cast as Italians and it just doesn't work in a film, maybe if they used Spanish actors that I didn't know, but it just takes it out of the movie. Also, I had a friend who saw a KFC tv commercial where each family member had a southern accent from a different southern state & it was noticeable. I think that Mr. Marley would have wanted representation from his own country, but I might be wrong. You can believe in, "One Love,' but still be proud of where you come from. Just a thought.
At this point, I think I've replaced Chris Stuckmann entirely with Dan Murrell. Absolutely love his nuanced takes, and his constructive criticism. He can so eloquently trash a movie without it sounding mean-spirited, and praise a film without sounding like he's dating the director.
Im thinking about unsubscribing from chris as well. He got boring and i think he took the money from the people and will never put out his so called movie.
Everything you said about this movie is exactly how I felt about it. I went to the 8:15 viewing on Wednesday. I really wish there were subtitles for sure
Jah Rastafari. I watch this movies yesterday and as a fellow Jamaican i enjoyed it. Ik a lot of people in Jamaica criticize the movie because the guy who layer BOB wasn’t a full Jamaican,but i think the movie was enjoyable and i will watch it again in the theatre.
100% agreement with Dan. It is a glossy impression of a creative talent with a lot of heart. Everything is hinted, but not really shown. You get a taste, but it seems to be pulling punches.
You have to be mentally insane to think that they could fit this man's great life in a 2-hour movie of course they're going to be things that they missed so keep an open mind when you go see this if you want a documentary go look at the 2012 Doc and that will fill in all the spaces that this movie didn't.. Spike Lee's Malcolm X and Bohemian Rhapsody are probably the best two movies I've seen portraying a person's life
Great film! You’re right about the dialogue. However , in a global film industry which is dominated by American-centric film accent;s)- which the rest of the world has to suck up and learn, maybe it’s time that we all learned to tune in to other dialects/ languages instead of getting accent/language lazy. I am a Londoner with an RP accent- so I’m probably easier for you to understand in writing 😂
Bottom line is this should not have been a movie for the theater, but 10 episode biopic. Bob & Rita’s story can only be told that way because Mother Rita has to be put on the level of Coretta Scott Betty Shabazz, Myrtle Evers, Rosa Parks and Mamie Till.
I've been waiting 40 years for them to make a movie about the Legend. I will be seeing it this weekend. I really wish they would have started with his early life and made a longer movie. Telling us more about the man himself . Also don't like the Fact that all of the actor who played Peter Tosh's scenes were cut. Didn't make any into the movie at all. Hoping someone has enough balls to make a true to his life Peter Tosh movie.
Bob’s story was told to the backdrop of political upheaval Jamaica experienced during the 1970s. The years were 1976 to 1978 where Bob’s music, struggles and attempted assignation on his life was the climax of the movie. The storyline though vague at times was supported by sharp cinematography which helped to give a visual tale of the climatic situation. The acting made up for the storyline as many people were expecting to be spoon fed on every scenario of Bobs life. The movie gave you a taste of Bobs life, how his music was inspired and made, struggles of infidelity, a message of peace during a tumultuous time, the shady side of the music industry and the vulnerability of Bob trying to put in perspective his life in all the chaos. I would also advise anyone who needs to know more in-depth about Bobs life should watch the many documentaries they have on him. This movie is a biopic, an artistic expression on film with the purpose of honoring his legacy and for entertainment purpose. Naturally there wasn't much character development which are mostly reserved for fictions and also due to film length, nevertheless, Kingsley did a good job in capturing the essence of Bob Marley’s mannerism and dialect. He carried the movie on his shoulders and held your attention while Lynch acting as Rita Marley being a strong support to the character. Kingsley being a season actor and a foreigner was able to play the role in multi dimension. He didn’t approach the character as a one-dimension as what most expected of Bob, the dreadlocks, the dancing, the weed smoking, and an attempt to imitate an icon. Ziggy’s decision to cast Kingsley was something much deeper than what the majority thought they knew of Bob. It had nothing to do with exterior image or relationship to Bob but rather to do with an internal essence that reflects outward and capture your attention. A spiritual reflection that has you seeing Bob Marley in Kingsley. That is what Kingsley as a professional actor bought to the table. Not everyone can accomplish that feat, worst yet someone who hasn’t acted on a serious level not one day their life. Ironically, the mystery that Kingsley as an outsider bought to the screen helped in solidifying the character and the uniqueness about Bob. The flashback of Bob Marley early life also doesn’t have to be in Chronological order. It’s him reflecting on different points of his youthful life. It was also artistically done to show that his dad rejected him while the Rasta Religion under Haile Selassie and encouraged by Rita, embraced him without verbally spoon feeding the audience. Sometimes visual images are stronger than words and this movie is full of visual images which tells the story. Some people may need to see the movie twice as it they may have missed the message of the movie. The movie told the story the best way it could, providing the context given and running time of 1 hour and 47 minutes. Overall, the movie was good, had a few funny moments, mixed with scenes that were a bit sorrowful. Could use a bit more drama but I guess they wanted it to be as authentic as can be. For what it is I gave this movie 4 stars out of 5.
