Green Book - Review

Green Book

Academy Award Winner Mahershala Ali (“Moonlight” and the upcoming new season 3 of HBO “True Detective”) and Viggo Mortensen (“Lord of the Rings” and “Hidalgo”) , star in the largely 2 character driven film called “Green Book”. An abbreviated title to at times a more stylized title “The Negro Motorist Green-Book” which was an annually updated guidebook for African-American travelers during the early and mid-1900’s of the Jim Crow segregated South.

While racial discrimination and poverty limited black car ownership an emerging African-American middle class bought Negro travelers in the South.  When on the road driving they would often face a variety of dangers and inconveniences along the journey from refusal of food and lodging to arbitrary arrest. The “Green Book" was an essential guide to services and places relatively friendly to African-Americans during that time.

The film starts taking place in 1962 where we see early a happily married Tony Lip (Mortensen), a bouncer from an Italian-American neighborhood in the Bronx, NY. When a fight breaks out at the upscale Copacabana Night Club with a made member of The Mob the owner is told to close the club until the heat dies resulting in Tony being laid off with no readily employment insight.

When a friend of Tony’s makes a few calls he finds out a Doctor living at the Carnegie Hall needs a driver for two months. When Tony goes to his potential client he soon discovers that he is not a medical doctor but rather Dr. Don Shirley (Ali), a world-class Black pianist, who is going on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South. He needs a driver who will be reliable and adhere to use of "The Green Book" to guide them to the few establishments that were then safe for African-Americans.

REVIEW: Based on true events “Green Book” the film is a by the book feel good story of two decent honorable men from completely opposite worlds and cultures who become bonded from their violent and bigoted experiences in the deep south that eventually forges them to having a deep seeded friendship lasting the remainder of their lives.

Actors Mortensen and Ali do an exceptional and expert job in elevating the screenplay that ebbs back and forth from genuine heart felt moments to rather pedestrian dialogue that seem almost so predictable that I found myself literally saying the words before they were uttered on the screen. And while the film is mostly a dramatics reimagining of their personal story, it’s the humor that keeps the overall story afloat as we watch both Tony and Dr. Shirley navigated racism together leading to shared growth.

My main criticism with the film is the specific projection of NY Italian Americans and the racist whites in the south who were at times both seen to be so over the top in their moments that their actions and conversation’s teetered on buffoonery and beyond normal believability. On the other hand the film is its more genuine and moving when the two men are talking and sharing stories their past lives in the car and on the side of the road. Its especially touching when Tony needed the Dr’s help in writing his weekly romantic letters to his supportive and loving wife back home.

In the end the real reason to see this film is the rapport that developed between the two principle male characters. We watch them as the miles go by grow closer and closer helping and learning from the other, even protecting the other. But it is Actor Viggo Mortensen's work in the film that you will find hugely entertaining, humorous and touching as he delivers the quality goods for some serious Oscar nomination consideration.

3.50 Stars