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Rating: 4 out of 5
Recently, I watched the film Green Book. My co-worker was dying to see it in the theaters, but we really never had the chance to actually go see it. I rented it after seeing that it won Best Picture and had somewhat high hopes for the film. After watching it, one thing is true in this world now. If you want to win the Best Picture award, all you need to do is copy a film that already won it before and change the characters around. Green Book is almost identical in the structure and plot of Driving Miss Daisey. Two people don’t see eye to eye. They get in a car together and, through their journey together, become friends in the end. Almost exactly like Driving Miss Daisy. One significant difference is that besides a black man driving a white woman around, we get a white man driving a black man around.
In 1962, in NYC, Tony “Tony Lip” Vallelonga (Mortensen) is a doorman and peacekeeper/bouncer at the Copacabana nightclub. The reason that Tony is called Tony Lip is because he can BS anything and get people to do anything they don’t want to do. A fantastic little skill to have. Tony does almost anything he has to do to put food on the table for his family like betting he can out-eat a person in a hot dog eating contest. One day while working, two men get into a fistfight. Tony does the gangsta thing and throws them out da club while giving one a couple of punches for added insult. Tony also pays the coat check girl to take a wealthy person’s hat so he can “find” it and get a substantial tip for it. Gotta hustle any way you can. The club closes down for a few months for renovations, leaving Tony without a job. He and his wife, Dolores (Cardellini), are having trouble making the rent and keeping a roof over their two kids’ home. When two black men come over to repair the sink, Dolores gives them lemonade. Tony sees this and behind Dolores back, throws the glasses away. Dolores finds the glasses in the trash and becomes disappointed at the action.
While looking for work, an old contact gets Tony an interview to be a driver for a doctor. Tony goes to Carnegie Hall for the interview. He goes to the venue, thinking it is the wrong place but learns that there is an apartment upstairs. Tony sees that the apartment is filled with exotic objects from around the world and meets Dr. Don Shirley (Ali). Dr. Shirley is not a medical doctor that Tony mistaken but has a doctorate in music and a concert pianist. Dr. Shirley is doing a concert tour going from the Midwest all the way through the deep South and requires a driver. Dr. Shirley has recommended someone who can handle trouble, which he knows there will be some extreme racism. The tour is to last for two months and end right before Christmas. Dr. Shirley also sets very high standards. Tony, not liking what he hears, says he is not a butler. Dr. Shirley tells him to bounce. Upset that he messed up the interview, Dr. Shirley calls Tony’s house and speaks to Dolores. After confirming with her on some items, Tony gets the job. Tony and Dr. Shirley begin their two-month journey with different ideologies about the world but soon come to respect each other in the end.
Once again, Green Book is almost like Driving Miss Daisy, but what Green Book does so well is show the world how racism is and the and a little bit of sexuality. Now I will say this, I didn’t even know what a Green Book was. I learned something and saw that it was a book for blacks to be safe in the South. I grew up in the South and didn’t even know this. Back to the review. First, it was something to see a white man driving around a black man. Something that wasn’t normal in those days. One scene that showed it to the fullest was when Dr. Shirley and Tony stop on the side of the road. Across the street were black workers, and they stopped what they were doing and just stared at Dr. Shirley and Tony. They couldn’t believe that a white man was driving around a black man.
Racism is at the forefront of this film. A black man going to play in the South. You know that is a recipe for disaster. Many scenes show racism. First, Dr. Shirley goes out for a drink, and he is attacked. He is drunk but attacked for being the wrong color and in the wrong place. Another scene was when Tony convinces Dr. Shirley to buy a new suit. Tony walks in with Dr. Shirley, and the shopkeeper only talks to Tony. When Tony states that the suit is for Dr. Shirley, the shopkeeper tells them to leave. Another scene is when Tony and Dr. Shirley are stopped by redneck police officers. The officer tells them that Dr. Shirley can’t be out because all blacks are under curfew. They are asked to exit the car and are frisked. The officer asks for Tony’s driver’s license, and when asked what kind of name is his last name. Tony responds that it’s Italian. The officer insults Tony and calls him “half a n-word.” This makes Tony snap and punches the officer. Not a great feeling being on the other side of the word.
Another theme that comes into play is identity. The first way that identity is questioned is when Tony plays contemporary music on the radio and is shocked when Don doesn’t know popular music like Aretha Franklin. Tony blatantly asks if Dr. Shirley is even black. Then he drives to a KFC and finds out that Dr. Shirley never had fried chicken. He has Dr. Shirley try it. First, where does it state that you have to like Aretha, Ray, or others to be considered black. One of the things that annoyed me was when Tony kept saying, “You People.” Another way identity is showing is when both characters are having an argument. Dr. Shirley states that he doesn’t truly belong anywhere. Tony quickly states, “Of course you belong. Your black.” Dr. Shirley pointed out that even though he is black, he doesn’t fit in anywhere. On one side, he is beyond educated, can play music and do many things his black community can’t do and is viewed as not black enough in the black community. On the other side, he is not welcomed in the white community even though he speaks well and is highly educated. They only see a black person and won’t accept him.
Where the story grows is with their friendship. How does this happen?? Dr. Shirley helps Tony write love letters to his wife. Tony was terrible at writing letters and sounded like a caveman. Dr. Shirley helps Tony bring out his inner feelings elegantly and beautifully. One of the best scenes is when Dr. Shirley and Tony go to this predominantly black blues club. Dr. Shirley is dressed to impress after not playing at this all-white country club. Dr. Shirley sees the piano and Tony tells the bartender that he was the best piano player in the world. Skeptical, the bartender says prove it. Dr. Shirley shows his stuff that got everyone up and dancing. This scene was great because Dr. Shirley was out of his element but showed he was having fun and that Tony was having fun.
The downside of this whole film is that it touches upon sexuality once when Dr. Shirley is arrested at a local YMCA. The film could’ve explored that area a little bit more. Also, the film was still the same tune over and over again, where two people from opposite ends of the spectrum become friends, and they spend Christmas together.
The two actors that must be talked about for their performance are Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali. Mortensen seems to be able to play anyone. Whether it is the sword-wielding Aragorn or Tom Stall/Joey Cusack in a History of Violence, Mortensen definitely can show his range. Mortensen was great as Tony Lip. His whole mannerisms, the way he spoke, and just how he developed towards the end was great.
Mahershala Ali is a BOSS!! The man seems to win the Best Supporting Actor award like it’s the most natural thing in the world. That is the sign of a great actor. To win the award, two out of three years is something SPECIAL. Ali made Dr. Shirely seem caring and with some flaws. When he is first introduced, he comes in and sits on this throne-like chair above Tony. The only thing missing was some music playing, and roses throw like in Coming to America. Once again, Ali showed the man to be flawed and out of place. A man who is still searching for belonging.
Green Book is an excellent movie to watch. You can watch it after watching Driving Miss Daisy. It has almost the same exact concept. When copying and pasting works in one favor. Mortensen and Ali are great in their respective roles, and both should be commended.
