IS IT BETTER TO TRAVEL HOPEFULLY THAN ARRIVE? REVIEW OF “GREEN BOOK” NOMINATED FOR SEVERAL AWARDS – DON’T MISS IT!
Already assimilating new info on what’s hot what’s not and what’s nominated in new film releases, Green Book has proved a cosy hit with audiences and with a comfortable budget (23M) which has produced a gripping tale, though one could call it a “roadtrip human interest story” rather than action, adventure, saga, romcom or blockbuster. Perhaps there should be another description that is dropped into the movie menu these days – “ race related story line” which covers Black
KK lansman as well. Green Book has 5 nominations form the 91st Academy Awards including best actor for Viggo Mortensen and had a successful premier at a big festival last year at Toronto International Film Festival.
The Green Book was published between 1936 and 1966 by Victor Hugo Green – it was a travelogue for people wanting to do USA road trips – “roadtrippers”, and included details of where African Americans were welcome or otherwise. But don’t take that as the whole story as it is not!
The wonderful story stars Viggo Mortensen playing Italian American Tony Valleglona and male African American Dr Shirley played by Mahershala Ali who in character is a suitably suave and camp Dr of Piano and Psychology living in an unbelievably sumptuous “palace” over the top of the Carnegie Hall in NY. He encounters Tony when looking for a driver for a series of concerts in his musical trio which goes into the deep South amid many venues with extremely wealthy audiences courting ingrained racist views, with reference to The Green Book.
There follows an enchanting juxtaposition of Tony and Dr Shirley – Tony being a rough edged Italian brought up in the neighbourhood of the Bronx, with a working class command of writing and language but with a menacing way of coming out on top with his adversaries and a background mostly in nightclubs. He has a wife and 2 sons and a networked Italian family who he leaves for two months whilst Dr Shirley and his two string players tour until just before Christmas.
Dr Shirley’s sophistication and Tony’s relatively unworldly innocence sparks off a relationship where Tony is not only looking out for Dr Shirley but claims in some ways he is more black than him. The tour shows huge talent in Dr Shirley’s and his 2 accompanying musicians’ performances and is peppered with incidents where the race card is trump to the point where I can imagine a few audiences just thinking “Give it a rest”! So expect some fractious moments where this card is played and other entanglements when Dr Shirley gets in a couple of “situations”, saved by Tony.
These kind of films with a racial theme are educational and more often than not real docu-dramas where people can learn about true life situations and fascinating relationships with chemistry between the stars enhancing the entertainment for viewers. They also seem popular with the viewing public – there are other examples such as The Help and Fences and several more.
Look about for great acting from the two string players, the various police and Tony Lip Vallelonga’s family.
ENJOY?
Penny Nair Price