White guy drives black man around.
Does so in the 1950s segregated America.
Does lot of the driving in the deep south which is the epicenter of white supremacy over black folk.
An uneducated Italian discovers the wonders of the unique life of an educated African American artist and graduates from being a driver or employee to a close friend by the end of the movie.
All of the above are part of the fact set of the film Green Book. The protagonist is Dr. Don Shirley, an African American pianist who decides to travel in the deep divided American south to perform piano recitals at venues that have been pre-selected.
While he understands the rigor of this assignment he chooses to have a driver accompany him to help not just with the driving but with keeping him out of trouble along the way. The driver, Tony Lip, is played by Viggo Mortensen, who among the Hollywood set is not well known but has done some key roles now and again. The role of Shirley is played by the now two time Oscar fame, Mahershala Ali.
The film is titled after a guide book written by a Mr. Green (a postal worker) that lists motels and hotels for African American families to use while on a road trip. The protagonists refer to it during the time Shirley is traveling through the south performing at all white venues.
While the movie moves at a languid pace and seems to have predictable dialog there are some moments of spontaneous hilarity where Shirley helps Tony with use of the English language. Once at a rest stop he enlightens Tony to use metaphors in his letters to his wife at home.
The movie ends with Tony's wife secretly thanking Shirley for helping her husband with his letter writing, on his visit to their house for Christmas eve dinner.
While it is a feel good movie, it is too long for my taste and perhaps not worthy of an Oscar.
Does so in the 1950s segregated America.
Does lot of the driving in the deep south which is the epicenter of white supremacy over black folk.
An uneducated Italian discovers the wonders of the unique life of an educated African American artist and graduates from being a driver or employee to a close friend by the end of the movie.
All of the above are part of the fact set of the film Green Book. The protagonist is Dr. Don Shirley, an African American pianist who decides to travel in the deep divided American south to perform piano recitals at venues that have been pre-selected.
While he understands the rigor of this assignment he chooses to have a driver accompany him to help not just with the driving but with keeping him out of trouble along the way. The driver, Tony Lip, is played by Viggo Mortensen, who among the Hollywood set is not well known but has done some key roles now and again. The role of Shirley is played by the now two time Oscar fame, Mahershala Ali.
The film is titled after a guide book written by a Mr. Green (a postal worker) that lists motels and hotels for African American families to use while on a road trip. The protagonists refer to it during the time Shirley is traveling through the south performing at all white venues.
While the movie moves at a languid pace and seems to have predictable dialog there are some moments of spontaneous hilarity where Shirley helps Tony with use of the English language. Once at a rest stop he enlightens Tony to use metaphors in his letters to his wife at home.
The movie ends with Tony's wife secretly thanking Shirley for helping her husband with his letter writing, on his visit to their house for Christmas eve dinner.
While it is a feel good movie, it is too long for my taste and perhaps not worthy of an Oscar.
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