Having seen Black Klansman, Vice, Roma, Bohemian Rhapsody and a Star is Born, my first thought after hearing Green Book won the award was a cheer. To me this was the best of the good but not award-winning movies offered this year.
My cheer for Green Book came not because the earth-shattering astounding story it told, as neither was evident in this movie. No, my cheer came because of the movies I had seen none had produced a knock your socks off story in any manner.
Green Book however, did have some dialog that perked my ears a bit. A couple instances that come to mind are:
The talk after Dr. Don Shirley is rescued from a bar in a southern town. Shirley and his driver, Tony (Lip) Vallelonga, are discussing the event. Tony tells Shirley to never go into a bar in this part of the country alone. Shirley responds saying and I paraphrase here, “I would probably receive the same results in your neighborhood bar back home.”
Shirley had two men who accompanied him as he played the piano. Tony was complaining about the company scheduling this tour in the south. The two men told him Shirley could have done the same concerts in the North for more money but he asked to do this southern tour.
Both of these scenarios provoked some deeper thought.
A word now about the other movies up for the award.
Black Klansman was also a good movie having a humorous bent on a serious issue in our country that continues today, racism. Based on a true story it displays the ignorance of white supremacists and in the end the good guys win. Good and fun to watch but not the best.
Vice, a movie showing Dick Cheney at his evil best. Best scene in movie was the metaphorical display of Cheney catching a trout in the streams of Wyoming while working out an agreement with G.W. Bush to be his vice-president.
Roma, also an enjoyable piece but the need to rely on subtitles throughout dimmed the impact of this movie for me. The young maids giving birth during a political demonstration most memorable scene for me.
A Star is Born, third or forth remake of this memorable film. Well performed by Bradley Cooper and Lady Ga Ga but nothing to make one think.
Bohemian Rhapsody IMHO, this was the best picture. However, it dealt with two issues still on the edge of general acceptance in this world. Homosexuality and AIDS.
In conclusion while to me all the pictures were great, I’m thinking the academy awards people have become too political. This despite the fact I agree with their political bent. I would prefer they went back to just considering damn good movies for this award, to hell with the political repercussions. I just want to see a good movie. A movie that makes me want to discuss it at length with fellow attendees.