Green Book

October 31, 20185 min
L to R: Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali in GREEN BOOK

Every day in our lives we meet new people and with everyone we meet, most of the time unconsciously we have already formed an opinion about them before we actually get to know them. We form that opinion by how they look, how they talk, and sometimes even where we met them. This is not the way to judge people, but nonetheless most of us do it all the time. I like most though wish I didn’t do that and attempt to meet someone with no preconceptions, but our culture can make that difficult. In modern times it is easier to look past people and get to know them for who they are, but that hasn’t always been the case.

Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen) is that tough guy from the streets that always finds a way to get what he wants. Most of the time that involves using his mouth as his friends have called him the best bullshit artist they know, but sometimes he has to use his fists. It is that reputation that gets Tony a job opportunity with Don Shirley ( Mashershala Ali) to be his driver across the deep south for a tour. At first it looks like the two of them will mix like oil and water, but Tony needs a job and Don needs a driver, so they team up for a two month long road trip. Being an Italian man driving a black man through the deep south in the 1960’s is sure to have its share of problems, but it is during this trip that Tony and Don start to connect as people and not just see what’s on the surface. It is through the harder times that bonds the two closer and into a friendship neither thought they wanted.

Sometimes a film comes along that just feels like it is needed. In a time when so much hate seems to fill our lives, it is good to see two people from opposite worlds can get along and actually be friends. Written by Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, and Perter Farrelly, the later also directing Green Book this true story or two unlikely friends. Going with the always reliable road trip movie, we really see both Ali and Mortensen shine and become the pairing of actors that we never knew we wanted, but now can’t get enough of. They are magic together as they seem to bounce off each other with ease as everything they do feels natural. This is a movie that plainly put, make you feel good about humanity, something this world needs more of. While there are some heavy hearted moments, most of the film will have you smiling and having a good time.

Directed by Peter Farrelly who is mostly known for his more raunchy comedies uses that comedic background in the right way with his work on this film. While overall it is about pieces on the surface that don’t go together, but later find a way to fit, Green Book is perfectly put together from start to finish. I needed this in my life, and if you are like me, watching something that brings you joy is always recommended, and this film accomplishes just that.

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