Bob Marley: One Love is a 2024 American biopic film directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and written by Green, Terence Winter, Frank E. Flowers, and Zach Baylin, from a story by Winter and Flowers.
It depicts the life of Jamaican singer and songwriter Bob Marley and his rise to fame as the figurehead of Reggae.
The film stars Kingsley Ben-Adir as Marley, Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley and James Norton as Chris Blackwell. It was released on February 14, 2024.
Previews: Trailer
.
Bob Marley: One Love provides examples of the following tropes:
- The '70s: The film starts in 1976 and ends in 1978.
- Adapted Out: Bob's many affairs are eliminated from the film, with the exception of Rita pointing out that she's raised the children that have resulted from them, and the brief glimpse of Cindy Breakspeare, one of his lovers.
- Artistic License – History: Bob's would-be killers were never caught. There was no moment where one of them came to his house to beg for his forgiveness, though the scene is probably based on Bob himself declaring that he held no ill will towards them.
- Assassination Attempt: The attempted assassination on Bob in 1976 is one of the first things depicted in the movie.
- Celebrity Is Overrated: Upon being told he's a "superstar", Bob answers "I ain't a superstar".
- Crazy Jealous Guy: Bob gets pissed off at the sight of Rita talking to another man while at a party. In the ensuing argument, he reveals that he knows about her lover back home in Jamaica. She counteracts this by pointing out his raging hypocrisy —that he himself has had affairs and children with multiple other women.
- The Faceless: We get only glimpses of Bob's father and hear his voice, but never fully see him.
- Flashback: Numerous ones scattered throughout the film, showing Bob as a young boy, him meeting Rita, the start of his music career, etc.
- Half-Breed Discrimination: In a flashback, Bob sheepishly admits to Rita that he was afraid to approach her because he didn't think she'd like him because of his light skin. She admits that she was afraid that he would rebuff her because of her dark complexion.
- Heroic BSoD: Bob goes into this following his cancer diagnosis.
- Hypocrite: Bob gets ticked off at the sight of Rita talking to another man and reveals that he knows about her lover back in Jamaica, even though he's had numerous affairs of his own.
- In Medias Res: The movie begins in 1976, long after Bob has been established as a reggae superstar and shortly before the attempt on his life.
- Moody Trailer Cover Song: The trailer uses an arrangement of "Three Little Birds" on this type as the trailer highlights the highs and lows of Bob's career.
- Protest Song: As Bob puts it, "You can't separate the music and the message".
- Shirtless Scene: Bob takes a bath shirtless under a waterfall in the trailer at one point.
- Titled After the Song: Titled after "One Love", one of Marley's signature songs.
