Green Book (film)

Green Book (film)
source
Name	Green Book
Director	Peter Farrelly
Producer	Jim Burke, Charles B. Wessler, Brian Hayes Currie, Peter Farrelly, Jason Blum
Writer	Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, Peter Farrelly
Starring	Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini
Music	Kris Bowers
Cinematography	Sean Porter
Editing	Patrick J. Don Vito
Studio	Participant, Broad Green Pictures, Blumhouse Productions
Distributor	Universal Pictures
Released	2018
Runtime	130 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$23 million
Gross	$321.8 million

Green Book (film) is a 2018 American biographical comedy-drama directed by Peter Farrelly and written by Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, and Farrelly. The film follows a tour in the 1960s of concert pianist Don Shirley and his driver and bodyguard Tony Vallelonga (Tony Lip), dramatizing themes of race, class, and friendship amidst the backdrop of segregation and the Civil Rights Movement. It won multiple awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture and generated widespread discussion among critics, historians, and the families involved.

Plot

The narrative centers on pianist Don Shirley embarking on a concert tour of the American South in 1962, hiring bouncer Tony Vallelonga, from the Bronx, as his driver and protector. Using the Negro Motorist Green Book as a guide, the duo travel through cities such as New Orleans, Birmingham, and Jackson, confronting segregation laws, Jim Crow, white supremacist hostility, and clubkeepers while performing at venues linked to cotton economy regions and tourist circuits. Tensions between Shirley's refined world associated with elite venues like Carnegie Hall and Vallelonga's Italian American family roots in New York City generate conflict and eventual mutual respect. Incidents include altercations with police, encounters with racially segregated hotels, and personal revelations tied to Shirley's estrangement from his family and Vallelonga's loyalty to the Vallelonga family and Italian traditions. The pair's bond deepens through shared meals, arguments, and moments of crisis culminating in a performance at Carnegie Hall and a finale addressing reconciliation and chosen family.

Cast

The principal cast features Viggo Mortensen as Tony Vallelonga and Mahershala Ali as Don Shirley, supported by Linda Cardellini portraying Dolores Vallelonga. Other credited performers include Sebastian Maniscalco as Johnny Venere, Dimiter D. Marinov as Oleg, and Mike Hatton as Monk. The ensemble includes actors with links to regional and theatrical institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University, Juilliard, and film festivals like the Toronto International Film Festival. Cameos and supporting roles connect to performers who worked on productions associated with Broadway, Lincoln Center, and regional theater circuits.

Production

Development began after Nick Vallelonga discovered his father's story and collaborated with Brian Hayes Currie and Peter Farrelly to adapt it. Financing and production involved companies like Participant (company), Blumhouse Productions, and Broad Green Pictures, with producers including Jim Burke (film producer), Charles B. Wessler, and Jason Blum. Principal photography took place in locations doubling for 1960s American cities, employing studios and crews linked to unions such as Directors Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Costume and set design referenced period artifacts from archives including those of Carnegie Hall and collections related to Don Shirley's career. Composer Kris Bowers created a score blending classical influences associated with Shirley's repertoire and period popular music reflective of venues like the Apollo Theater and jazz clubs of the era.

Release and box office

The film premiered at festivals including the Toronto International Film Festival and expanded through distributors such as Universal Pictures for global release. It was marketed across platforms tied to exhibitors like AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas, with distribution strategies referencing awards season timelines set by organizations such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Golden Globe Awards. On a production budget of approximately $23 million, the film grossed over $320 million worldwide, performing strongly in markets across the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

Reception and controversy

Critically, the film received mixed reviews, with praise for performances by Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen and criticism from commentators associated with publications like The New York Times, The Guardian, and Variety for its depiction of race relations and historical accuracy. Family members of Don Shirley and scholars at institutions such as Howard University, Columbia University, and Rutgers University raised disputes over portrayals and claims in the screenplay, prompting public statements and debates in media outlets including The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times. Discussions involved historians of the Civil Rights Movement, musicologists familiar with Shirley's repertoire, and organizations focused on representation such as NAACP and advocacy groups. The film also triggered responses from participants in awards circuits like the Screen Actors Guild Awards and sparked commentary on auteur authorship from figures connected to Independent Spirit Awards communities.

Accolades

Green Book won multiple awards, notably the Academy Award for Best Picture, the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. It received nominations and honors from bodies including the BAFTA, the Producers Guild of America, and the Directors Guild of America. Festival recognition included prizes and audience awards at events like the Toronto International Film Festival and screenings organized by institutions such as Film at Lincoln Center.

Category:2018 films Category:Biographical films Category:Films about race and ethnicity