“Green Book” explains life in the 60s on screen

By: Omonike Akinyemi

Staff Writer

Peter Farrelly, director of “Dumb and Dumber,” directed the drama-comedy movie “Green Book” which was released to theaters on Nov. 16.

“Green Book” was inspired by the guidebook “The Negro Motorist Green Book” by Victor Hugo Green in 1936.

The film, however, departed from the book to tell the story of a friendship developed between Dr. Donald Shirley, a classically-trained musician of Jamaican descent and his chauffeur, Tony “Lip” Vallelonga, a streetwise white bouncer.

Mahershala Ali played Dr. Shirley and Viggo Mortensen played Tony Lip. Their performances were strong and exciting. We quickly understood in order to get through the trip they would have to bond together like two outlaws.

“I ain’t gonna be no one’s butler and I ain’t gonna shine shoes,” Tony said when Dr. Shirley offers him the job.

Tony had obvious racist attitudes but suppressed them for more cash when Dr. Shirley increased the price.

Tony witnessed the kind of emotional brutality Dr. Shirley had to endure while they drove through the South.

Tony was gradually transformed by Dr. Shirley, who eventually helped him write poetic letters to his wife back home. The journey took them into territory where Dr. Shirley’s pride was often confronted with racist daily actions.

Dr. Shirley was similarly affected by Tony, who helped him loosen up a bit. Tony suggested he eat fried chicken “like other black folks.” Whether this was true to life or not, the film made it obvious Dr. Shirley’s status as an educated black man isolated him from his own race at times.

I thought the film was worth seeing but the only downfall was the audience not understanding what makes Dr. Shirley tick. His sexuality was not discussed, although in one scene he was in handcuffs after being caught naked  in a public restroom with a man. A true buddy movie should explore the full lives of both characters equally.

In this way, I was reminded of movies such as “Driving Miss Daisy” that have tempted us with the idea of racial equality, only to take it away by only allowing us to see the black character through the eyes of the white character. The film does not reverse the gaze enough.

I think a rewrite was needed. They could explore Dr. Shirley’s character and delve into what was hinted in the poetic turn he had for romanticism while writing letters to Tony’s wife.

Does this movie favor the white character’s emotional journey over the black character’s?

That is up to you to decide. You may enjoy seeing the film either way, but my wonder is why more of Dr. Shirley’s life problems weren’t presented more fully to begin with.

What I do love is Dr. Shirley’s sense of play with style and assumption. The royal African clothing he wore in his own household compared to the straight-laced black tux he wore in concert. He built himself a throne to show a confidence the road-life tried to rip from him at every turn.

He seemed to be a man aware of how the world sees him and as viewers we sense his boldness is really what Tony stayed for. He stayed for the trip to be in the presence of an elegant black man that challenges the stereotypes about himself and the African people. This is a movie definitely worth watching.