Marley is a 2012
Documentary film that tells the story of legendary Jamaican reggae artist Bob
Marley. The film charts his life from his humble beginnings in a small country
village without electricity, through his rise to fame in Jamaica, to his exile in London,
subsequent return to his Island of birth and
eventual death at the age of just 36.
Before going in to the cinema I wouldn’t have classed myself
as a Bob Marley fan and although I have a couple of his albums and love his
best known songs I knew very little about him. The film gives an honest account
of his life and of Marley as a man. The story is told using achieve interviews
with Marley himself but mostly through interviews with his friends, family and
ex colleagues who are still living. Some of the interviewees are great
characters and speak with wisdom. Others are hilarious and most have a
fantastic Jamaican Patois which is delightful to listen to. The film also gives
some background to Rastafarianism, something else that I knew little about.
The whole film is backed with over sixty Marley and Bob
Marley and the Wailers songs which start with the song he first recorded aged
sixteen and ends with
One Love. This
film has one of the greatest soundtracks of any film I’ve seen. The highlight
for me was Marley’s triumphant return to
Jamaica for the One Love Peace
Concert in 1978. After years living in
London
following an attempt on his life, Marley returned to
Jamaica
and performed in front of 32,000 people and bought the leaders of
Jamaica’s warring
Political Parties up on stage where he managed to get them to hold hands above
their heads in a sign of peace. It was an amazing thing to witness, even in the
cinema and its impact was obvious.
The final quarter of the film takes on a deceivingly sadder
tone as we reach the final years of Marley’s life. After a battle with cancer
he died in 1981 in Miami, USA. There were many people crying
in the theatre, including my girlfriend after a very sad few moments on screen.
The film ends on a positive note though by showing how Marley’s music and
message is still being used to educate and unite people today.
The film shows Marley to be both a great musician and great
man but isn’t afraid to look at his less impressive traits. His womanising is
mentioned on several occasions, as is his poor parenting. His willingness to do
anything to make it is also a constant theme. He was willing to change his
style as well as drop his friends in order to become better known or appreciated
and the film doesn’t shy away from letting this be known. A thread I’d like to
have seen explored further was his lack of success with black audiences outside
of
Jamaica.
It was hinted at several times but is an interesting area which could have been
looked at further.
Marley is a fantastic
biopic documentary which sheds light on one of the world’s best loved
musicians. It isn’t afraid to show both his good and bad sides and does a good
job of illustrating his life from start to finish. It is accompanied by a soundtrack
that head my head bobbing and feet tapping throughout and made me want to go
out and further explore his back catalogue as well as his message of One Love.
9/10
TT3D: Closer to the
Edge is a 2011 Documentary which brings the world famous Isle of Man TT motorbike
race to the big screen. Beginning in 1909, the TT is one of the most famous and
dangerous motorsport events in the world and involves riders taking to the
roads of the Isle of Man off the North West Coast of England and reaching
speeds of up to 200mph on roads that would usually feature cars, busses and
taxis travelling at no more than 30mph. The film follows the contrasting preparations
and styles of three riders in the build up to the week long race event and
follows their fortunes and misfortunes during the event itself. 
The men who feature most prominently are 17 time TT winner
John McGuinness, 8 time winner Ian Hutchinson and 30 year old Guy Martin who
becomes the focus of the documentary. Guy is yet to win the event and is quite
a character. He is a fast talking, old fashioned Lincolnite who is a lorry
mechanic during the week. He is described as a maverick and as eccentric by
fellow riders and is popular with riders and fans alike due to his unique take
on life and take-no-bullshit persona. It is Guy Martin’s character that helps
to make the film so interesting. While other riders sleep in their huge trailers,
have massages and arrive at scrutineering on time, Martin sleeps in the back of
his van, turns up when he wants and complains about anything and everything. As
a result he comes over as a bit of a dick at times but is generally very
likeable.
