GREEN BOOK
US, 2018, 130 minutes, Colour.
Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini.
Directed by Peter Farrelly.
Green Book seems an indeterminate kind of title for what is quite a significant film.
In fact, as the screenplay explains, Green Book was the title of a guide for African- Americans travelling in the south, indicating the significance of segregation, hotels and restaurants where they would be welcome and those where they would not be welcome. Many audiences in the 21st-century, perhaps even in the United States, might be shocked to discover the existence and use of this book.
In the late 1950s, Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis appeared in a landmark film about black-white relationships, The Defiant Ones, two prisoners, one black, one white, chained together as they try to escape prison. In some ways, Green Book could be seen as an equivalent of The Defiant Ones. They are not literally chained together, the black man and the white man, but there are bonds and there are bigotries that need to be broken.
The initial focus of the film is on Tony, an Italian-American? working at the Copacabana club in New York City, keeping an eye on security, intervening as a bouncer to break up fights and kick out unwelcome guests when necessary. At home, he has a loving wife and family. He also has a lot of Italian relatives and friends. They are eager to give him a job when the club closes down for several months of renovations. The next focus of the film is on Dr Shirley, who summons Tony for a job interview. Dr Shirley lives in rather lavish apartments, with all kinds of decor, even a throne chair, on top of Carnegie Hall. He is a talented musician. He is also black.
It is 1962.
We have glimpsed some bigotry on Tony's part, putting some glasses used by black tradesmen in the rubbish bin. He is not immediately attracted to the job of driving Dr Shirley, being something like a servant. However, there is some insistence and he accepts the job.
So, this is the film of a journey, physically through some states in middle America and down to the South, the deepest south. It is also a journey of two men getting to know each other as persons, realising prejudices and limitations, learning how to overcome them, having to depend on each other, and beginning a friendship (which the final credits, with photos of the actual men, indicates lasted until their deaths in 2014). One of Tony's sons wrote the screenplay for the film.
The performances are excellent. Viggo Mortensen is at his best as Tony, loud, chain-smoking, chewing fried chicken and advising Dr Shirley to chuck the bones out of the car window, not initially appreciating Dr Shirley's talent. Mahershala Ali, who won his Oscar for Moonlight, is a regal-mannered, self-confidently arrogant, superior who sits in the back of the car (and reminders of a reverse of Driving Miss Daisy).
One of the strengths of the screenplay is the continued conversations between the two, as they drive through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky. And one wonders why Dr Shirley would be travelling America at this stage for performances, excellent as he is, receiving the warmth of the predominantly white audiences. As they venture into the South, there are more troubles and more segregation, more relying on the Green Book.
Dr Shirley is also a drinker, drinking alone, and, when he is arrested one evening, further revelation about him and his aloneness. The two are stopped by the police in Louisiana and are given very bigoted treatment, especially when Tony becomes violent, something that Dr Shirley has advised against. They finish up in jail, Dr Shirley allowed his phone call and, entertainingly as we might expect, his phone call is to Robert Kennedy!
And there is worse in Birmingham, Alabama, the seemingly-civilised manners that put prejudice into practice and the underlying dislike, even racial hatred. However, there is a very engaging sequence where Dr Shirley goes to a black club and wows the audience with his piano playing.
There are many fine touches throughout the film (including Tony trying to write letters to his loving wife, Linda Cardellini, and Dr Shirley taking over the inspiration and composition).
There is so much to enjoy in Green Book as well as so much about prejudice to reflect on.
1. The many awards? Audience popularity awards? Perspective on the 1960s from the 21st-century?
2. The title, the explanation of the book, American segregation, the colour of the book for African- Americans and information about where they could travel and stay in the south? The ingrained racism, white superiority, prejudice? On the eve of Martin Luther King's March on Washington? The role of the Kennedys?
3. The film as a journey, real, symbolic? Two American males? In the US, the North, South? Experiences, suffering, transformation? In the background of an African- American, his race, sexual orientation, skill in the arts?