I appreciated the movie. It ended with Redemption Song, which is one of the last song he wrote. It's the only song where Bob is singing solo with a acoustic guitar. This is the perfect song for the ending. I saw the movie opening day and have seen Ziggy Marley in concert. I glad they kept the movie neutral showing cigarettes instead of Marijuana and not going into the marital affairs. They also didn't go into depth about his cancer treatment. They kept the movie happy 😊
I’m the biggest Bob Marley fan you’ll find and I really didn’t like it. On a base level it’s fine but I couldn’t find enjoyment, it feels like nothing happens for about half of the movie, I also think the ending with him getting on stage and it just ending was bad. I also disliked the argument Bob and Rita had because they threw every viewable problem Bob and Rita had in one argument and didn’t really follow up. It’s fine, not horrible or anything but I didn’t like it
I think it's always an interesting choice when it's a heavily accented but still "English" language film. I edited a short film that was set in Jamaica and the director was from Jamaica. While we of course understood all the dialogue, with test screenings we'd get mixed messages about whether we needed subtitles or not. In the end I think we went with subtitles because it's just easier for those who need them for them to be there, and for those who don't to just ignore them. But subtitles can be distracting, especially when they're not 100% necessary and so you're having to go back and forth while feeling like you're missing visuals because of it, so I understand the decision to not use them as well. Oh well. Glad there seem to be CC screenings more these days
Saw the film Thursday.. to me the fact that there were no subtitles inhanced the realness of the film .. there was a lot of dialogue I just missed because I couldn’t make it out but I’m probably gonna see it again because I want to know what was said. I think You are in point with your review.. not the most incredible bio pic of all time( I’ve seen La Baba about 50 times lol) but it’s a slice of life film. A period in his life and want transpired during that time.. and people were dancing in the seats and enjoying all of it. For Bob Marley fans there’s not much you didn’t already know but as in introduction to his life and music I think it’s a good starting point..
@@jgcobb79 in what ways are nuances pertinent in critical analysis ? Are you actually freaking serious??? 🙄🤦🏻♂️ you are either trolling, a hater, or just very very slow witted
The language was indecipherable without subtitles - authenticity is beyond the point It’s okay to be honest, and the emotion was conveyed well throughout
Saw One Love yesterday. Dan hit it on the head. Great performances across the board, could’ve just cleaned up the storyline. It’s definitely worth a watch
I totally agree, I just saw it and thought it was fine but doesn't really show the complex man. In my theater, a video of his son appeared approving of the movie so I think the movie avoided a lot of stuff
Thanks for the nuanced honest review Dan. As a West Indian myself I'm really rooting for this movie. Looks like it will be a solid mid level box office hit.
Well said about the dialect! I listen to a lot of Bob Marley stuff and reggae, and Rosta documentaries so my ear is more in tune……….. So yeah, I do think a lot of people will miss a lot unless they down the road rent it or buy it and do the subtitles
I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the movie!!! The story, his evolution as a man,his impact and the glimpse into Jamaica. I loved it so much and feel like going to watch it again. ❤❤ 😊
I always judge bio-pics on how well they grab my interest as a story even when I am not very familiar or very interested in the main subject outside of the context of the film in question. I am wondering if this film will do that for someone like me who is not very fond of the kind of music involved?
Bob Marley became my nickname and I actually became Rasta and as close as this story is to me I agree the only issue was wanting more and not in the sense that is wasn't enough but just like you said that certain things needed more time to settle. But Bob didn't want to represent himself he wanted to represent Rasta. And the movie did make me feel like I was chilling with the real Rastas. ☝️💙✌️
I didn't think Kingsley could pull it off, but he did. They could've went deeper in Marleys story, but you can see how they obviously had to compromise for the mass audience. Glad they did not use subtitles, you just have to pay attention. The message was what Marleys was...positivity
Go listen to his old concerts I saw him 2 x in 78/82 When i was a teenager My friend & a big importer back in the day took Me . I met Bunny Wailer & stayed with him and his gf in NYC When I was 16... the best time.
While I agree they could have gone deeper, I don't think the fact that they didn't hurts the overall movie. I also agree the accents made it a little hard for me to understand the dialog, but I also that added to the authenticity of the movie. Overall I really enjoyed the movie.
Guys just remember that the Movie is about the last 2Years Of His Life. Not His Whole Life Story, that would take 10 Movies😊. It's Hard to put Focus on 1 thing Because they're so much Elements to Bob Marley. One Love ❤
The feeling of the movie was good. There are just too many gaps in between. As a theatrical practitioner or former student of Performance Studies, I know & completely understand what's going on & how or why the movie was made this way. The problem is that most (90%) of the audience doesn’t know, so they'll be lost & confused. I noticed quite a few people leave the theatre. And I surely because they didn’t understand or know the elements used to make this movie wholesome. From a theatrical perspective, it ticked the boxes sure but general audience will come out more confused & baffled.
