Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
01-12-19, 05:30 PM
#26
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
Watched it on a screener. Excellent movie. Definitely would put this in the crowd-pleasing category. Nothing challenging about it. This is the kind of movie that you recommend to old people who don't go to the movies anymore. Not surprised it won the GG considering the nominations but no away it wins the Oscar.
Let me add that i really don't like this idea that people will excavate everybody's social media accounts to discover offensive and inappropriate comments, and then that is supposed to taint any artistic endeavor that they have created or contributed to.
Let me add that i really don't like this idea that people will excavate everybody's social media accounts to discover offensive and inappropriate comments, and then that is supposed to taint any artistic endeavor that they have created or contributed to.
02-23-19, 08:09 PM
#27
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Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
Wow. what a great movie. knew i would love it from first few minutes. only some do that. so light and breezy and fun and thought provoking. just incredible acting, directing (who you'd have thunk that the guy who gave us Dumb and Dumber could direct with sweetness and deft to make both comedy and drama work in unison), music, certainly. just great all the way around. and i think Viggo deserves the Oscar much more than Ali. he was this movie and he was amazing. Ali was good, sure, but Oscar good? not this time...
Last edited by OldBoy; 02-24-19 at 06:03 PM.
02-25-19, 09:33 AM
#29
Moderator
Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
Man, I can't get the love for this movie at all. Ali was fine (as always) but otherwise it was another ham-fisted, by the book, feel good 'movie of the week' with an offensive and racist message that was trite thirty years ago.
02-25-19, 09:44 AM
#30
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
People just look for things to be offended by, I think they get off on it. It was a charming, well acted, and funny movie.
02-25-19, 09:57 AM
#31
Moderator
Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
This isn't a movie like 48 Hours or Lethal Weapon, where a black dude and a white dude team up and do stuff. For Green Book, racism is the primary theme of the movie, and it handles that theme in an offensive way.
02-25-19, 12:57 PM
#33
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Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
This was a fine, enjoyable, entertaining film. I don't get all these comparisons now to "Crash" because this is nowhere near as bad a BP win as 2006.
Offensive, though? Apparently nobody can touch ANYTHING involving race or racism unless the storyteller is black, a woman, or another POC. White comedy dude? GET HIM!
Offensive, though? Apparently nobody can touch ANYTHING involving race or racism unless the storyteller is black, a woman, or another POC. White comedy dude? GET HIM!
02-25-19, 01:06 PM
#34
DVD Talk God
Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
I don't get all the criticism and outrage either. This movie was told from the perspective of Tony Lip aka Vallelonga not Dr. Don Shirley. Was it a 100% accurate depiction of their relationship and the events that took place on that road trip? Probably not, but this is not a documentary of that event in their lives.
02-26-19, 11:34 AM
#35
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Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
Ok, let me sum this film up.
Racism and Shirley are simply the MacGuffins so that the White Character's "redemption" can be highlighted.
TRUE....It was NOT about Shirley. That is why he is one of the MacGuffins and Black folks need to realize this. No, this was about the Tony told from his family's point of view.. That said, this film falls into the "Magical Negro" category in that we see how a Black person and their struggles are used to make a White person a "better human". Does it make it less of "Magical Negro" film because it was based on a true situation? No. It does not.
You can argue all you want...but deep down you'll know I'm right.
Racism and Shirley are simply the MacGuffins so that the White Character's "redemption" can be highlighted.
TRUE....It was NOT about Shirley. That is why he is one of the MacGuffins and Black folks need to realize this. No, this was about the Tony told from his family's point of view.. That said, this film falls into the "Magical Negro" category in that we see how a Black person and their struggles are used to make a White person a "better human". Does it make it less of "Magical Negro" film because it was based on a true situation? No. It does not.
You can argue all you want...but deep down you'll know I'm right.
02-26-19, 03:18 PM
#37
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Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
Ok, let me sum this film up.
Racism and Shirley are simply the MacGuffins so that the White Character's "redemption" can be highlighted.
TRUE....It was NOT about Shirley. That is why he is one of the MacGuffins and Black folks need to realize this. No, this was about the Tony told from his family's point of view.. That said, this film falls into the "Magical Negro" category in that we see how a Black person and their struggles are used to make a White person a "better human". Does it make it less of "Magical Negro" film because it was based on a true situation? No. It does not.
You can argue all you want...but deep down you'll know I'm right.
Racism and Shirley are simply the MacGuffins so that the White Character's "redemption" can be highlighted.
TRUE....It was NOT about Shirley. That is why he is one of the MacGuffins and Black folks need to realize this. No, this was about the Tony told from his family's point of view.. That said, this film falls into the "Magical Negro" category in that we see how a Black person and their struggles are used to make a White person a "better human". Does it make it less of "Magical Negro" film because it was based on a true situation? No. It does not.
You can argue all you want...but deep down you'll know I'm right.
Why can't people just watch a movie and be entertained and stop trying to shoehorn everything in some "racial education" box? I know racism exists. I know the world is still a fucked up place in many ways. If this film had been made more accurately, or less "white savior-y" - as everyone continues to proclaim - then it wouldn't be the same movie, and maybe not as good.
I'm Sicilian. This film was loaded with stereotypes left and right but you don't hear Italians making a big deal about it.
02-26-19, 03:51 PM
#38
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Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
Ok, let me sum this film up.
Racism and Shirley are simply the MacGuffins so that the White Character's "redemption" can be highlighted.
