"Green Book" (2018) Review

“Green Book” is the irresistibly charming front runner for 2019 “Best Picture”. 

Directed by: Peter Farrelly

Rated: PG-13

Runtime: 2:10

Based on the real-life friendship, “Green Book” follows pianist Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) of the Don Shirley Trio and his newly hired, foul-mouthed driver, Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen), as they embark on Shirley’s concert tour in 1962’s Deep South. The two men form an unlikely friendship, considering that Dr. Shirley is a poised, successful African-American musician, whereas Tony is a bouncer from a largely American-Italian neighborhood in the Bronx who is contemplating an alluded to past gangster lifestyle to make ends meet. Tony serves not only as Dr. Shirley’s driver on this road trip, but also as his bodyguard in a way, protecting him from the hatred and racism he receives from the still segregated Southern states he performs for. Though the relationship they have starts off as an incredibly shaky one, the pair soon learns how to accept each other’s differences and realize how life-changing their experience has been to both of them. 

The best way to describe “Green Book” is that it is a unique cross between the films “Driving Miss Daisy” (1989) and “My Cousin Vinny” (1992). These two films are obviously completely different, and it seems difficult to compare and contrast them, but “Green Book” is somehow a tribute to both of these beloved classics and ironically, will become an instant, beloved classic itself.

I went to see this film with extremely high expectations because not only did it take home the “People’s Choice Award” at TIFF 2018, but it has also been predicted by many critics to take home the title of “Best Picture” at this year’s Academy Awards. For those who do not know, TIFF, or Toronto International Film Festival, is one of the most highly esteemed, significant festivals of the year, seeing that it mostly includes the top films in the Oscar running. Not to mention, the “People’s Choice Award” has more often than not been given to films that move on to eventually win the Oscar that same year. Therefore, I again, went into the theater expecting “Green Book” to be great. Well ladies and gentlemen, I can wholeheartedly say that this movie absolutely blew me away. Not to mention that it may be one of my favorite films of all time. 

By now you’re probably wanting to know what makes this flick so great and as a critic who always looks for the tiny flaws and imperfections in a film, I found that it was honestly very difficult to find anything wrong with the film, seeing that I thought every part of it was absolutely brilliant. For one, the story is heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time, which is the best kind of combination of emotion in a movie. The dialogue between the two characters fuels the entire movie and though for the majority of the film it is light-hearted and funny, there are also times when it is upsetting and hurtful.

However, dialogue is fueled by its actors and their passion behind each scene and of course, the acting in “Green Book” is outstanding as well. Viggo Mortensen is certainly the person to bet on winning “Best Actor” this year. His humorously charming role definitely puts him ahead of fellow front runners, Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper, in this year’s race. Though I think that him and other fellow front runner, Rami Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”), are equally as deserving in this category, Mortensen will more than likely take home the gold. 

Now for Mahershala Ali, who is just as marvelous as Mortensen in this drama-comedy, will hands down receive a “Best Supporting Actor” nomination this year, though I am not sure that they will give him the Oscar. This is not because he isn’t deserving of it because his riveting performance as Dr. Shirley in this film proves that he most definitely is, but Ali just won the Oscar in this category two years ago for his work in “Moonlight”. Hence, it seems very unlikely at this point that the Academy will give him another Oscar just a couple of years later, but who knows.

All in all, what makes “Green Book” such a remarkable film is that it is a story for everyone. Truly, anyone who gives this film a chance will love it and find it tremendously entertaining and to me, that’s what a movie in general should accomplish. Audiences in this day and age need to see a movie that will result in a smile on their face and that is exactly what “Green book” will make you do: smile. I can’t remember the last movie that warmed my heart as much as this one has and that is the best feeling to have as someone who finds the utmost amount of joy in films. So, do yourself a favor and go see “Green Book” this holiday season and allow it to bring a large amount of joy into your heart. It scores a 10/10 for me!