Thats the trouble if you set out looking for negatives you wil find them.This film is good at showing marley as human not perfect but music is the focus in this great film.
Yes it could have added Africa , and other parts of the world but the most significant thing is the unity he brought to Jamaica after independence when the country was in turmoil I know lot of people won’t understand bc they are not from there.
It was an Amazing movie, not only did it capture his spirit very well but also his story and his story revolves around spreading the message of jah. The actual story of bob was pretty on point but to me this movie is about ras tafari and the message it has in the reggae music. Also i feel The one thing people will misunderstand is the god talk. God technically was before man, god is of no color, but to a Rasta they look the start of mankind as when our first primate species started to evolve. Which with factual evidence we knew did stem from Africa. Which is why they say the god of man to them is darker with kinkier hair and brown eyes because all of man roots back to those first humans. However god, Rasta goes even before mankind. It’s life and we are all life. I and I
Ok. Good review! More detail of his life would be better but then it would’ve to be 3hrs long. You don’t know patois, so you wouldn’t know the dialect. 4 Stars. I went to watch it and the theatre was packed the people didn’t want to leave. 3 minutes after the lights came on at the end most people were still seated. You were right, everyone needed more. It ended ok but we needed more. I was a little pissed.
The movie is good, but it could've put more details on that movie, like more of his childhood & his last days. That movie could've been at least 3 hours instead of a hour & 38 mins.
Yeah wish they would of pick one period of his life and told that, the movie was all over the place. It’s like they expected the viewer to know everything already,
It *does* require English subtitles for North American audiences; even an American character asked Bob Marley to repeat something that wasn't understood in a circle with a British man before the Jamaicans sitting around all laughed @ the American.
I would recommend that everyone who wants to know more about Bob Markey that you check out the 2012 Doc. Marley its truly excellent
Absolutely!!! That documentary really did a deep dive into who he really was warts included without any negative judgement👍🏽👍🏽👍🏻👍🏿😺
I got TIME WILL TELL bob doc on vhs 📼
That was a good documentary but I personally enjoyed the 1984 “ Bob Marley and the Wailers Caribbean nights “ documentary more. Closer to the time of the events and fresh recollections. The Netflix documentary about the assignation attempt was very good as well.
@@alansjf33 the 84 doc. is so good too but harder to find where I am. so I've only seen it once. Not seen the netflix one, will check it out thanks for the suggestion.
Also, LEGACY series! Those are beautifully made
I wish they showed more of his journey in New Zealand as Uncle Bob has been a cultural impact to the people of NZ. We love Uncle Bob 💚💛❤️
I did not know this. It explains so much now about the NZ dub legacy (Fat Freddy's Drop, Trinity Roots, Katchafire, Salmonella dub, Pitch Black, Rhombus et al) . I need to research more about this.
Bob Marley is also very much love in England. I work one time with and British crew and the amount of Bob Marley songs I heard.
As a Jamaican, that’s been a long time viewer of your content, I appreciate your review Dan! 🇯🇲
I’m gonna watch in theatres later tonight
Did you enjoy the movie?
Yeah, it was enjoyable but also had its issues
@@abriannabrown455 Okay. Cool. Thanks. I might see it. Thanks 👍
What didn't you enjoy about the film?@aidanlucid9619
@@LFCTREEZ I didn't see the movie but just wanted to hear other people's opinions on it. I might see it at the weekend.
So glad my theater offers closed captioned screenings for new releases on weekends
Cool
Thank you for the review Dan! You are awesome! Crisp, concise, honest, and respectful to the Legend!
My Jamaican family and I saw the movie on Valentine's Day, and we enjoyed it. I left Jamaica 🇯🇲 as a teenager in the late 70th. So, this movie 🎬 was every educational in regard to his personal life. The movie was showing in 6 Sold Out rooms.
The actors were exceptional. I hope they make a Netflix mini series 🎉😊 Blessings to All!
I missed the educational aspects . What were they?
That's why we are individuals; your takeaway is yours, and my takeaway is mine. The movie has already exceeded open-day expectations GLOBALLY, almost $20M🎉...Stay Blessed! 😊
The main actor did a great job. Filling Bob's shoes is a huge challenge
The movie only captured just two years of his life. I wish it could have been more.
You're forgetting the many flashbacks. Also, how long did you want the movie to be?
@@legacyjeetkunedo492 See I actually thought it should've been quite a lot longer, which I don't usually think with most movies. I agree that I was hoping it would explore his rise to fame from a child or a young man up until his death. It just jumped right into the peak of his success which I was kind of unhappy with.
