Green Book (2018) [Blu-ray]
Biography | Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline: Inspired by a True Friendship

When Tony Lip (Mortensen), a bouncer from an Italian-American neighborhood in the Bronx, is hired to drive Dr. Don Shirley (Ali), a world-class Black pianist, on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South, they must rely on "The Green Book" to guide them to the few establishments that were then safe for African-Americans. Confronted with racism, danger-as well as unexpected humanity and humor-they are forced to set aside differences to survive and thrive on the journey of a lifetime.

Storyline: In 1962, Tony "Tony Lip" Vallelonga, a tough bouncer, is looking for work with his nightclub is closed for renovations. The most promising offer turns out to be the driver for the African-American classical pianist Don Shirley for a concert tour into the Deep South states. Although hardly enthused at working for a black man, Tony accepts the job and they begin their trek armed with The Negro Motorist Green Book, a travel guide for safe travel through America's racial segregation. Together, the snobbishly erudite pianist and the crudely practical bouncer can barely get along with their clashing attitudes to life and ideals. However, as the disparate pair witness and endure America's appalling injustices on the road, they find a newfound respect for each other's talents and heart to face them together. In doing so, they would nurture a friendship and understanding that would change both their lives. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)

Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Martin Liebman, February 21, 2019 Director Peter Farrelly's (Kingpin) Green Book is a lovingly crafted picture that tells the bonding story of a renowned and cultured black pianist and his fairly gruff, white New York driver who accompanies him on a Southern states tour in 1962. The title is taken from "The Negro Motorist Green Book," a guidebook printed in the middle decades of the 20th century to help direct African-American travelers towards "safe" places to eat, sleep, and rest on the road, throughout the United States and particularly in the Jim Crow South. The film is dramatically compelling and subtly funny, extremely well acted, and one of the true cinema joys of 2018.

Green Book essentially tells two stories that become a single tale of an unlikely friendship amidst a world of hate. One story is of a black man of enormous natural musical talent named Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali). He's highly intelligent and appreciated for what he can do at the piano. He is maybe a little stuffy in conversation and somewhat demanding of those around him, but he's a good man at heart. Despite his personal successes he still faces resistance in most every area of his life because of the color of his skin. For example, he is more than welcome to play in a club, which will earn the venue money, but he is not welcome to eat in the same place simply because some "policy" says he cannot. The second story follows a gruff and tough white man named Frank Vallelonga, a.k.a. "Tony Lip" (Viggo Mortensen), who shows not necessarily racial disdain but certainly has his doubts about integrating whites and blacks. When two black repairmen drink from cups in his home, he discards them rather than simply clean them. He takes a job chauffeuring Dr. Shirley mostly because he needs the money, not because he is overly thrilled with the prospect of leaving his family for two months on the road and being at Shirley's beck-and-call.

Eventually, the film explores the bond that forms between Tony and Dr. Shirley despite enormous differences in their physical appearance, mental makeup, and emotional well beings. Tony is white and Dr. Shirley is black. Tony will never be mistaken for an intellect. Dr. Shirley is about as well-spoken and sharp as they come. Tony is treated more fairly in life because of the color of his skin and his physical stature (he was a bouncer before taking the driving job), not for his intelligence or skills in some area that sets him apart from others. Dr. Shirley is a man of great talent and stature yet often denied even basic courtesies because of the color of his skin. He is not proud of the world in which he must live, of course, but he also does not back down from standing up for himself. Tony sees that stalwart posture and begins to admire Dr. Shirley for it. He comes to understand that the the man is more than the color of his skin. Of course there are bumps in the road, stumbles in their growing relationship, but a mutual respect develops over time that allows Tony to see beyond skin color and Dr. Shirley to see beyond Tony's lack of education and comparatively crude demeanor.

Through their shared experiences, both men gain an appreciation for the culture from which the other comes. Tony almost immediately finds himself impressed with Dr. Shirley's musical talents but he is understandably a little put off by his employer's more demanding adherence to strict routine and decorum. That's not who Tony is, but he can appreciate that Dr. Shirley is writing his check, and he more or less complies with the doctor's wishes, even if the two have to say more than should be necessary to reach the same place, whether concerning smoking in the car or returning a small stolen item to a shop. But as time passes by, Tony begins to appreciate the doctor's life approach and his stalwart attitude towards it, particularly as he witnesses an increasing number of racial injustices, some playing out in passing, some resulting in humiliation or even a little blood. Over time, Tony comes to see Dr. Shirley for more than his musical talents or the color of his skin, finding the soul within. The same can be said in reverse. The men bond over fried chicken (Dr. Shirley has never eaten it and immediately discovers he has a taste for it) and letter writing, with Dr. Shirley "helping" Tony to craft a more heartfelt letter to his wife that doesn't read like it was written by a man of extremely limited vocabulary. The film's chief draw comes from the gradual realizations of camaraderie and the slow build into friendship. The men bond through shared time and an evolving appreciation for one another, as men and as people in a world that isn't fair, a world where both face their own challenges, Dr. Shirley for his skin color and Tony, usually, for merely being in the doctor's company.

Mortensen is terrific as Tony. He nails not just the accent but also the cadence, living the character from the proclivities and preconceptions surrounding race in his life and capturing the finely honed evolution that gradually manifests throughout his time spent with Dr. Shirley. The performance is layered, with Mortensen rightly not sharing his inward evolution with any kind of outward grace, but one of the film's pleasures is watching the actor let his evolution be felt, even if it is isn't always seen or verbalized. Ali is equally wonderful in the role of Dr. Shirley, playing to the character's strengths: a command of self and language and talent but carrying weighty emotional baggage underneath his stout external posture. He's a truly wounded man in his center as he wrestles with the the world's inability to disconnect his color from his talents. One of the film's best scenes comes during an emotional release during a rainy nighttime setting when he tells Tony that white people listen to his music to feel "cultured" but immediately think of him in terms of his race once he stops playing. It puts him in a position of personal upheaval, unable to place himself in the world. "If I'm not black enough and if I'm not white enough, and if I'm not man enough, then tell me, Tony, what am I?," he asks. It's a powerful scene that certainly cemented Ali's rightful Oscar nomination for the role.

Green Book star Viggo Mortensen ran afoul of controversy when the actor used the "N" word during a Q&A session following a screening. The word was certainly not spoken in a hateful or derogatory manner but rather within the film's narrative and historical contexts during a discussion of how racism has evolved in today's society. Nevertheless, its utterance sparked outrage. Co-Star Mahershala Ali was understandably offended, but Mortensen was quick to apologize and Ali was quick to accept the apology. Hopefully, there's no long-term tainting of Mortensen's character or damage to the film's legacy, a film of purpose, profoundness, and, yes, quality entertainment value at the same time. It's a terrific film from every angle. It does not shy away from the harsh realities of the racial strife in its time while painting a picture of bonding between two very disparate individuals who both change for the better on their journey not just through the heart of the American South but through their own own hearts and souls. Universal's Blu-ray is terrific, featuring high end video and audio qualities. Supplements are scant, but the movie more than stands on its own. Very highly recommended.

[CSW] -3.9- This film is both uplifting and heart-rending. We are shown our racism both current and past and forced to face it through these two very different men. This is a modern movie based on historical events. It is eye opening to people who haven't lived through this kind of racism but for many of us the forging of a friendship is the heart of the story. Most people don't recognize that it is only through the portrayal of characters with conflicting emotions that garner awards. This one deserved the three Oscars that it won and the two other Academy Awards for which it was nominated.
[V4.5-A4.5] MPEG-4 AVC - No D-Box


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