Green Book
08/02/19 Filed in: Cinema
Yet again with a number of good films around it was difficult to choose, but the trailer for Green Book had enticed me. I wasn't disappointed. Although there has been some criticism of the way it treats the race issue, personally I thought it was on the whole quite positive.
Mahershala Ali plays the renowned coloured pianist Doctor Donald (Don) Shirley who has planned a tour of the deep south, a very bold decision in the early 1960s. He needs a driver, and is told about Viggo Mortensen's Tony (Lip) Vallelonga, a street-wise bouncer of Italian heritage. The club where Tony works has closed for refurbishment and he needs a job, but not as a driver cum servant. But a compromise is reached and off they go. Tony is given the 'The Negro Motorist Green Book', basically a guide for coloured people contemplating touring the South. It informed you where, as a coloured person, you could go or stay and where you couldn't. Segregation is still rampant. Don plays piano as part of a trio, one of whom is Russian, although Tony decides he's German and continues to believe this throughout.
The hypocrisy on display is quite astounding as Don plays for the southern 'aristocracy', and is applauded by them, but when he wants to use the toilet is directed to a shed in the garden. Earlier in the film we see Tony binning two glasses that have been used by coloured workmen in their apartment, such was his view of them. As the story progresses we see him gaining more and more respect for Don, while for his part Don gradually loosens up to share some of the more basic pleasures of Tony's life. Kentucky Fried Chicken in Kentucky, a high-spot for Tony and ultimately a treat for Don
Of course the tour has its moments, with Don staying in downbeat apartments while Tony gets the better accommodation. And when Don ventures out one evening to a bar, it's Tony who arrives to save him from a certain beating. Tony also manages to keep Don out of prison by offering a 'bit of support' to some police officers, but they both end up in a cell on another occasion when Tony takes umbrage with a cocky cop after being pulled over in a downpour. Don gets them out with his 'one phone call' entitlement, which turns out to be hilarious. In fact this film is amusing throughout despite dealing with some quite sombre moments.
Like many films recently this one is based on real life events, and while I don't doubt that there's a lot of directorial licence, the story comes across as believable and draws you in, such that you don't really notice the somewhat longer running time of 130 minutes. Both the lead actors are superb, Viggo Mortensen giving a performance that couldn't be more different from his memorable role as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings. And Linda Cardellini was rather nice as Tony's wife Dolores.
Of course the tour has its moments, with Don staying in downbeat apartments while Tony gets the better accommodation. And when Don ventures out one evening to a bar, it's Tony who arrives to save him from a certain beating. Tony also manages to keep Don out of prison by offering a 'bit of support' to some police officers, but they both end up in a cell on another occasion when Tony takes umbrage with a cocky cop after being pulled over in a downpour. Don gets them out with his 'one phone call' entitlement, which turns out to be hilarious. In fact this film is amusing throughout despite dealing with some quite sombre moments.
Like many films recently this one is based on real life events, and while I don't doubt that there's a lot of directorial licence, the story comes across as believable and draws you in, such that you don't really notice the somewhat longer running time of 130 minutes. Both the lead actors are superb, Viggo Mortensen giving a performance that couldn't be more different from his memorable role as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings. And Linda Cardellini was rather nice as Tony's wife Dolores.