@@jasperr3just leaves room for a sequel and/or what ever you call a sequel that goes back in time. Probably a prequel now that I think about it 😅.
So prequel one year later then sequel from exodus to his death.
@@jasperr3but there is too much in his life to fit all in 1 movie. Even these 2 years was too much to fit
You danced around some sensitive topics nicely and gave an excellent balanced review. 🎉
Thank goodness they stayed true to the Jamaican Patois and didn’t sanitize it - Bob didn’t talk di Queen’s English, so why would they mek him do dat inna di movie? People who truly appreciate Bob and Jamaica’s culture should make more of an effort to understand the dialect, rather than complaining that it wasn’t whitewashed for their ears. Can’t wait to see it tomorrow.
Thank you!
This movie wasn't made for Jamaicans
Fully agree with your points. I was expecting more but generally OK. The flashbacks are not given a timeline and thereby adds to the disjointed feel of the film. I agree the family were myopic and way too close to be objective.
i dont agree, i loved it
Great review, Dan.
Gonna see this tomorrow, Bob Marley has some great songs.
What an excellent review. You put everything I felt into words after seeing this yesterday. ❤
Great review Dan, definitely was waiting for your thoughts before deciding if I would see it in my theater. Your comment about having a hard time understanding the dialogue sealed the deal for me. I’ll wait until I can watch it with close captions.
There are theaters that offer captions, but it is very limited showings.
People from Jamaica are are complaining that Kingsley did not sound Jamaican enough. There were a few moments that I could not understand Kingsley. I think he did a good job but unfortunately I would have liked to see more portrayals of Bob Marley performing. I love Bob Marley’s music but did not enjoy the movie. Script was amateur, cinematography was amateur, direction was amateur. I do admire Bob Marley’s family producing to honor this Legendary artist
I completely agree with the points you said and I want to also say that I think that the filming and the way they color the shots are amazing, thank you for this review
This review perfectly summed up my feelings. Great review Dan.
I wish subtitled-showings of movies at the cinema existed as well. I'm not deaf but i know this has been a long running desire from that community as well.
I've been to a theater where certain showings had subtitle devices available.
In the UK cinemas have to do accessible showings by law (discriminaton otherwise). Of course nothing says they have to be at convenient times 🙄
That said if you want subs you don't always want audio descript.
AMC usually has one showing a day for some movies with captions. I know for some people, that is distracting,but I wish it is for all movies.
I also had problem understanding some lines because of the Jamaican accent. It was also a joke in the movie .
I found the movie very disappointing with no depth. Why not show his good and bad? Why not focus more on his relationship with Rita? The concert scenes were horrible. It was like a cheap Lifetime movie. Who cares about the embezzlement when Bob had issues with his marriage and had affairs. I wanted more about his cancer. They needed subtitles. I left the movie very disappointed as a Marley fan. I love Bob and his mission and music but the movie was cheesy at best. No depth. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being great), I’m struggling to give this a 3.
Dan rocking that Jujutsu Kaisen T-shirt!
Can’t wait to see this tonight!
I'm impressed that I didn't recognize most of what you talked about, given that I've seen so many trailers for this I feel like I've seen this movie 3-4 times
The concept of a movie "not being" something is a line of criticism I always struggle with.
When I saw Oppenheimer this summer a good friend of mine really disliked the movie because it didn't focus on the Japanese experience or the experience of women in that time. I took umbrage with that because it did not seem fair to downgrade a movie based off what they wanted it to be when that was never what the director and creatives behind the movie intended it to be. Like getting mad at an apple for not being an orange.
Idk, I completely get what Dan is saying here, but if what the movie presents is enjoyable and it achieves its intended purpose then it sounds like a good movie to me (not implying that Dan said it was a bad movie).
Saw the movie before this review and your comments are spot on.
I thought the flashbacks were very important to the themes of the movie. It really ties together with the ring as we realize a specific flashback is a metaphor.
Also, I’m glad the accents are there without subtitles. The biggest laugh is when a producer asks Bob to repeat himself. Even if you don’t get all the words, you understand what is being said.
Agree. My family and I saw the movie on Valentine's Day, and we loved it.The actors' performance was exceptional. We also thought the flashback we relevant. Highly recommend 🎉🎉 Blessings to All!
I saw the movie and I believe Kingsley did an excellent job! Bob is truly a genius and peace maker. They could have had subtitles in parts
A genius peace maker, ok... The guy was made an icon due to his looks, he was a guy who said things he did not necessarily mean, became extremely rich and did little for his island home and treated his wife like she wasn't his wife but ok....
@@beyourself2444 not all true .. . he gave a lot of money away to his home country and people, even when he wasn’t making a lot. He often performed for little or no money. His wife had a child on him during the marriage and one before yet he adopted both . You clearly do not understand talent which he undoubtedly had , nor the intricacies of the tribe of the Rastafarian religion that believes in a form of polygamy. The man wasn’t perfect but neither was Elvis who slept with underage girls. Do some more research before you attack Bob.
