I think we can all agree that the “green book” is a bad film, but Mahershala Ali was still spectacular

ahsan65@gmail.comJuly 5, 2025

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I think we can all agree that the “green book” is a bad film, but Mahershala Ali was still spectacular

Regarding films on race and culture, 2018 provided a plethora of pretenders worthy of the Oscars, innovative of the new field for cinema. Blackkklansman provided a breathtaking parallel between the systemic racism widespread in the 1970s and current world events. Marvel Black panther Has embraced Afro-futurism in a way that looks like nothing ever seen on the film. The two films, as well as the best contenders in the image Roma And The favoriteCould have spoken of a volume at the progressive moment of Hollywood if they had won the victory. Instead, the Academy has decided on a story of the time full of the same proven tropes: Green paper.

When Peter Farrelly-The Dramedy for the best film won the best 91st Oscars film, it looked like a return to the days when the problematic dramas of the white Savior like Drive Miss Daisy were guaranteed of such distinctions. As a biopic representing the emerging relationship between the burnsideman of the Bronx Tony lip and pianist Don shirley In the context of the South American in 1962, He tries to alleviate real racial prejudices with little grain and authenticity. Although Green paper plays safely with the delicate themes he wears, his star, Maharshala Alimanages to go beyond the superficiality of the global direction.

“ Green Book ” is a return to a era dated from Hollywood

Green paper is inspired by the life of Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen), the father of the screenwriter of the film, Nick Vallelonga. Working as a bouncer in Copacabana, he is looking for work when the club is temporarily closed. His references help win the concert as a personal driver of pianist Don Shirley (Ali), who turns both Central America and the South Deep for an eight -week tour. Given the racial divisions in the areas in which the two men will travel, Shirley gives Tony The Nègre Automobilist Green Paper With information on the place to find unplanned services specifically in the South.

Once the road film element has been presented, Green paper falls into the Hollywood account typical of two people of racially diverse backgrounds do not get along as long as the obstacles they confronted with them. We have seen it play in all the classic dramas of The challenges to more recent films like The increase And Hidden figuresWhere racial tensions are treated with children’s gloves. Manufacturing Green paper An even greater step back is the performance of Mortensen. Although the actor rejected the criticism of “white Savior” in an interview in 2024 with Vanity Fair, his attempt to play the authentic personality of the real Tony Lip appears as so aggressive that she looks closer to the comic elements of the film than the drama. It just becomes another image of a boyfriend because of his exaggerated performance.

A fascinating story could have developed on such a revelation that a manual to sail in the south of Jim Crow exists. What it would have been for one or more people to locate and record the places deemed safe for African-Americans to eat, sleep and have fun could have made a convincing drama. Instead, Green paper Choose the safest route: two men learn life lessons through an improbable friendship that goes beyond systemic racism. Emblematic director Spike Lee Even expressed his frustration in the face of the ineffective execution of the approach of the film manual with Hollywood narration. In addition, Shirley’s family challenged the nature of their real friendship with Lip, despite the pianist’s audio recordings confirming the facts of their relationship. All this is added to the fact that The positive intentions of Farrelly and Vallelonga for having told this story led to Green paper To be Oscar Bait rather than a real conversation starter like many Lee films tend too

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Mahershala Ali is the only aspect worthy of an Oscar of “Green Paper”

For all Green paperThe narrative problems, Ali manages to give an exceptional performance which made his best support actor the only one worthwhile to be won. As Shirley, he has an air of dignity and elegance as a established talent. Again, Ali knows where to retain the internal rage of Shirley and when to show the vulnerability In moments that establish the pianist’s sexuality as well as his need for belonging. For its part in a dramatic otherwise of well-being, Ali brings reality to a scenario otherwise rationalized.

If there is a narrow comparison with Ali’s performance in Green paperit would be Denzel Washington In Hurricane. The two biopics have standardized scenarios which have systemic racism, the real facts strongly dramatized. However, Ali and Washington give such fascinating representations of their respective famous figures that raise the cliché to destroy the black hero before their white friends lift them. Although the films themselves can be widely rejected in cosmetic terms, these titans of actors ensure that their performance is engraved in the minds of the public. Ali has certainly done it for an ossarized film that will remain a source of discord among moviegoers.