Monday, April 23, 2012

'Marley' movie is spectacular


A film by Kevin MacDonald

Rush to see it before it leaves.

Saturday's 5 p.m. screening was sold out at E Street.
If you like the man and his music one nanobit, you will love this  flick. Omgosh, it's fantastic.

It is more than a documentary. It's a documovientary. Entertaining and enlightening about one delightful and ultra-talented human being. Expertly crafted with interviews with Marley's wife, mother, siblings, children, a teacher, friends, fellow musicians, producer, and even his nurse in Germany who aided him on his deathbed, and many sessions with Bob Marley himself.

It's gripping and funny:  a video biographical sketch of the phenomenal man, singer, composer, and musician with a look at contemporary Jamaican history. Marley's wife, Rita, members of the Wailers, his daughter, Cedella, and son, Ziggy, add incredible perspectives and stories to the Bob Marley treasure trove.

Rita Marley in Marley

Marley's daughter, Cedella, in Marley

Why isn't anyone selling his albums at the theaters? I was so happy I already had Legend at home.

The film's background and collaboration between the executive producer, Steve Bing, and the director, Kevin MacDonald, are described in the New York Times which tells of Bing's years-long efforts to make the film which had the family's blessing.  

Prediction: This movie will win an Oscar(s).

Marley had 11 children by seven women which is easy to understand one you've gotten a taste of his charm, magnetism and just plain adorableness. Many said he was a shy man to whom women flocked.  He was an all-round good guy, too, sincerely interested in the well-being of his fellow Jamaicans, blacks worldwide, and not so driven by chasing a dollar. Even whites weren't that bad.

His family's reaction to the discovery of a melanoma on Marley's toe, the ultimate cause of his early death (at age 36), was "Why, that's a white man's disease." (His father was white.) Racism is not unknown in the movie.

At the end of the film the anticipated loud applause came, and more than the usual number of moviegoers hung around to read all the credits and sing softly to the music. A 70+ year-old white- haired white man danced solo in the aisle.

Young, old, black, white, they were all there.

I nominate Bob Marley for a posthumous Nobel Peace Prize.

I wanna love you and treat you right;
I wanna love you every day and every night:
We'll be together with a roof right over our heads;
We'll share the shelter of my single bed;
We'll share the same room, yeah! -
Jah provide the bread.
Is this love - is this love - is this love -Is this love that I'm feelin'?
Is this love - is this love - is this love -Is this love that I'm feelin'?
I wanna know - wanna know - wanna know now!
I got to know - got to know - got to know
Bob Marley, Is This Love
Copied from MetroLyrics.com

Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,Sayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou:")
Singin': "Don't worry 'bout a thing,

'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.
"Singin': "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"
Bob Marley, Three Little Birds
Copied from MetroLyrics.com

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