Good review. I’ll be watching it soon. Also looking forward to the Michael Jackson biopic next year. It could be incredible.
My mom is a great MJ fan, she’s already expecting it
The movie had a huge level of authenticity much better than any big studio attempt of portraying Jamaica historically.
However the scenes in Jamaica, the use of Jamaicans in many of the surrounding roles and the great job on the clothes, using the actual places in Jamaica was a gut punch to anyone who was in Jamaica between 1976 - 1978.
This is a love letter to Jamaicans and a love letter to Bob & Rita Marley from Rita’s children.
This is an important film and I agree there needs to be more meat, however if the meat was there it would have been a five hour film.
The film was good. Lashana’s accent could have been been better, especially since her parents are Jamaican, that being said she did a good job at the very important moments. Kingsley did not get the accent right but he did a great job mimicking Bob’s voice and he definitely got Bob’s mannerisms down!
Please watch the film 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲
Thanks for the review, I felt the same way about the storytelling of the movie
A great review Dan and as a long time Bob Marley fan, your review very much resonated with me.
I thought it was a great movie for those that don’t know his story but for those of us well versed in his story, I thought there was a lot missing and left me wanting more.
Having enjoyed Reinaldo Marcus Green's previous work like Monsters & Men, King Richard but especially on Netflix's Top Boy & HBO's We Own This City, a little disappointing to see the critics' consensus on this movie :( Was having 4 different credited writers also an issue with the movie (Terence Winter, Frank E Flowers, Zach Baylin & RMG)?! Audience Score metrics seem to be really positive though; an A CinemaScore & 94% RT (4.6/5). Does seem like documentaries in general are the way to go when it comes to Biopics!
Most likely, yup
The problem is that these films never have a focus because they try to cover too much and don't decide what they movie is supposed to be. Patrick Willems' video on this covers it very well and you should watch. Audiences simply resonate with the music so of course they will like it, but as films they blow.
@@miz4535 Does seem like documentaries in general are the way to go when it comes to Biopics!
The rating really hurt this movie, it could have really benefited from an R rating.
Allowing the film the opportunity to really explore some of the darker elements that arise.
As always your reviews are able to put into words my thoughts about the movie. Keep up the good work and I always look forward to the next review.
I just saw it here in Slovenia and i totally agree with what Dan said! I love it but i"m big fan of Bob Marley and also a musician who play a lot of his songs so my opinion is a bit subjective. Also here in Slovenia we have subtitles so i didn"t struggle with Jamaican patoise with which im quite familiar anyway!
For people that know BOB based on commercials in USA ,(security systems, resorts in MoBay etc) not due to advertising.. but THE LEGEND is exactly 💯 what Mr. Marley is about . I started frequenting his concerts around the world since 1976😮 yes I was blessed ...and so is the world. Both Kingsley and LaShana performances/soundtrack IMO excellent.. but the story line is all Ziggy the Producer's slant ..Nuf Said 🌹⭐💚
People just sat in the theatre after the movie over and listened to the music while the credits roll. It was introspection for me.
I absolutely agree with your analysis, I told me husband the same thing.
The best critique of this movie so far. That translate to, I agree with you 100%, love the movie but some minor things missing that if they were present would make it one of the best movies over the recent past.
My only critique about this film is Hollywood has this thing where they cast African Americans in roles for Caribbean Black characters. I think it's important for representation if Caribbeans get to play roles of characters from their background so that accents and dialects sound more authentic and not washed. As a Jamaican that's the only thing that disappointed me about this film.
Eh, they got a British guy to portray Lincoln. As long as the performance is good what is the problem? I would rather get a better performance than someone who is from a place closer to the person they are playing.
@@miz4535 Performance matters yes but I think representation matters too especially if the dialect that I was born into and have doesn't sound like the actor playing Bob Marley a Jamaican-born musician. But I see your point.
I can't comment on how well the dialect matched, but I guess if it doesn't that would be a problem with the performance itself. On the other hand, how important is getting someone's exact way of speaking down? Some would say very, others might say it is more about the feeling the actor brings than trying to be a copy. Similar I guess to getting someone who looks the same. @@BrysonRyenn
I understand what you mean, because a lot of times Spanish people are cast as Italians and it just doesn't work in a film, maybe if they used Spanish actors that I didn't know, but it just takes it out of the movie. Also, I had a friend who saw a KFC tv commercial where each family member had a southern accent from a different southern state & it was noticeable. I think that Mr. Marley would have wanted representation from his own country, but I might be wrong. You can believe in, "One Love,' but still be proud of where you come from. Just a thought.
Actually most of the actor of not all are black Brit’s
At this point, I think I've replaced Chris Stuckmann entirely with Dan Murrell.