TRUE....It was NOT about Shirley. That is why he is one of the MacGuffins and Black folks need to realize this. No, this was about the Tony told from his family's point of view.. That said, this film falls into the "Magical Negro" category in that we see how a Black person and their struggles are used to make a White person a "better human". Does it make it less of "Magical Negro" film because it was based on a true situation? No. It does not.
You can argue all you want...but deep down you'll know I'm right.
Racism and Shirley are simply the MacGuffins so that the White Character's "redemption" can be highlighted.
TRUE....It was NOT about Shirley. That is why he is one of the MacGuffins and Black folks need to realize this. No, this was about the Tony told from his family's point of view.. That said, this film falls into the "Magical Negro" category in that we see how a Black person and their struggles are used to make a White person a "better human". Does it make it less of "Magical Negro" film because it was based on a true situation? No. It does not.
You can argue all you want...but deep down you'll know I'm right.
02-26-19, 08:36 PM
#39
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Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
02-27-19, 06:15 AM
#40
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
Thanks for posting that. While I didn't find the movie to be explicitly racist I did find it painfully old-fashioned and corny. That combined with Mortensen's overly broad performance and the fact that it deadass turns into a KFC commercial half-way through the movie were all strikes against it for me.
https://www.slashfilm.com/green-book...tor-interview/
They went on the road a year and the first leg of the journey was the first two months up to Christmas Eve, but we took parts from all these stories: RFK, the chicken scene believe it or not, YMCA, the bar where he gets beat up. All these things were stories that were spread out over that year and we found the order for it.
The Kentucky Fried Chicken scene is described in detail by Tony Lip in these audio tapes. He said, “Yeah, I got a bucket of chicken. He was like, ‘I don’t want it.’ What are you talking about? You people love fried chicken. He was offended by it. He said, ‘You know, Tony, not everybody eats the same stuff.’” So we put that in but there was also the scene where they eat at a place where they serve them chicken. That happened too and that was actually a much longer scene that we ended up trimming. It went on where everyone was eating with a fork and knife and finally Tony picks up this chicken and starts munching on it and the whole place goes nuts and starts doing it. It was just one too many chicken scenes so we ended up trimming it.
02-27-19, 01:34 PM
#41
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Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
Why can't people just watch a movie and be entertained and stop trying to shoehorn everything in some "racial education" box? I know racism exists. I know the world is still a fucked up place in many ways. If this film had been made more accurately, or less "white savior-y" - as everyone continues to proclaim - then it wouldn't be the same movie, and maybe not as good.
I'm Sicilian. This film was loaded with stereotypes left and right but you don't hear Italians making a big deal about it.
Last edited by Giantrobo; 02-27-19 at 06:11 PM.
02-27-19, 01:36 PM
#42
Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
Shirley's growth literally takes a back seat to Tony's growth. And rightfully so because as both you and I has stated... THIS WAS TONY'S STORY not Shirley's. The mistake many Blacks are making is expecting this film to be about Shirley; and I believe that is where the confusion is rooted. It's about a White Man becoming a better human based on his dealings with a Black man.
Hey, your PRIVILEGE is showing in that you are picking and choosing where, when, and how you get a lesson in White Racism. I mean shit...this film is using Racism as a back drop to Tony's growth. There is no shoehorning here. That's like saying systemic antisemitism was shoehorned into Schindler's List.
If Italians don't care about being Stereotyped that's their/your right and their/your battle to not fight. It doesn't mean everyone feels the same or wants to sit back and take it.
Hey, your PRIVILEGE is showing in that you are picking and choosing where, when, and how you get a lesson in White Racism. I mean shit...this film is using Racism as a back drop to Tony's growth. There is no shoehorning here. That's like saying systemic antisemitism was shoehorned into Schindler's List.
If Italians don't care about being Stereotyped that's their/your right and their/your battle to not fight. It doesn't mean everyone feels the same or wants to sit back and take it.
02-27-19, 01:41 PM
#43
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02-27-19, 01:44 PM
#44
Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
Here's a better explanation to all of the controversy
The Backlash To Green Book, Explained
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/201...y-family-story
The Backlash To Green Book, Explained
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/201...y-family-story
02-27-19, 02:27 PM
#45
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
If you want a broader context for why some folks are mad about this movie, let Seth Meyers explain:
02-27-19, 04:08 PM
#46
Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
White Savior or Driving Mr. Shirley. The filmmakers probably didn't mean to come across as racially insensitive and condescending, but a lot of my friends under the age of 40 aren't exactly impressed by it. Personally, I agree with them. It's corny as heck while not saying anything remotely new or interesting about race relations. And everyone points out the white savior theme going on. We all agree that Viggo and Ali are awesome, but the film is quite flawed.
03-02-19, 01:58 PM
#47
Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
It’s hard to hate this movie because of Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen. They both make the best of the well meaning, but simple minded and cliched material they have to work with.
2/5
2/5
03-02-19, 02:09 PM
#48
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
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Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
Really? 
? I mean I agree it was old fashioned and clichéd but it was a fun entertaining movie. I would only give that sort of rating to a barely watchable POS.
? I mean I agree it was old fashioned and clichéd but it was a fun entertaining movie. I would only give that sort of rating to a barely watchable POS.
03-02-19, 02:50 PM
#50
DVD Talk God
Re: Green Book (2018) D: P. Farrelly, S: Ali, Mortenson
From what I can tell, he's a very tough critic on these kinds of movies and mainstream movies in general. It's his opinion. he didn't like it, so be it.