Green Book

An overly calculated and sure-footed Oscar-winning film that ticks off the likely situations to come, and they do come, including the pathetic ending. But the dialogues between Tony and Shirley are hilariously written, there's a great spark between them and I laughed my heart out at times. Viggo plays my peer, always eating like me, getting a pot belly like me, just cute. I'd like him to win an Oscar, more than Rami "look-at-my-brutal-attempt" Malek, and more than Ali, who to me is an actor of one expression. (08/02/2019)

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. (02/25/2019)

"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. (03/06/2019)

If American Beauty offered a sophisticated, often subtle and graceful critique of the American middle class, Green Book, in a similarly bittersweet vein, presents the issues of racism in 1960s America, unassumingly, without relying on pathos, witty and with just enough insight. Viggo Mortensen dominates with his De Niro accent and redneck diction, Ali got the Oscar because he's black. For a film that is mostly about the interaction of two characters, it is brisk, fresh and entertaining. (03/03/2019)

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% (01/25/2019)