Absolutely love his nuanced takes, and his constructive criticism. He can so eloquently trash a movie without it sounding mean-spirited, and praise a film without sounding like he's dating the director.
Im thinking about unsubscribing from chris as well. He got boring and i think he took the money from the people and will never put out his so called movie.
@@supermario8134wtf LMAO
@@supermario8134I understand the boring criticism but are u mentally ill?
@@supermario8134 what ground are you basing you accusation on? That’s slander 😡😡😡
SAME!!
Everything you said about this movie is exactly how I felt about it. I went to the 8:15 viewing on Wednesday. I really wish there were subtitles for sure
😱 Dan wears Jujitsu Kaisen! Pog 👍
I saw it and one loved it.
Saw wat u did there
Thanks so much for this review. Agreed with all points made here. PS I'm a Jamaican!
Jah Rastafari. I watch this movies yesterday and as a fellow Jamaican i enjoyed it. Ik a lot of people in Jamaica criticize the movie because the guy who layer BOB wasn’t a full Jamaican,but i think the movie was enjoyable and i will watch it again in the theatre.
The colors in this movie's poster are a perfect match with your rating scale!
100% agreement with Dan. It is a glossy impression of a creative talent with a lot of heart. Everything is hinted, but not really shown. You get a taste, but it seems to be pulling punches.
You have to be mentally insane to think that they could fit this man's great life in a 2-hour movie of course they're going to be things that they missed so keep an open mind when you go see this if you want a documentary go look at the 2012 Doc and that will fill in all the spaces that this movie didn't.. Spike Lee's Malcolm X and Bohemian Rhapsody are probably the best two movies I've seen portraying a person's life
Great film! You’re right about the dialogue. However , in a global film industry which is dominated by American-centric film accent;s)- which the rest of the world has to suck up and learn, maybe it’s time that we all learned to tune in to other dialects/ languages instead of getting accent/language lazy. I am a Londoner with an RP accent- so I’m probably easier for you to understand in writing 😂
I dunno man. Kingsley didn't do it for me. Also wanted to see more of a full biopic
Bottom line is this should not have been a movie for the theater, but 10 episode biopic. Bob & Rita’s story can only be told that way because Mother Rita has to be put on the level of Coretta Scott Betty Shabazz, Myrtle Evers, Rosa Parks and Mamie Till.
I've been waiting 40 years for them to make a movie about the Legend. I will be seeing it this weekend. I really wish they would have started with his early life and made a longer movie. Telling us more about the man himself . Also don't like the Fact that all of the actor who played Peter Tosh's scenes were cut. Didn't make any into the movie at all. Hoping someone has enough balls to make a true to his life Peter Tosh movie.
Yh I wanted to see his early life and his relationship with Peter Tosh
May I recommend doing videos on hidden gems, overlooked, or classic movies
Hidden Jaaaams
I enjoy doing those videos. The sad fact is that viewership for them is usually significantly lower.
@@DanMurrellMoviesMaybe just one threw in for funzies here and there. Critical Drinker gets away with reviewing modern and classic movies
Critical Drinker has a much bigger following and a much different strategy than I do.
@DanMurrellMovies Understandable. In any case. I'm glad to have your thoughts on current films. You are a great reviewer.
BRILLIANTLY DONE DAN.
Big up, the greatest….one Bob Marley. Excellent review
A great man for sure. Without faults , not at all. Haven't seen the movie yet however I fear it may have the "saint syndrome".
Oskar Schindler had faults, and Spielberg didn't shy away from it.
Bob’s story was told to the backdrop of political upheaval Jamaica experienced during the 1970s. The years were 1976 to 1978 where Bob’s music, struggles and attempted assignation on his life was the climax of the movie. The storyline though vague at times was supported by sharp cinematography which helped to give a visual tale of the climatic situation. The acting made up for the storyline as many people were expecting to be spoon fed on every scenario of Bobs life. The movie gave you a taste of Bobs life, how his music was inspired and made, struggles of infidelity, a message of peace during a tumultuous time, the shady side of the music industry and the vulnerability of Bob trying to put in perspective his life in all the chaos. I would also advise anyone who needs to know more in-depth about Bobs life should watch the many documentaries they have on him. This movie is a biopic, an artistic expression on film with the purpose of honoring his legacy and for entertainment purpose.
Naturally there wasn't much character development which are mostly reserved for fictions and also due to film length, nevertheless, Kingsley did a good job in capturing the essence of Bob Marley’s mannerism and dialect. He carried the movie on his shoulders and held your attention while Lynch acting as Rita Marley being a strong support to the character. Kingsley being a season actor and a foreigner was able to play the role in multi dimension. He didn’t approach the character as a one-dimension as what most expected of Bob, the dreadlocks, the dancing, the weed smoking, and an attempt to imitate an icon. Ziggy’s decision to cast Kingsley was something much deeper than what the majority thought they knew of Bob. It had nothing to do with exterior image or relationship to Bob but rather to do with an internal essence that reflects outward and capture your attention. A spiritual reflection that has you seeing Bob Marley in Kingsley. That is what Kingsley as a professional actor bought to the table. Not everyone can accomplish that feat, worst yet someone who hasn’t acted on a serious level not one day their life. Ironically, the mystery that Kingsley as an outsider bought to the screen helped in solidifying the character and the uniqueness about Bob.
