Green Book

Green Book (2018, Farrelly, USA) follows Tony Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen), an Italian American experienced “bullshitter,” who eats likes there’s no tomorrow, as he is hired to drive Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali), a brilliant, though incredibly lonely, renowned pianist, through the dangerous deep South for Shirley’s tour. It a comedy based on prejudiced and segregated America. What could go wrong?

There’s a few controversial ways people are looking at this film. Yes, it’s spotlighting America’s racist history with hollywood’s effect of making the white man be saved from racism, and everyone lives happily ever after. But we have to remember that this is based on a true story and told from the perspective of the white man. Because it’s real people, it becomes a story of two men who overcome their differences on a long, eye opening journey. Note that this is Tony’s narrative, not Don’s. It’s about Tony’s enriching experience and benevolence as Don helps him to accept people who aren’t like him. This isn’t a “white-people movie,” both men are saved by each other and develop progressively with unmistakable affectionate assurance in each other and themselves.

Something that bothered me was how the actual Green Book was hardly used. Other than the introduction of the book itself, it rarely comes up. Occasionally, we see Tony reading it but the two characters don’t talk about it and it’s not shown with the importance it really has. The Green Book is historically momentous in saving many black lives from discrimination and violence. I’m dissatisfied how they called the film “Green Book” and scarcely touch on the book itself.

In my eyes, I wish this wasn’t an upbeat hollywood movie. Hollywood is a business to make money and entertain. Green Book is a delicate true story — it’s supposed to be vulnerable and unrefined and not just there for the punchline. Other than the argument in the rain scene, the film lacked the imperfectness of a true story. The cinematography had me asking myself Why did they pick this angle or shot? And I never got an answer. There were too many shots from too many angles and none added to the significance of the plot, theme, or story; it was just hollywood being hollywood.

“Being genius is not enough, it takes courage to change people’s hearts.” – Dr. Don Shirley