Film review: “Green Book’ a trip from tolerance to love
Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 23, 2019
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By Rolando Giustini
For the Clemmons Courier
The Green Book was a guide book for blacks traveling through the South, elitist North and the violent Italian-American gangland streets of New York. The film “Green Book” chronicles what it was like for blacks to travel in years past.
A true story of the relationship — the pianist is a complicated figure, a black man trapped in one world, a high-class white world, and excluded from another, black America of the South, and uncomfortable in both.
His driver, Tony Lip, an Italian-American from the Bronx, uses his lip, his BS power and his fists to solve his problems.
As the trip goes on, he slowly understands his employer and takes on his job as driver, bodyguard and companion with a serious determination.
The two work their roles, not as a black-white buddy team, although that slowly develops, but as two worlds that come together, helping both. It’s about something real, racism, acceptance bravery and friendship.
It genre-hops from high-class white society to the black world, and the tough street world of the Bronx, all with humor and class.
This movie needs to be seen. It is a feel-good political movie. It deserves the Best Film Oscar.
It’s been said that Ali is the anchor of the film, but, I see Mortensen as the rudder taking them through the rough sea, of this country of the ’60s.
It’s about a friendship that grows from tolerance to friendship to real heartfelt love. It is a lesson in history, segregated bathrooms, drinking fountains and hotels.
The two men work their way through disagreements in music, language and racism, both black and white.
Let this review be your Green Book through this complex and feel-good movie. You’ll love the trip!
