For some reason... and this is one of the downsides of Oscar season... Green Book wasn't given a wide release. It was released a couple of weeks ago, but not at any theaters near me. I had to venture all the way to Monterrey Park. It's always upsetting to me when I see a movie that is culturally relevant and exceptional only get released to half the amount of theaters that another bullshit Robin Hood movie gets. No one wants to see another iteration of Robin Hood, but EVERYONE should see Green Book. What was inspired by a true story, tells the tale of Tony "Lip" Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen), a Bronx nightclub muscleman (and sometimes personal driver) who gets recruited by African-American pianist sensation Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) to drive him on his concert tour of the deep south for two months in the early 1960s. While Tony isn't the most bigoted person in New York, he still shows contempt for people of color (two African-American repairmen drink water from his glasses and he tosses them in the trash). However, he is a hard-working family man who is true to his word in any job or situation. The two of them together is an odd-couple pairing, but it isn't good-hearted black man has to change the scarred heart of a vicious racist. The two travel the deep south, Tony acting as Dr. Shirley's driver and muscle to get him out potentially dangerous situations. Together, they're able to learn from each other, and help each other out and form what wound up being a real lifelong frienship.
I think one of the things Green Book has going for it, is it's not trying to showcase any sort of savior complex in either of the men. Shirley is not out to change Tony and Tony's not out to change Shirley. They each are looking out for their own motivations, while keeping an eye on each other. From just being who they are, they're able to see the good (and flaws) in one another and not just change their behaviors, but change who they are as men. Tony is loud, he's a constant talker, he's a bullshitter to an endearing point, but also an obnoxious one. Shirley imparts wisdom on being a better person (like not shoplifting), and improving Tony's diction when it comes to speaking with affluent crowds or writing love letters to his wife. Tony is able to show Dr. Shirley how to let loose and try different types of food or experiences and that he doesn't always have to be on guard - even as a black man in the south during a very tumultuous time. There isn't that "Oh, shit!" moment where Tony sees Dr. Shirley play piano and realize he's not a racist anymore. The two spend every day together for two months and he learns that Shirley isn't a just another black man he has to deal with... he's just a man. A man he enjoys the company of. It's one of the most charming and engaging movies of the year.
It's also very, very funny. This is one of the pluses of having a Director whose entire career has been spent making comedy films -- he's able to inject a lot of humor into the film. Obviously there's the opportunity for a lot of laughs when you have a road trip movie and an odd couple situation at hand, but it's humor that's relevant to the times. There are real fears each man has, both internally and externally, and these fears are valid - but in their times of difference and vulnerability while experiencing these fears there's great humor to be had. There's also real sadness in the film. It's not an easy thing to watch as Dr. Shirley is used as a musical prop at each concert he performs at. He's given wide admiration during his performances, but as soon as he's done playing he's relegated to a storage room (or, as they call it, a dressing room) and denied bathroom or restaurant privileges that his white audiences are afforded. It's even harder to watch because we want him to fight back. We want him to get angry or refuse to play, but Shirley takes the non-violent MLK route and proves always to be the bigger man. And it's in these heartbreaking moment that the humor affects the movie in such a way that not a lot of movies with similar themes allow their audience to have. It wasn't funny for a black man in the south in the 60s. It was an awful and terrifying time, and in a lot of the same areas, it still is. So, it was nice to see a different, and a little bit more light-hearted, perspective without diminishing the pain these people actually experienced.
I do get that movie has its flaws in that it might give almost a too light-hearted approach, and there are some scenes that are almost too feel-good to have existed, but that's what makes the movie so wonderful. There are plenty of movies out there to showcase the bad of pre-civil rights movement America where you get to feel like shit for its entire runtime. This movie sets out to explore these moments, but give us more of the humorous human moments as well. The other thing I loved is that while, as an viewer, you will feel a lot of different emotions, there isn't a whole lot of emotional manipulation in the film that can pervade Oscar-bait movies. There isn't a moment dedicated to the film solely to make every eye in the theater weep. That's not what Farrelly was going for. He's more interested in the characters, in the men, in the friendship that organically blossomed from two flawed individuals from two very different backgrounds coming to love one another.
Even if you find it just a little bit too sentimental, everyone will love Green Book. It's the perfect film for the holiday season and to end the year on a high note. It's certainly one of my favorites of the year and the performances are stellar. I always forget how Viggo Mortensen is a natural actor who falls into every role he's given. Adapting Tony's personality for this movie, he's hardly recognizable. Mahershala Ali is also proving to be one of the most watchable actors in recent memory. He's going to go and do great things and here is no different. After this and Moonlight, I'm pretty much geared to watch the man in anything he's in. If Green Book isn't playing in a theater near you, I sincerely encourage you to take a weekend in December, make a day of it, and seek it out. It's worth all the time and money you can afford to give it. What a wonderful film.
A
No comments:
Post a Comment