Green Book

This is a pleasant Christmas fairy tale. This type of drama-comedy, where two people from different walks of life are forced to learn from each other and rethink their attitudes, is probably always a sure-fire hit. It seems quite superficial and there is no real drama in the whole movie, however, it is still an all-around positive and relaxing movie with the great Viggo Mortensen, whose third Oscar nomination I would like to finally change into an actual award. (07/02/2019)

An easygoing road-movie with strong characters (Mortensen steals the show), a convincing period atmosphere, and dialogues that don’t hurt, at least to watch once. But the “conflict” that the film offers is so unoriginal and fake that it buries the quality of the whole lot. The development of Tony’s racist views are almost invisible and the script is basically a series of stops at moral clichés and shoddy motifs (the cop on the road, the “white” restaurant). There was potential and I can praise Farrelly for the fact that I rooted for protagonists, but that’s not enough to make an above-par social drama. 60% (25/01/2019)

"Driving Mr. Mahershala"? Too bad that Viggo had to fight Rami Malek for the Oscar, as the jury couldn’t give it to anyone else but Rami. Here, Viggo put on a remarkable performance, just like in Eastern Promises. Mahershala is also great. The movie itself, however, is a dime-a-dozen Hollywood template, with a good heart and gorgeous narrative but without a hint of filmmaking inventiveness. (06/03/2019)

It’s been a long time since I saw a dramatic comedy by American authors that would involve such great acting performances (Viggo is fantastic and Mahershala delivers a decent above-par performance), a great to amazing atmosphere, real friendship between men and moments in which I simply admired both gentlemen’s acting, watching the slightest movements of their faces. Even those alone could tell you a lot about the situation and help you form a well-rounded opinion on what was going on in the USA in the 1960s. The American people are truly absurd and this year’s Oscar ceremony provided a proof of that in form of two movies – this one and the BlackKklansman. An A+ from me for sure. Just keep it up! Self-criticism is important and it is really good that it’s being opened up in the world beyond the Big Pond. On top of that, I’m really glad that Peter Farrelly’s work was rewarded as well because when do you get the chance to win an Oscar if under other circumstances you are making wacky comedies with your brother that are commercially successful and every now and then you pull a prank on somebody and pull your wiener out at a casting interview: Naturally to ease up the situation. In the overall context this is great and congrats on that. Finally, after a really long time a movie was given the Oscar that I was rooting for with my entire heart. (25/02/2019)

If someone had told me at the beginning of the year that the best film would be a road movie drama with Oscar ambitions, I would have laughed them off, but hats off to them, this is a cinematic gem next to which Forrest Gump and The Shawshank Redemption look like B-movies. Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali deliver superhuman performances and their chemistry is flawless. The film pulls up a lot with tasteful and apt humour, the mafia undertones and the strong racism of the time. There are tense scenes and, most importantly, emotions, where I found myself crying for maybe two whole hours at a stretch and that never happened in my life. After watching it, I immediately got the feeling that I had to see the film again with everyone close to me and that doesn't happen often. The event of the year and for me possibly the best drama ever. 100%. (07/02/2019)