He’ll need to refer to it to do his job, getting Shirley from gig to gig safely throughout the musician’s eight-week tour. Early on, he briefly explains its purpose to his wife Delores (Linda Cardellini): to provide black travelers with information about “safe” places to stay and to eat while they travel. Mortensen’s character, Tony, takes it on the trip and leafs through it several times. Yet curiously, the Green Book itself doesn’t play much of a role in the film. It’s often funny, with some poignant moments and a heart that feels like it’s in the right place. It’s “inspired” by the true friendship of Tony Vallelonga, an Italian-American chauffeur/bodyguard from the Bronx, and Don Shirley, the black pianist Vallelonga is hired to drive and protect on a concert tour through the deep South in 1962. The film, directed by comedy veteran Peter Farrelly, stars Viggo Mortensen and Ali. A period piece that’s also a road trip movie and a buddy dramedy? Based on a true story? With two strong performances and a heartwarming message about overcoming prejudice? That ends at a Christmas celebration? Sign America up (or at least the Hollywood Foreign Press Association). Green Book took home three Golden Globe Awards on Sunday for Best Comedy, Best Screenplay, and supporting actor Mahershala Ali - and that’s hardly a surprise.
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