90s comedies in rear-vew mirror for Farrelly, as Green Book is exceptional.

Rating: 9/10 (20 January 2019)

Director Peter Farrelly was truly fortunate for landing such incredible actors to play such incredible characters in this film. Ali plays Dr. Don Shirley, a black, classical musician who is starting a musical excursion into the deep South. Mortensen, mob-tied Italian bodyguard named Tony Lip (they called him Tony "Lip" because he couldn't shut up), is hired to be Shirley's protection as he tours and performs in an area of the country notorious for racism and bigotry.
The contrast between Shirley and Tony is organically comical. It also naturally leads to endless possibilities for character depth and development, which Farrelly took full advantage of in his exceptional screenplay.