On The Road Again

Rating: 9/10 (26 November 2018)

Text: GRADE: B+
THIS FILM IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
IN BRIEF: An above-standard road movie that enthralls with its powerful message and offers two of the best performances of the year.
JIM'S REVIEW: Road movies are nothing new. They usually follow a predictable formula with two mismatched people who begin as distant strangers and end as the best of friends. But getting there is the challenge. Past Oscar-winning best picture favorites like It Happened One Night (1934), Rainman (1988), and Driving Miss Daisy (1989) have successfully elevated this genre due to strong acting and a script that brings these character studies to life. Now we can now add another title to this illustrious group...Peter Farrelly's immensely satisfying Green Book.
Green Book takes that narrative structure of these celebrated films, although it owes a great deal to the latter. Let's call it Driving Dr. Shirley, especially due to its primary subject being race relations as its two characters meet and travel down south in 1962. But just as that film had two great performances (by Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman), this film can also boast about two sensational performances and a literate screenplay that deals with racism head-on.
Based on a true story, the film takes these two vastly different personalities on a journey to self-discovery. The simplistic plot revolves around driving a gifted musician into Jim Crow territory to perform concerts for his upper class patrons who can accept his talent but not his race. Taking the maestro to his musical destinations is a bigoted lout named Tony "Lip" Vallelonga from the Bronx. The obvious set-up is a battle of class vs. crass. Dr. Shirley is uptight, snobbish, and a sophisticated prig; Tony is loud, brutish, and a redneck. This odd couple are destined to debate and argue their one-sidedness as they journey on.
Helping them cross the Mason-Dixon Line safely is a little green book, a Negro Motorist CliffNotes guide to safe lodgings and restaurants in the Confederate South. Of course, there will be a series of run-ins from local haters which will bring together Tony and the Doc, as he is nicknamed by Mr. Bada Bing. That is a given. But the treatment to these intolerances is handled very astutely by Mr. Farrelly. He captures the 60's era well and allows his two actors to inhabit their roles. Kudos to the detailed production design by Tim Galvin too.
The powerful screenplay by Brian Currie, Nick Vallelonga, and the director is quite effective in its underplaying of events. It depicts the violence and overt racism on display very clearly. My only problem with the film is the continual stereotyping of Italian-Americans. This film, like many others, does proliferate that pre-conceived notion with its cliched roster of thick accents, shady gangster types, and food-gorging personalities.
However, what makes this film so very special are the two stand-out lead performances. Mahershala Ali is wonderful in the less showier role as Don Shirley. He shrewdly tampers down the anger, frustration, and righteous indignation of a man "not black enough, or white enough, to fit into any world". Mr. Ali plays the role hiding the rage simmering within him. It's a revelation to see his acting range. Viggo Mortensen is terrific as his bodyguard and chauffeur. He plays this strutting bull as a foolish oaf and yet somehow makes Tony endearing. The actor imbues his character with a sense of humanity, avoiding all the pitfalls in this cliche-ridden role. Both deserve many accolades this award season. Also making a strong impression in a smaller role is Linda Cardellini as Tony's loving wife, Dolores.
Green Book cast a mirror on racism, exposing our past mistakes and reminding us that things really have not changed in over a century. Sad.