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Friday, November 23, 2018

Review: Green Book Is The Racially Safe Feel Good Movie Sure Not To Trigger


Green Book Video Review:






Green Book Trailer:


The Good:
Green Book doesn't waste any time to setup audiences for the level of racial tensions within the characters and setting of the film. Despite being a bit obvious, I liked the way Viggo Mortensen's character's mentality is initially portrayed with embedded racist views. You'll get the picture fairly quickly in the early kitchen scene.

With all that setup, I think it works and ties in nicely with the strongest element of this film which lies in the development of the relationship between the two main characters. Both Mortensen and Mahershala Ali's characters have their own positive and negative qualities that make their characters unique and compelling. What keeps you interested throughout the movie is just how much both characters learn and grow from one another. I appreciated how they were able to compliment one another in very unconventional ways.  Despite being a cliche "Odd Couple" story, you can't help but to relate to their struggles and triumphs. The dynamic of their relationship is certainly one to be desired, and that's just one other reason this movie works.

It also helps that Ali and Mortensen have great onscreen chemistry together. They both dive deeply into their characters and make it all very believable. Their banter in the film is certainly entertaining. You'll get a kick whenever they argue or school one another about certain things. I think the "fried chicken" scene was easily one of the best scenes in the film.

One thing that caught me off guard was that this movie was genuinely funny. I appreciated how Green Book didn't feel as though it had to go out of its way to be funnier than it needed to be. However, the humor was nicely transitioned into the film, and served as a nice chaser to ease the racially tense moments in the film. The drama that stems from those racial scenes does get pretty thick and overt. As a matter of fact, as an audience viewer, you can't help but feel the tension build the closer the main characters travel further down south. That feeling of tread you most likely will experience, however, is exactly what will keep you engaged even though you know the characters are about to deal with some BS.

The Bad:
I suppose my only issue with Green Book is that it almost comes off as being a little too good to be true. It feels cookie cutter, and a little too perfectly gift wrapped at times. I know that this movie is based on a true story, but it also feels as though it's got a bit too much of that Hollywood spin. For instance, there are some pretty racist situations that happen in the movie. That's to be expected with the movie's setting being in the early 60s before the Civil Rights movement. However, there are some moments in the film that almost feel a bit too progressive for that time frame. To see "2018 progressive mindsets" exhibited back then makes the movie feel a bit too disingenuous at times. To be clear, that's not to say that people weren't progressive and everyone was just racist in the 60s. I'm just saying that what was PC or progressive in the 60s is nowhere near to that of today's society, and it's offsetting to see it displayed in this movie.

The Reason:
Green Book is definitely the feel good movie of season. It looks like a reverse "Driving Miss Daisy" while having a similar vibe to that of "The Help" or even "Hidden Figures". Given the Hollywood spin that I mentioned earlier, this movie won't make people feel uncomfortable with the racism it portrays. It's really safe in that regard because it kind of displays a bit of a fantasy and ideal relationship we all should strive for. It reminds us that if we took the time to actually get to know people who are different than us, rather than just assuming what we think we know, then maybe we can make this world a truly better place one relationship at a time.

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Green Book received some Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Actor and Supporting Actor. It's an overall really good movie that definitely is worth your time and money in theaters.

Rating: 8.5/10

My [Loosely based] Ratings scale
10-9 = A Must watch at any cost. 
8.5- 7.5 = Theater worthy 
7-6.5 = Matinee/rental worthy at best
6 = Watchable (If it's free)
5 - below = Avoid at all costs

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