DVD Review by Diane McCurdy - April 2019
Green Book won best picture at this year's Academy Awards and is now available on DVD. Because the film contained in its title a color word, it fostered my curiosity about similarly christened features that have attained elevated status. The first one that came to mind was The Green Mile. This fantasy crime story was adapted from a Stephen King novel. In it Tom Hanks leads a stellar cast who triumph over abusive prison conditions. It received much critical acclaim and was also nominated for best film the year it was released. Soylent Green is another verdant masterpiece whose themes are particularly powerful today as it deals with pollution, poverty, over-population and euthanasia. Charlton Heston guides the investigation into the corporation producing the high-energy wafers that supposedly are composed of plankton. But we know what they are really composed of! Kathy Bates gives us all a lesson in feminine empowerment in Fried Green Tomatoes. John Wayne demonstrates heroism in The Green Berets and in Behind the Green Door, Marilyn Chambers, who initially appeared as the squeaky clean blonde mother on Ivory Soap boxes, ironically became the first recognizable pornographic movie star.
Now joining the ranks of films extolling that particular hue is Green Book. The title refers to a pamphlet that was published that indicated which establishments were African-American friendly in the southern United States. The script follows Tony Vallelonga, a rough around the edges Italian bouncer who needs an interim job and accepts one as chauffeur to Dr. Don Shirley, a dignified and sophisticated, black, classical pianist. Shirley is on a concert tour into the deep South in the 1960's. Basically we have an odd couple on a road trip. Tony uses muscle. Don uses finesse. Tony leads with his gut. Don is an intellectual. Even though cliche driven, at the end they come to know and respect one another as brothers and it is a delightful evolving.
Viggo Mortensen as Tony is one of the most under-appreciated actors in Hollywood. He doesn't do the red carpet number so most don't know that he is a true Renaissance man. He is a photographer, an author, a poet and a painter. He is fluent in Spanish, French and Danish and is conversant in Italian, Norwegian and Swedish. Mahershala Ali who won best supporting actor for his role as the pianist had also won another gold statuette previously for Moonlight.
The production was not without its controversies. It was inspired by true events ( Tony's son, Nick Vallelonga, was one of the writers of the screenplay) but the Shirley family thought too much poetic license had been taken. Peter Farelly , the director, was accused of exposing himself on the set of There's Something About Mary years before and when Julia Roberts announced it had won best picture Spike Lee attempted to exit the auditorium. Was it because some had said that the story had been told through a "white savior" lens? Lee was a nominee for BlacKkKlansman this year and last time Lee was nominated for Do the Right Thing he lost to another black and white couple on a road trip, Driving Miss Daisy. Was he being funny or rude?
Despite whatever flaws may be picked out. Green Book is a feel good movie with many heart-warming moments. It definitely deserved its award.