The flashback of Bob Marley early life also doesn’t have to be in Chronological order. It’s him reflecting on different points of his youthful life. It was also artistically done to show that his dad rejected him while the Rasta Religion under Haile Selassie and encouraged by Rita, embraced him without verbally spoon feeding the audience. Sometimes visual images are stronger than words and this movie is full of visual images which tells the story. Some people may need to see the movie twice as it they may have missed the message of the movie. The movie told the story the best way it could, providing the context given and running time of 1 hour and 47 minutes.
Overall, the movie was good, had a few funny moments, mixed with scenes that were a bit sorrowful. Could use a bit more drama but I guess they wanted it to be as authentic as can be.
For what it is I gave this movie 4 stars out of 5.
Thank you for such a constructive criticism and review without being too aggressively harsh but show a positive insight and feedback.
I appreciated the movie. It ended with Redemption Song, which is one of the last song he wrote. It's the only song where Bob is singing solo with a acoustic guitar. This is the perfect song for the ending.
I saw the movie opening day and have seen Ziggy Marley in concert. I glad they kept the movie neutral showing cigarettes instead of Marijuana and not going into the marital affairs. They also didn't go into depth about his cancer treatment.
They kept the movie happy 😊
Thank you for the review with great points.
I’m the biggest Bob Marley fan you’ll find and I really didn’t like it.
On a base level it’s fine but I couldn’t find enjoyment, it feels like nothing happens for about half of the movie, I also think the ending with him getting on stage and it just ending was bad.
I also disliked the argument Bob and Rita had because they threw every viewable problem Bob and Rita had in one argument and didn’t really follow up.
It’s fine, not horrible or anything but I didn’t like it
Looking forward to the X-Men 97 trailer reaction video.
I would like to definitely see a mother about Rita to include her life after the passing of Marley. Perhaps bring her book to the screen.
I think we would be in the movie theater watching for like 4 hours if they dove deeper into his life
I definitely had a hard time following some of the dialogue as well.
I think it's always an interesting choice when it's a heavily accented but still "English" language film. I edited a short film that was set in Jamaica and the director was from Jamaica. While we of course understood all the dialogue, with test screenings we'd get mixed messages about whether we needed subtitles or not. In the end I think we went with subtitles because it's just easier for those who need them for them to be there, and for those who don't to just ignore them. But subtitles can be distracting, especially when they're not 100% necessary and so you're having to go back and forth while feeling like you're missing visuals because of it, so I understand the decision to not use them as well.
Oh well. Glad there seem to be CC screenings more these days
Saw the film Thursday.. to me the fact that there were no subtitles inhanced the realness of the film .. there was a lot of dialogue I just missed because I couldn’t make it out but I’m probably gonna see it again because I want to know what was said. I think You are in point with your review.. not the most incredible bio pic of all time( I’ve seen La Baba about 50 times lol) but it’s a slice of life film. A period in his life and want transpired during that time.. and people were dancing in the seats and enjoying all of it. For Bob Marley fans there’s not much you didn’t already know but as in introduction to his life and music I think it’s a good starting point..
One of my favorite lines in the film was when his wife Said, “ when you swim in pollution, you will be polluted..” words of wisdom
Going to see this Saturday , can’t wait
Don't bother. The movie is shit
@@jgcobb79 your total lack of nuance is embarrassing . I will certainly bother 😑
@@gabrielleroux2333 "Lack of nuance is embarrassing" LOLOLOLOLOOLOLOL, in what way is nuance pertinent here?
@@jgcobb79 in what ways are nuances pertinent in critical analysis ? Are you actually freaking serious???
🙄🤦🏻♂️ you are either trolling, a hater, or just very very slow witted
@gabrielleroux2333
GROW UP LITTLE GIRL😂
The language was indecipherable without subtitles - authenticity is beyond the point
It’s okay to be honest, and the emotion was conveyed well throughout
I loved it and was on tears of emotion
I felt the exact same way. Great review
Saw One Love yesterday. Dan hit it on the head. Great performances across the board, could’ve just cleaned up the storyline. It’s definitely worth a watch
awesome review man
I totally agree, I just saw it and thought it was fine but doesn't really show the complex man. In my theater, a video of his son appeared approving of the movie so I think the movie avoided a lot of stuff
Just left the theater and I enjoyed it alot. But also bias for I am a big fan as well.
Thanks for the nuanced honest review Dan. As a West Indian myself I'm really rooting for this movie. Looks like it will be a solid mid level box office hit.
