Green Book (2019) - We're No Different!

★★★★☆

The Green Book is sort of a guidebook for the African American, written by Victor Hugo Green who is also an African American, to help them find the accommodations and restaurants that would accept them back in the mid-20th century. Right, 'Green Book' is about the race issue in the 1960s when the black were still not allowed to dine and stay in certain motels and restaurants. So while I was viewing, I felt like from time to time that something dramatically violent and devastating might take place, and the film would turn into somewhat a tragedy, but it never happens as it's considered a comedy-drama inspired by a true story, which is surprisingly heart-warming, and certainly touching and encouraging to me.

The formula is kind of simple and cliched but I'm okay with it as long as it's made inspiring and well developed and told. It takes two men of different races and backgrounds, one black, one white, get them in a car, send them down on a road trip to the Deep South of America where the white still had a problem with the black. The two learn from each other during the journey. They then change each other for the better, and get to realize that they're not so different after all, though the world always seems to suggest to them the opposite. The film is not necessarily a tearjerker but it's able to put a grateful smile upon my face with my eyes tearful in the end.

Surely the film wouldn't be this effective without Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali's exceptional and convincing performances. The last time I saw Mortensen was in 2009's 'The Road', in which he plays a strong father dying to protect his son in a post apocalyptic world of savages and danger. His impressive acting alone makes the 'The Road' so thrilling and watchable as it's likely to be so boring easily. And here in 'Green Book', he seems to have had to put on weight for his role as an Italian American who is amusing but impulsive, understanding but biased, short-tempered but good-hearted. His Italian accent here is unmistakable, and in a way charismatic. And this is the first time I ever saw Mahershala Ali in a film. I guess he must've practiced quite hard on the piano before he took the role because he does look and play like a professional pianist of principles in there. Both their dedication and profession enable 'Green Book' to shine a bit more than usual.

'Green Book' reminds us in a rather heart-warming way, of how beautiful and lovely the world would be if only we could put aside our bias and prejudice against each other. And it's encouraging and hopeful because like what happens in the film as well as in reality, while there're bad cops, there're also good cops. While there're stupid ridiculous racists, there're also open-minded people who are wise and understanding enough to be willing to accept who you really are no matter if you're black or white or yellow or whatsoever. Matter of fact, there's no reason for any of us to feel inferior or superior to anyone or anything because we're basically the same fucked up beings born to suffer in this ever-changing world!