A Little Bit Of Everything

Rating: 10/10 (10 December 2018)

One of my favorite cinematic experiences is when a film comes absolutely out of nowhere and ends up being incredible. That is pretty much the story of "Green Book", a movie that came into the 2018 holiday season with little hype but, when all is said and done, might be the frontrunner for "best film of the year" on many personal lists. It sure is on mine, I can tell you that!
For a basic plot summary, "Green Book" tells the real-life 1962 story of Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali), a renowned piano player embarking on a tour of the Deep South. His race--African American--might pose some issues, so he hires cocky tough-guy Tony Lipp (Viggo Mortensen) from the Bronx to be his driver. As the two set out on their journey, it at first seems like an Odd Couple type of relationship. But as they experience more of each other's company--as well as the racial injustices of the territory--they come to both rely on and perhaps learn something from the other.
This is a movie that really "sneaks up on you", so to speak. It starts off relatively straightforward and one could be forgiven for thinking it's maybe even a little slow. But that character development pays off in an enormous way, as by the end you'll be holding back tears (or failing to) after witnessing the bond these men form out on the road and in face of adversity.
For a movie like "Green Book" to work, the acting has to be spot-on, and it surely is here. You'd never guess this was the same Mortensen that was once the sword-wielding Aragorn in the "Lord of the Rings" franchise. He went all-in for this role, shaping both his voice and body to fit the part. Ali has slowly built up a fantastic career for himself, and there's nothing to stop that process here. The arc of his character provides most of the emotion of the film, and his scenes range from heartbreaking to hilarious.
Speaking of "hilarious", also consider that this film was directed by Peter Farrelly...yes, he of "Dumb & Dumber" fame! While seemingly an odd choice to helm such an emotional project, it proves to be EXACTLY the right decision, as the humor in the film goes a long way towards establishing rapport between the two leads. As deep as the "emotional stuff" goes (and it goes deep, to be sure), the comedy is easily just as well-done.
I haven't even mentioned the soundtrack yet, which is another integral "role" in the film. Whether it be Shirley himself or just the "on the road" type tunes, the "Green Book" soundtrack is one of the best I've experienced in quite some time. A great mix of jazz, piano, and orchestral sections.
As you can see, I think that perhaps the biggest reason why "Green Book" gets the full 10-star treatment from me is because it does a little bit of everything, and somewhat remarkably nails all those little areas to produce a masterpiece. The final compliment? The overall message of the film is a great one: that sometimes all it takes for two people to better understand each other (in this case it is black and white, but really it could be anything) is proximity. Had not fate drawn Dr. Shirley and Tony together, they would have spent the rest of their days likely stuck in their own little boxes. As it turned out, however, it took a road trip to cross those bridges and each man to learn a little from the other.
Great story, acting, direction, humor, music, and emotion. What more can a movie-goer ask for?