‘Green Book’ is funny, heartfelt and compelling

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Road trip! Audiences can’t resist watching a couple buddies traveling the countryside. In “Green Book,” the travelers are not friends at all, initially. This is a serious and important movie but not preachy or heavy-handed in its message. It isn’t a comedy but may be one of the funniest movies of the year. It’s simply enjoyable, heartfelt and compelling.

The story takes place in 1962 with two dissimilar characters. Dr. Don Shirley is an African-American classical pianist, played by Academy Award-winning actor Mahershala Ali (“Moonlighting”). Tony Lip Vallelonga is a street-wise bouncer, played by Oscar-nominated actor Viggo Mortensen (“Eastern Promises”).

There is a fascination with white man chauffeuring a black man anywhere in the early 60s, but especially in the Deep South. It’s not exactly “Driving Miss Daisy,” as the black man is still in the “back of the bus.” Then there is the bias by the good doctor on the social status of the galoot. The movie could be titled “The Ride and the Prejudice.”

We love when a movie can make you laugh, make you cry, or just make you genuinely feel something of substance and value. It’s even better without sex, violence, explosions or computer generated effects. Six decades later, hate crimes are once again on the rise and even celebrated by some cretins as somehow being “patriotic.”

Tony Lip was content as a nightclub bouncer, but as the venue closes for a couple months of remodeling, he must find work to tide him over. His mission, should he choose to accept it, is to transport and protect Dr. Shirley in what will be an eventful tour through the Deep South. Tony understands and accepts, bada bing bada boom.

This is director and co-writer Peter Farrelly’s (“Something About Mary”) first serious drama, so there are no jokes in the script, per se. Together with co-writers and co-producers Nick Vallelongo and Brian Hayes Currie, they extract indirect humor from awkward situations and fish-out-of water moments. Vallelongo is an accomplished writer, director and actor in his own right. More important, Nick is the son of the real-life Tony Lip.

Although hardly enthused at working for a black man, Tony is introduced to The Negro Motorist Green Book, a travel guide published 1936-1966, listing “safe” hotels, restaurants and other businesses for blacks traveling through America’s cultural minefield. The sophisticated musician and semi-literate mook discover they are worlds apart as they banter on views of life, culture and morality.

As the snob and lunk experience and endure America’s horrific injustices on the road, they quickly learn they have common views on basic humanity. They learn to depend on each other’s respective talents to survive. They earn a mutual respect, understanding and friendship that would eventually change both their lives.

Viggo Mortensen, who gained 30 pounds for the role, is actually a respected musician, published poet and speaks seven languages. The supporting cast includes Linda Cardellini as Tony’s wife Dolores. Nick Vallelongo said her performance was so spot on, it made him weep to watch her playing his mom. The remaining family members in the home scenes are played by relatives of the real-life Tony Lip.

“Green Book” is 130 minutes and rated PG-13 for content, racial epithets and some violence. This users guide to intolerance should be required viewing for all high school civics classes. The characters border on cartoonish but their performances are powerfully inspirational and the social commentary rises above the schmaltz.

Tony Lip went on to become an actor appearing in “The Godfather,” “Goodfellas” and as crime boss Carmine Lupartazzi on “The Sopranos.” Dr. Shirley went on to write symphonies, concertos and a one-act opera. The “Goombas” died a few months apart in 2013. If under some delusion that racial, religious or social biases have now vanished, fuhgeddaboutit!

Ron’s Rating: A
Leigh’s Rating: B+

 




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