American Masters (TV Series) Bob Marley: Rebel Music (2000) User Reviews

Worth your time.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 21 September 2013]

I was very surprised to see that an episode of PBS's "American Masters" would be devoted to an artist who is NOT from the United States and who spent very little time here. When I did a quick check, I found that there was some precedent--but about 95% of the shows were about Americans. In addition to Bob Marley, there have been episodes on Albert Einstein and Placido Domingo--both non-Americans though they did live in the States at various points in their lives. I am sure there are probably others, but just don't feel like looking through every episode of the series. Suffice to say, it was VERY unusual to see this show about Marley.

The show discusses the life and career of Marley. His gradual ascendancy in the musical world to eventually being a world best-selling singer as well as political statesman (like him or not, he did command a huge following) was the main thrust of the show. If you want a song-by-song discography and discussions of his music, this is probably not your best bet. But, as a man who raised issues about black consciousness through his songs, the show excels. My only qualms are a few of the claims about the CIA. I wouldn't be surprised if they were true--but little evidence seemed to be presented regarding this. Concerning the apartheid government in South Africa deliberately destroying tracks on his albums covertly, this, by the way, is widely accepted as fact--and I've seen other documentaries mention this (such as "Searching for Sugar Man").

Overall, about as good a portrait of the man as I have seen--both the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of the guy--which is what I would want in such a film.

I don't care who the man is, my right is my right, like my life...All I have is my life

[Locdoc · 9/10 · 12 July 2002]

It's been more then 20 years now that the great Bob Marley died in Miami 1981. Since then he became even famous and bigger in the whole world then he was when he was alive. Several documentaries appeared since then. Documentaries like: Time Will Tell and Carribean Nights. They where all great. Rebel Music is not better then those one but also not weaker. Although this documentary has more unseen clips and unheard songs. Acoustic songs like Soul Rebel and Heat Of The Day comes by which is in my opinion the best thing this documentary has. The 30 seconds from Soul Rebel is amazing, and it is a big shame that Island isn't bringing all those great versions out that they have in their faults. But there are more things that are brought in this documentary. Bob was a person who had a lot of women in his lifetime. Not in any documentary they paid attention to this. girlfriends like the Miss World of 1976 Cindy Breakspeare is talking about Bob. His wife Rita is also talking about this subject, and the role she had in this marriage. There are also some unseen clips that are coming by. Some of them are from Jamaica 1973, but also from some concerts like The Amandla concert played in Boston (No Woman No Cry) and also a sound check. And this too reveals that Island has many, many unseen videos in their faults. They are also showing some new footages of the One Love Peace Concert and a short part that was cut from the Live! At Rainbow video.

So if you didn't see it yet, get it as fast as you can! You won't be disappointing!

A priceless - but not perfect - memorial

[mytmic · 21 October 2003]

Since its relatively recent release, Jeremy Marre's "Rebel Music" has become the definitive video biography of Bob Marley. While it is certainly a moving piece, with a number of never-before-seen (or heard) snippets about the King Of Reggae, the film comes off as a bit lazy in parts. Marre uses inexperienced actors to portray scenes from Jamaican life while the narrator (whose British [not Jamaican] accent has been a point of contention among viewers) describes Marley's - and Jamaica's - struggles. The filmmakers also loop and/or re-use the same scenes from live performances or videos. Marre attempts to make a seamless music video out of these snippets, and the result is an obvious patchwork quilt (Marley and the Wailers make the exact same gestures and movements that we saw just a moment ago) that simply looks shoddy. A minimalist approach might have worked better -- just using the available video and letting it play. The highlights of "Rebel Music" are its candid interviews with Bob, especially the one which took place on a sundeck overlooking the Caribbean. Particularly enlightening is Marley's diatribe about "the herb" and society's witless condemnation of it. Fans of Marley, reggae, Jamaica, and freedom, should not let this piece pass them by, flaws and all. Despite its shortcomings, the subject of Marre's work is just too powerful NOT to watch. Make an effort to see this film. Hats off to Marre for accepting the risks involved in portraying such a sacred "Legend", and for the most part, succeeding.