FILM REVIEW: GREEN BOOK (12A)
SHOWCASE CINEMA DE LUX PETERBOROUGH, OUT NOW
CAST: VIGGO MORTENSEN, MAHERSHALA ALI, LINDA CARDELLINI, DON STARK & SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO
RUNNING TIME: 2 HRS 10 MINS
DIRECTOR: PETER FARRELLY
These comedians are done clowning around!
What is going on?
Adam McKay, the man responsible for goofy comedies such as Anchorman and Step Brothers recently gave us the Best Picture nominated, Vice.
Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids, Spy) stands a good chance at winning a Best Actress Oscar for her lead role in Can You Ever Forgive Me?
And now, Peter Farrelly (Dumb and Dumber, Kingpin) gives us Green Book – which again, is up for Best Picture!
It’s been a while since Farrelly has given us a film that has connected with both critics and audiences alike. I tell you what… THIS is how you make a come back!
Green Book tells the true story of Tony Vallelonga (played by The Lords of the Rings’ Trilogy star Viggo Mortensen), a hot-head Italian-American bouncer in a 1960’s New York. When his gig at the Copacabana comes to an end, he gets a job as personal driver to the African-American jazz musician, Dr Don Shirley (Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali, Moonlight).
Tony is armed with The Green Book – a guide to hotels and restaurants hospitable to black people. Pretty racist, right? It gets worse. For the pair are touring the deep South, travelling around areas where they aren’t particularly welcome.
Let’s just say that at the start of their road trip, it’s not the smoothest of journeys.
To give you an idea of the kind of person Tony is, prior to taking the new job, there’s a scene where Tony puts a couple of glasses in the bin because his wife let two black workmen drink out of them. And Don isn’t exactly a fan of Tony either. The genius musician becomes constantly frustrated by his boisterous ways.
By the end of film, neither are the people they were at the start and I love that. I love it when characters evolve with the story – and that’s what makes really makes this picture the thoroughly watchable film it is.
As mentioned before, Green Book has been nominated for Best Picture. I have now seen all the films up for that coveted Oscar and it’s a tough one to call.
As fantastic as the film is – and it’s currently favourite to win – I don’t quite feel it’s as polished compared to its competition.
But as far as movies go – this is a thoroughly competent read.
Rating: 3.5/5
By Mikey Clarke