Great video Dan.
Good stuff, straight to the point. Saw it , you will enjoy , the man is complex
Well said about the dialect! I listen to a lot of Bob Marley stuff and reggae, and Rosta documentaries so my ear is more in tune……….. So yeah, I do think a lot of people will miss a lot unless they down the road rent it or buy it and do the subtitles
2:51 I had those same thoughts watching American Sniper and I think there was talk about it from Clint Eastwood
I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the movie!!! The story, his evolution as a man,his impact and the glimpse into Jamaica. I loved it so much and feel like going to watch it again. ❤❤ 😊
I always judge bio-pics on how well they grab my interest as a story even when I am not very familiar or very interested in the main subject outside of the context of the film in question. I am wondering if this film will do that for someone like me who is not very fond of the kind of music involved?
Bob Marley became my nickname and I actually became Rasta and as close as this story is to me I agree the only issue was wanting more and not in the sense that is wasn't enough but just like you said that certain things needed more time to settle. But Bob didn't want to represent himself he wanted to represent Rasta. And the movie did make me feel like I was chilling with the real Rastas. ☝️💙✌️
I didn't think Kingsley could pull it off, but he did. They could've went deeper in Marleys story, but you can see how they obviously had to compromise for the mass audience. Glad they did not use subtitles, you just have to pay attention. The message was what Marleys was...positivity
I paid very close attention. I wasn’t saying it should have had subtitles, just informing people so they knew what to expect.
As a Jamaican I'd say that this was a good review and very accurate
Thanks for the review!
Go listen to his old concerts
I saw him 2 x in 78/82
When i was a teenager
My friend & a big importer back in the day took
Me . I met Bunny Wailer & stayed with him and his gf in NYC
When I was 16... the best time.
While I agree they could have gone deeper, I don't think the fact that they didn't hurts the overall movie. I also agree the accents made it a little hard for me to understand the dialog, but I also that added to the authenticity of the movie. Overall I really enjoyed the movie.
I hope its good. I'm such a huge fan of his.
😂RIGHT
Guys just remember that the Movie is about the last 2Years Of His Life. Not His Whole Life Story, that would take 10 Movies😊. It's Hard to put Focus on 1 thing Because they're so much Elements to Bob Marley. One Love ❤
The feeling of the movie was good. There are just too many gaps in between. As a theatrical practitioner or former student of Performance Studies, I know & completely understand what's going on & how or why the movie was made this way. The problem is that most (90%) of the audience doesn’t know, so they'll be lost & confused. I noticed quite a few people leave the theatre. And I surely because they didn’t understand or know the elements used to make this movie wholesome. From a theatrical perspective, it ticked the boxes sure but general audience will come out more confused & baffled.
Bro you literally red my mind 😂 great review totally agree
This review is spot on.
That was incredibly diplomatic, Dan Murrell. You’re really good at this. Never retreat, never surrender.
A Bit long on the Dewey Cox though… I get it, deprecation, cuz it was steamy. A teeter totter of sorts.
Story line was terrible. Music was good obviously but it just played or the laziness of only playing music the whole time
Thats the trouble if you set out looking for negatives you wil find them.This film is good at showing marley as human not perfect but music is the focus in this great film.
Yes it could have added Africa , and other parts of the world but the most significant thing is the unity he brought to Jamaica after independence when the country was in turmoil I know lot of people won’t understand bc they are not from there.
I’m Jamaican and I thought this was a great review. I agree with everything that was said
It was an Amazing movie, not only did it capture his spirit very well but also his story and his story revolves around spreading the message of jah. The actual story of bob was pretty on point but to me this movie is about ras tafari and the message it has in the reggae music.
Also i feel The one thing people will misunderstand is the god talk. God technically was before man, god is of no color, but to a Rasta they look the start of mankind as when our first primate species started to evolve. Which with factual evidence we knew did stem from Africa.
Which is why they say the god of man to them is darker with kinkier hair and brown eyes because all of man roots back to those first humans. However god, Rasta goes even before mankind. It’s life and we are all life. I and I
Ok. Good review! More detail of his life would be better but then it would’ve to be 3hrs long. You don’t know patois, so you wouldn’t know the dialect. 4 Stars. I went to watch it and the theatre was packed the people didn’t want to leave. 3 minutes after the lights came on at the end most people were still seated. You were right, everyone needed more. It ended ok but we needed more. I was a little pissed.
The movie is good, but it could've put more details on that movie, like more of his childhood & his last days. That movie could've been at least 3 hours instead of a hour & 38 mins.
Yeah wish they would of pick one period of his life and told that, the movie was all over the place. It’s like they expected the viewer to know everything already,
It *does* require English subtitles for North American audiences; even an American character asked Bob Marley to repeat something that wasn't understood in a circle with a British man before the Jamaicans sitting around all laughed @ the American.