Green Book (2018) Review


Green Book portrays the real-life friendship between Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen), an Italian-American bouncer and Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali), an African-American pianist. Tony gets a job to drive Doc for a music tour in the South where he learns what Doc had to go through in an insightful manner and how to be a better man and a better husband. This comes from Peter Farrelly, one half of the team of brothers who gave us Dumb and Dumber and There's Something About Mary. So this is a complete change of pace for Farrelly! While it is funny and highly enjoyable, this has some really good heart and drama.

Both Mortensen and Ali shine in Oscar-worthy performances. Mortensen plays Tony Lip as someone narrow-minded, as described by Doc. However, this job for him becomes a journey of reflection as he is taught by the discrimination Doc has to go through and being a real gentleman. Ali plays Doc as a man who is torn between two worlds as he is a respected musician but also part of a discriminated minority. Tony is boggled by some things about Doc like he doesn't eat fried chicken. Later on, in a superb dramatic moment, Doc has an outburst to Tony about his perception about him and his people: "So if I'm not black enough and I'm not white enough, then tell me, Tony, what am I?!" This moment made me tear up.

But what it all amounts to is an entertaining, vivid, and moving film which is guaranteed to please audiences. This is a very worthy contender for Best Picture for next year's Oscars. While I loved it, I feel some people might take offense to some of the portrayals of racial discrimination but it's all history and it's the sad truth that it hasn't got a whole lot better. However, I felt the message of friendship and respect has triumphed in the end. And since we're moving into Christmas, it's a heartfelt thing to think about.

RATING: VERY STRONG APPROVAL (A)

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