Green Book (2018)
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An Italian-American bouncer and an African-American pianist embark on a journey through the Deep South in 1962.
The story
In the spring of 1962, in the Bronx, Italian-American bouncer Tony Lip seeks employment while the Copacabana is closed for renovations. He is hired by Don Shirley, an African American pianist, to serve as his driver and bodyguard for an eight-week concert tour through the Midwest and Deep South. Armed with a copy of The Negro Motorist Green Book to navigate the segregated South, the two men must navigate the complexities of racial prejudice and their own contrasting personalities. As they travel together, the pair must confront the harsh realities of the Jim Crow South while navigating their differing perspectives on life and social standing.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1962, Italian-American bouncer Tony Lip is hired by African-American pianist Don Shirley to drive him on a concert tour through the segregated Deep South. They use the Negro Motorist Green Book to navigate safe locations for Black travelers. Throughout the tour, the two men clash over their differing lifestyles and perspectives, but they begin to form a bond as they face the harsh realities of racial discrimination. After a violent encounter in Kentucky and a tense arrest in Mississippi, the two reconcile their differences. The film culminates in a tense standoff at a club in Birmingham where Don is refused entry to the dining room. They eventually find a way to perform and share a meal at a black blues club. The journey concludes with them heading north for Christmas, where they ultimately find a sense of mutual respect and friendship. The film ends with real-life photos of the two men, who remained friends until they died only months apart in 2013.
- First release year
- 2018
- Runtime (minutes)
- 130
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Peter Farrelly
- Writers
- Nick Vallelonga · writer; Brian Hayes Currie · writer; Peter Farrelly · writer
- Cast and characters
- Viggo Mortensen · Tony Lip; Mahershala Ali · Don Shirley; Linda Cardellini · Dolores
- Genres
- comedy-drama; biographical drama
- Themes
- racial prejudice; friendship; identity
- Tone and mood
- dramatic; reflective
- Setting
- The United States (specifically the Bronx, Midwest, and Deep South) in 1962.
- Premise and plot tags
- biographical; road movie; buddy film
- Source material / true-story basis
- The true story of a 1962 tour of the Deep South by African-American pianist Don Shirley and Italian-American bouncer and later actor Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga.
- Content notes
- LGBTQ-related
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, with praise for the performances of Mortensen and Ali, although it also drew some criticism for its racial dynamics and its depiction of Shirley.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 69 · scale: 100 · review count: 52; CinemaScore · score: A+ · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 91% · scale: percentage
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Picture · Won; Academy Award · Best Original Screenplay · Won; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actor · Won; Producers Guild of America Award · Best Theatrical Motion Picture · Won; National Board of Review · best film of 2018 · 2018 · Won; Screen Actors Guild · Best Supporting Actor · Won; BAFTA Award · Best Supporting Actor · Won
- Production trivia
- The film's title is based on The Negro Motorist Green Book, a guide for African-American travelers.; The film was once considered by Focus Features before being passed on.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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