It’s a big call but Green Book is my favourite film this awards season. Well I guess it’s not that big a call since it won Best Picture (Musical/Comedy) at the Golden Globes. (I’d call it an at-times-funny drama rather than a comedy so I really don’t think it belongs in that category but that’s the silly Golden Globes for ya.)
Green Book is based on the true* story of Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali), a world-class African American pianist who employs Tony Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen), a burly Italian American security guard, to be his driver and security as he embarks on a tour of the deep south of America in 1962 where the racism is fierce.
They form a unique relationship, as you might expect two very different people spending all day every day together would. Ali and Mortensen pull off their roles brilliantly, Ali nailing the eccentric artist vibe and Mortensen the thuggish but caring family man vibe.
I won’t tell you where the name Green Book comes from but it’s important and awful and just one of the reasons to see this film. If you hardly ever get to the movies, I reckon this one is worth your time and money.
Here’s a four star review from News Ltd if you want to know more.
Green Book is rated M and opens on Thursday 24 January. Trailer here.
* The family of one of the main characters dispute much of what is depicted in the film. Read more about that here if you have a little extra time.