Green Book (2018)
There’s still plenty of magic left in the tank for holiday cinema.
Presentation:
It has been quite a long time since a film has genuinely made me this happy. Green Book is an anomaly in that it is a more mainstream film relying on legacy Hollywood formulas, yet has tremendous heart. I tonally received it similarly to films like The Pursuit of Happiness where it is attempts to appeal to a wide audience but has strong emotional connections and character development. The film looks spectacular with modern image quality and softly bright lighting. If you want to see why Leitz lenses are gorgeous, take a look at the screenshots from this film. Where nearly every other film attempting to make a touching holiday drama fails, this one miraculously succeeds due to a strong script without the clichés or fake chemistry. The relationship between Mortensen and Ali feels raw and I had forgotten that the Lord of the Rings star never lost his tremendous acting prowess fromThe Road. Seriously, this was a surprisingly convincing Italian Brooklyn dweller and it was a pleasure to see Italian representation in cinema other than from Pacino, Pesci and De Niro. Ali plays a stiff, condescending virtuoso, but it was a little hard to believe his disdain and uptightness when he has had such down to earth performances like Moonlight. In any case, the circumstances and bond the two have is genuinely tangible to the audience and nail the inspirational chemistry. It’s convinces you of watching 2 stubborn strangers about to form a long time friendship for the first time. Their relationship dynamic is so refreshing. Normally with racial themed films they be lecturing and full of finger wagging, but it just all fits perfectly. The music is great, performances feel real, convincing melodrama and great struggles about life and identity without a political lecture.
Analysis:
Although this appears to be a message on racism, the reason it works so well is because that's simply the backdrop to the real issue of finding one's identity. Struggling to fit in with self and societal expectations really struck a chord with me and I believe has more impact than the racial obstacles the film presents. Accepting who you are versus what people expect you to be while also dealing with complex issues is what makes this film not just follow any typical Hollywood trope.
Conclusion:
This is one of my favorite films in recent memory. Its essence and presentation somehow reminds me of Green Mile, perhaps only in impact. It’s everything a holiday film should be - uplifting, great cast, great presentation, great script, great message and actually wittier than many dedicated comedies. Seriously a ton of healthy laughs and chuckles in this one that make you grin ear to ear. If you want to get that warm fuzzy feeling you get during the holidays when reuniting with your favorite people, this will bring you that joy. It may even be a future modern classic on par with Forest Gump, The Shawshank Redemption and Green Mile. Yes, that good, and it’s a holiday movie! The magic of classic uplifting films is not lost!
Recommendations
Thematic literature enters the ring.