Green Book

Rated: PG-13

4.5 out of 5

I decided to catch a […nother] film recently and was faced with the many animated features, thrillers, and action packed usuals to choose from. Not really feeling like watching any of the selections, I decided to watch a new movie I hadn’t heard a whole lot about (rather reluctantly, I might add). Now the point of all of this is to give a reminder that you should never avoid a film based on its look, Rotten Tomatoes score, and/or lack of superheroes. Because while sometimes the critics are right about when they see a piece of garbage, other times you may find a wonderful surprise in the unsuspecting movie choice; hence, the delightful Green Book.

At the beginning of the film, we are introduced to the tough and lovable Tony Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen). His everyday routine consists of bouncing troublemakers at a fancy nightclub in The Bronx, as well as providing for and loving his family.

After an incident at the club forces Tony to look for work, he is offered a job to drive into the South for a man whos identity is mostly unknown. Upon his arrival for the interview, he discovers his employer is a colored pianist by the name of Donald Shirley (Mahershala Ali).

Now being set in the the early 60s, the civil rights movement was certainly growing with power, but it was still an extremely sensitive subject among many.

Shirley eventually persuaded an opposed Vallelonga to transport him and his renowned group, the Don Shirley Trio, through the Southernmost parts of the US (where there was still a strong and widespread hate for African Americans, as well as a long history of the old, but terrible trade of slavery).

So in a journey made in the name of music, and with uncertainty ahead, they set off in a blue Cadillac across the country. Starting off, the scholarly Shirley is displeased with everything about Tony’s personality, from his profanity smitten mob talk to the way he likes to eat his fried chicken (likewise, Tony is annoyed with all of the corrections made about his attitude and mannerisms).

But as their time together grows, an unlikely friendship is born, through a mutual respect for each other’s profession and sharing of morals. And with this alliance made in the South, you can be sure of trouble to come.

First off, I want to say that this movie was so touching and powerful. The story of these two men was heartwarming, with the performances of Mortensen and Ali just pushing the potential of this story to the max.

The period setting was great, as well as wardrobe; it made me feel like I was there. And that is also largely due to the fantastic cinematography, which shows off a wide range of vibrant colors. Such an iconic and stylish era in our history.

This definitely ranks as one of 2018’s best movies (so far) for me. I've seen a lot of really great films this year, (each of which contribute such fantastic stories and designs) but I’ve noticed (not that prior years have lacked in delivering these themes, but) that this has been a great year for indie films as well as movies dealing with tough topics (such as Racism, Feminism, the LGBTQ Movement, and more). Hopefully we will get much more of this in the new year. 2019!

Anyway, this is an exceptionally lovely film that chronicles the story of two guys becoming friends, despite the odds, as well conveying the larger story and state of America’s continuing tale for the strive for unity.