A Really Great Movie

Rating: 10/10 (13 February 2019)

Wow, this movie had just about everything you could want, incredible story, brilliant acting, amazing cinematography and authentic sets dragging us back to the post war years.
The story ran at two levels, the first being the clash of two worlds and the coming together in mutual respect, and dare I say it love, and enduring friendship. The second was allegorical, with Tony Lip representing the American consciousness of the time, fixed, opinionated, racist, white and masculine. Don Shirley represented a whole collection of threats to these societal attitudes and by undertaking a concert tour in the "deep south", consciously anticipated trouble. It was clear that Don in his own quiet way was doing his bit for the civil rights movement.
Both leads were breathtaking in their attention to their craft, Mr Mortensen depth of characterisation was masterful, we all new Tony, we had all met a Tony and we all respected Tony who new his place and inadequacies but was not frightened of facing his demons. Mr Ali used micro gestures and method to convey a talented, fragile loner who we all just wanted to hug.
If I had two Oscars to hand out I would give one to Mr Mortensen and one to Mr Ali.
I would draw attention to one scene that was so powerful we writhed in our seats and some weak souls cried openly, not me! When Don Shirley said "I'm not white enough, I'm not black enough, I'm not man enough, who am I!
This is a must see, I can see why the movie was called Green Book, but really Mr Shirley's Driver would have been better.