Green Book (2018)

• Year: 2018
• Released: 16 Nov 2018
• Country: United States, China
• Adwords: Won 3 Oscars. 59 wins & 124 nominations total
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6966692/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/green_book
• Metacritics: https://www.metacritic.com/movie/green-book
• Available in: 720p, 1080p, 720p
• Language: English, Italian, Russian, German
• MPA Rating: PG-13
• Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
• Runtime: 130 min
• Writer: Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, Peter Farrelly
• Director: Peter Farrelly
• Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini
• Keywords: friendship, lgbt, road trip, 1960s, racism,

	8.2/10
	69/100
	77% – Critics
	91% – Audience

Green Book Storyline

October, 1962. Italian-American Bronx native Tony Vallelonga – long called Tony Lip by those that know him for being able to BS his way out of anything – largely uses that ability to BS, his street smarts and his fists to do his job in “customer relations” (i.e. a glorified bouncer) at the Copa, where he has to deal with well dressed toughs and thugs, albeit with a smile and often without they knowing that he is screwing them. Like most of his Italian-American friends and family, he is a working class bigot, as demonstrated by his actions concerning some black laborers who did work in his and his wife Dolores’ apartment. With the Copa closed for renovations until the new year, Tony has to find another job in the interim, he, without telling Dolores, pawning some of his valuables in the meantime to put food on their and their two adolescent sons’ table. When he is given the inside scoop on a job working for Dr. Don Shirley, he only did not know before meeting Dr. Shirley that the Dr. refers to his multiple Ph.D.s, and that he is a classically trained pianist (the head of the popular music playing Don Shirley Trio) instead of a physician, but arguably most importantly that he is a well educated, wealthy and refined black man. The job is not only as chauffeur as Tony initially thought, but to be his all-expenses and well paid general foot soldier, especially in the area of security, for the eight week tour he has arranged for the trio with his record label, much of that tour in the Deep South (the last scheduled date being December 23rd in Birmingham, Alabama) hence the need for especially that security in he being black. Renegotiating the terms, learning that Dr. Shirley actually recruited him based on his reputation for being able to get the job done, and getting the okay from Dolores in the stipulation that he make it home for Christmas or else, Tony accepts the job. Beyond the obvious hazards of the race relations aspect of the job once they get to the Deep South, they will not only have to get over their own differences as humans in their moral and ethical values to survive with each other for eight weeks, but deal with the general role reversal of the uneducated white man being subservient to the well-educated black man. In that aspect, Dr. Shirley may have other issues in the Deep South as not fitting into either the white or black populations in general.

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Green Book Movie Reviews

Ranks #5 on my IMDb Top 25 Best Buddy Films List. A Feel Good Movie at its Core

Ignore the sour grapes criticism from Spike Lee. This was THE best film of 2018, and one of the best-ever feel-good buddy/road films. There is something very sincere about this film – it is understated in its messaging, and keeps the focus on the evolving bond and respect that grows between two polar opposite personalities. A well-made film, with first-rate acting, that makes you feel this good without feeling “manipulated”, is a rare treat indeed. Highly recommended.

heart’s in the right place

It’s 1962 New York City. “Tony Lip” Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen) is a nightclub bouncer and a tough guy ingratiating himself with gangsters. When his workplace gets shut down for a two month renovation, he gets a job driving peculiar classical pianist Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) to his concerts in the deep south.

There are issues but the movie has its heart in the right place. I don’t mind the racist Tony Lip finding redemption and friendship in Shirley. Viggo is doing it pretty broadly but the main problem is Shirley. There are scenes where Farrelly is desperate for humor but it only heightens my disbelief. First is the cringeworthy KFC. It’s crazy that a man has never had fried chicken despite coming from the south. The point should have been that he prefers not to eat fried chicken (and watermelon and collard greens and grits). It’s not that he doesn’t like it. He avoids it to avoid his roots. The same goes for the music. He’s a musician for heaven’s sake. Maybe he’s not up to date but he had probably studied aspects of modern music and he’s probably met a few of those artists. It’s all wrong. His broadly played homosexuality is also a little awkward. I was really scared where Farrelly was taking that until it was saved by Tony who as a nightclub bouncer claims to have seen it all. It’s a nice surprising twist to his character and in keeping with his transactional nature. Even the letter writing could be improved if some forethought had occurred. There is no reason why Dolores would go gaga over the letters when she suspects that it’s Shirley’s writing. She should hold back on the affection with the other girls going gaga. Only when she gets the house letter does she goes head over heels. It would show that she knows him best. These little nagging issues keep the movie from being great although I still enjoyed it.

A re-awakening journey

My main reason for watching ‘Green Book’ was due to me wanting to see as many 2018 films as possible, and that it had won the Best Picture Oscar (so naturally wanted to see too that it was that good). Like Viggo Mortensen as an actor, the film’s concept was appealing and it looked appetising. Word of mouth, including from very trusted friends online and in real life, was very positive so there were plenty of other reasons too.

‘Green Book’ turned out to be when watching a very good film and nearly a great one with many fantastic things. Wouldn’t go as far to say that it is my favourite film of 2018, and as far as the other Best Picture nominees go there was a preference for ‘Roma’ and ‘The Favourite’, but if to put it in a group of either best, solid middle and worst films of the year ‘Green Book’ would be closest to being in the best category of those three groups. It is a very, very well done film and its good intentions are evident throughout and noble.

It could have done with more grit in places, really do appreciate that it was trying not to be heavy-handed or trying to offend with a quite heavy theme but they could have done more with it and given a little more depth to what there was. Not saying it wasn’t there, quite the contrary, just wish there was more.

Credit is due for the laudable and successful efforts in making the story accessible and it is one that easy to like and get into, but actually it could have afforded to do a little more risk-taking and have a little more complexity.

Viggo Mortensen though brings a lot of charm and entertainment value to his role, and Mahershala Ali is a dignified and very moving contrast. Their chemistry is wholly natural and beautifully irresistible (never feeling contrived or rushed) which provides a lot of ‘Green Book’s’ heart, while their characters are more than just characters and instead feel very human. This is very different territory for director Peter Farrelly and it is surprisingly restrained direction from him and it suits the material very well. It’s a lovely looking film too and affectionately photographed, while the music is beautifully chosen and fitted some nice nostalgic song choices here.

The script is thoughtful, charming and also moving, and regardless of anybody feeling that it is a little too accessible and could have done with more grit the story kept me riveted and left me moved, inspired and like my heart had been warmed. The YMCA scene is a powerful one and a character development turning point handled beautifully.

Summing up, one of those very good and nearly great films. 8/10