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Green Book

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Green Book

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• Documentary
• Comedy

• 2018
• Peter Farrelly
• 124 mins
• 12

Summary

Road movie based on a true story, starring Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali. New York, 1962. Nightclub bouncer "Tony Lip", in need of temporary employment, gets himself hired as a driver for concert pianist Don Shirley. It transpires that Shirley, a black man, requires not only transport but protection during his upcoming tour of the segregated Deep South. Though the intellectual Shirley and the slovenly, bigoted Tony initially clash, a firm friendship develops.

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Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Emma Simmonds

He's better known for gross-out fare such as Dumb and Dumber, but Green Book finds Peter Farrelly trying his hand at more awards-friendly material, channelling the touring troubles of African-American musician Don Shirley into an odd-couple dramedy. Viggo Mortensen plays Tony Vallelonga, an Italian-American bouncer hired in 1962 to chauffeur pianist Shirley (Mahershala Ali) on a tour of the Deep South in the run-up to Christmas. Mortensen turns in a charming, comedically gifted performance as the racist-turned-rough diamond. Ali is even finer, and the discreet way he conveys Shirley's heartache is terrifically moving. Their unlikely friendship recalls Driving Miss Daisy, with the film establishing itself in that same virtuous but simplified and commercially friendly tradition. Mortensen and Ali make an irresistible duo in a well-meaning and touching (albeit slightly misjudged) film that boasts plenty of polish but lacks the requisite grit. Right down to its crowd-pleasing conclusion, it gives 1960s race relations an unnecessarily accessible overhaul.

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8.2/10

How to watch

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Streaming

• Netflix
• Prime Video
• Sky Store

Credits

Cast

rolenameFrank "Tony Lip" VallelongaViggo MortensenDon ShirleyMahershala AliDoloresLinda CardelliniJules PodellDon StarkJohnny VenereSebastian ManiscalcoOlegDimiter D MarinovGeorgeMike Hatton

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Crew

rolenameDirectorPeter Farrelly

Details

Theatrical distributor

Entertainment One

Released on

2019-02-01

Languages

English | German | Russian | Italian

Guidance

Violence, swearing

Formats

Colour

News & features about Green Book

• 
  
  Why has the movie Green Book proved controversial?
  
  The film has been criticised by family of its lead character, piano virtuoso Don Shirley

• 
  
  Olivia Colman in shock Oscars win while Green Book claims Best Picture
  
  Bohemian Rhapsody cleaned up in the technical and acting awards, while Black Panther and Roma also picked up a number of prizes

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• 
  
  Green Book review: "Mortensen and Ali are an irresistible duo in a biopic boasting awards-friendly polish"
  
  This old-fashioned, odd-couple dramedy about a white chauffeur and his haughty black employer recalls Driving Miss Daisy even if it lacks the requisite grit

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