4. The introduction to Tony, New York City, his age, jobs, his wife, children, the Italian background, community and families? Meals together? His work at the Copacabana, as a bouncer, breaking up the fight in the restaurant and throwing out the offender, his trick with the boss's hat and the hat-check girl, paying her off, producing the hat and getting favours? A good men according to his limited lights?
5. Tony's situation, his real name, those finding it difficult to pronounce, the nickname, education or not, clothes and manner, continually smoking, his prejudices and putting the glasses in the rubbish after the black workers used them? The closing of the Copacabana, the variety of offers for him to have jobs? The phone call to Dr Shirley? The visit, his being rather overwhelmed by the visit, the hunting trophies, Dr Shirley sitting on the throne, his robe? The recording company, his not wanting to be a servant, his final consent? To be away for two months? To return for Christmas?
6. The visuals of the car journey, from north to south, the 1960s? The performance in Pittsburgh and the audience? Middle America, performances in Indiana, Ohio? The crossing of the border into Kentucky, the reactions, received in Tennessee, the Carolinas, Louisiana? Difficulties in Louisiana? The final confrontation in Alabama? 1962, the intervention of Robert Kennedy, the vigil of Civil Rights?
7. Dr Shirley, superior African- American, and look, stature, manner, glasses, clothing, cultured voice, opinions, expectations of superiority? His skill in performances, his decision to go to the South, the other members of the trio and their backgrounds, skill and performance? His story, taught by his mother, love of music, his brother and no contact with him? Education, music training, skill and performance, audiences responding? Carnegie Hall, his address, living upstairs in luxury? His motivation for the tour? Understanding of race issues? The revelation of his drinking, the whiskey each night? His isolation? His going out on the town, drinking, arrested by the police, naked in the cells, the revelation about his sexual orientation and behaviour? His being superior, commanding Tony?
8. On the road, Tony talking, eating, learning that nature is beautiful? The interactions between the two, the revelations of character, Dr Shirley and his haughtiness, and the discovery of and eating of the Kentucky fried chicken, thrown the trash out of the window yet reverting to pick up the cup? The two men sharing their stories, the effect?
9. Tony, driving, cigarettes, confident, not wanting to be a servant, his manners, Dr Shirley's criticisms? Dolores and her wanting letters, his awkward writing, Dr Shirley's help (and Dolores realising this and later thanking him)? His playing cards outside, then his listening to the music, his coming to admire him, to discover more about him? The breaking down of his prejudices, whether realised or not?
10. The experience of the South, the discovery of more prejudices the further south, the concerts in Pittsburgh and Ohio, the contrast with Kentucky? The white families and hosts? Dr Shirley deferring to them? The experience in Louisiana, Dr Shirley going out on the town, his need for alcohol, his being discovered in the jail, naked, the other man? The driving in Louisiana, the police pulling up the car, the treatment of Tony, their treatment of Dr Shirley, the manners of the police, their suspicions, Tony and his violence and the reaction? Dr Shirley and his phone call, the shock (and the humour) of his contacting Robert Kennedy, Kennedy phoning the governor, the police chief and his disbelief, having to let them go?
11. The experience in Alabama, Dr Shirley ready for the concert, not allowed to enter the dining room, the segregation rules? Tony and his being tempted to violence and Dr Shirley warning him off? The manner of the waiters and the manager, the interior and bigotry?
12. Their going to the club, the patrons, the music, Dr Shirley playing, his enthusiasm and skill, the woman at the bar, her surprise, the response of the people? Tony sharing this experience?
13. The return home, Tony welcomed by his family, the Christmas dinner, the enthusiasm, his explanation of his trip? Dolores, her delight in Tony being home, the children? The contrast with Dr Shirley, going to Carnegie Hall, alone? His change of heart, going to Tony's door, his being welcomed, and Dolores thanking him because she realised that he had written the letters?
14. The aftermath, the photos of the characters, Tony's son contributing to the screenplay, the long friendship between the two men into the second decade of the 21st century?
