Marley

One of the first albums I ever obsessed over was Bob Marley and the Wailers' "Live!" My parents actually had to take the CD away from me because they were worried that it would wear out. I recently got my own copy, and I've re-fallen in love. Those songs make me feel loved and happy no matter how many times I hear them. However, I have separated myself from the image of Bob Marley because so many teenagers use his Rastafarianism and not his music as a stupid excuse to be constantly high. After seeing Marley, I'm ready to go back. This documentary aims to paint the fullest and most detailed portrait possible of its subject. We see the full story of the legendary artist; from his Trenchtown days as a Frankie Valli copycat all the way to his international superstardom. The filmmakers use amazing tools in order to tell their tale, including photos of Marley's whole career, interviews with his closest friends and family, and rare concert footage. The narrative brings sources for and from every point and insight, allowing us the full view of Bob Marley's personal and professional journey. Because I have a lot of praise to heap onto this film, I have to get a few minor gripes out of the way. First: Marley is too long. It's an extremely well-done documentary that is very inspiring and educational, but at two and a half hours with no narration, some of the fat could've been trimmed. I never checked my watch or anything, but the long runtime was noticeable. There were a few moments where they repeated information, but as I said, the pros massively outweigh the cons. I learned a lot from Marley. For example, I had no idea that Bob was half white, and I knew nothing about his pre-rasta years. The documentary taught me new stuff, and also celebrated what I already knew. I was mesmerized by all the footage and information, especially the interviews with Bob. A doorway into the deepest reaches of Bob Marley's "ness" is opened for us here, and it's worth going through. It's very well edited, the subjects are nicely grouped, and the whole thing is just enchanting. Great documentaries entrance and immerse the audience the same way a standard movie does. Specifically, ones about famous figures negate any reason for a biopic by showing you the real person live. As I've said, Marley accomplishes this magnificently. It's a beautifully painted porterait of an incredible man, and its minor flaws are washed a way by the overall experience. So go see Marley, and feel all right.