"Green Book" is a 9-Star Restaurant

Rating: Null/10 (13 March 2019)

In the bonus track of the DVD of "Green Book," the producers identified the movie's themes of "friendship, love, and acceptance." Those abstractions were complemented by a detailed and insightful portrayal of the Jim Crow laws portrayed in the America of late 1962.
To navigate one's way through Jim Crow laws, African-Americans relied on a guide called the Green Book. The author of the book was Victor Hugo Green, who compiled a survival manuel for blacks traveling through the Deep South and seeking lodging and restaurants that would not exclude them from service. The book was carefully crafted as a comprehensive and invaluable resource entitled "The Negro Motorist Green Book."
As a film, "Green Book" hits all the right notes in the situations, character developments, and well-scripted dialogue. So many films fail it attempts to blend comedy and serious drama. This film is a model of unfolding a dramatic narrative with genuine moments of humor that evolve organically from realistically driven characters and situations. One of the most delightful moments was a discussion about music between Dr. Donald Shirley and Tony Lip. The conversation focuses on classical versus contemporary music, and Tony mispronounces the name Chopin as "Joe Pan." Dr. Shirley takes it in stride with a priceless, nonchalant reaction.
In the bonus track of the DVD, the film was described as the story of "two people from two very different worlds." It was made all the more remarkable that the two principal characters bonded almost as brothers. This was made dynamic by the extraordinary performances of Vigo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali. As writer-producer Brian Currie observed in the bonus track, "it all comes down to the good acting."
The final strength of the film was the music with the inimitable piano style of Dr. Shirley. In the bonus track of the DVD, Dr. Shirley was characterized as "Liberace meets Beethoven," which is a good description of the unique musical style. There was subtlety in all facets of this film, and the word "virtuoso," as used to describe Dr. Shirley is appropriate praise for everything about "Green Book."