Monday, February 18th, 2008
Megan Romer tells us (and Variety confirms) that Martin Scorsese will direct a documentary on Bob Marley’s life. As keen as I am on Martin’s body of work, I’m wondering if he can “helm” this with the kind of sympathy for the material that will be needed.
His work on No Direction Home (as producer and director) won an Emmy, and took home several awards at other competitions. But that subject (Bob Dylan) is still alive, and has been a musical chameleon over the years (as evidenced by I’m Not There). Respected as Dylan is, loved even, he does not generate the veneration that is reserved for Mr. Marley. And The Last Waltz is a good movie, but not groundbreaking in any way.
Scorsese’s documentary on the Rolling Stones, Shine A Light, should be opening in April this year, and appeared recently at the Berlin Film Festival.
PS: I was commenting on this in Megan Romer’s blog when I realized who I wanted to try directing the Bob Marley biopic: Julie Taymor. Why not?