The Negro Motorist Green Book was a guidebook for Black travelers throughout the South during segregation to help them find friendly motels and restaurants. It was written by Victor Hugo Green and published from 1936 to 1966.

The film Green Book is the story of Don Shirley and Tony Vallelonga. Shirley was a classical and jazz pianist and Vallelonga was a bouncer who became Shirley’s driver and bodyguard for a concert tour across the deep south. The Green Book was used during their journey…

Story: This is a beautiful story. It was written by Peter Farrelly, Brian Hayes Currie and Tony Vallelonga’s son, Nick… My thought is that Nick Vallelonga’s contribution is what gives this film such an authentic feel. It just feels so real.

And the detail and experiences with which the writers tell this story brings YOU into the story. I felt like I was there…

But most importantly, the growing relationship between two people from completely different worlds is revealed beautifully.

Performances: OK. Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen are brilliant in these roles. Both are accomplished actors, so, thoughtful performances are not a stretch. But the best part of this eventual culmination in bonding is the reverse expectation of service. A white man working for a black man in the 1960’s is fodder.

Both have already received numerous nominations for these roles and the wins have already begun. Expect more…

Visual: The current trend is movies from the 1960’s and 1970’s. The 1960‘s is real in this film.

Of note: Cars in those decades were rear wheel drive. A truly telling scene is as Don Shirley drives away from Tony’s home in a Cadillac Sedan de Ville, the car fish-tails through the snow. THAT is the 60’s and 70’s! That’s not something you see today, but, it was SOP then. Congratulations to Peter Farrelly for capturing that moment…

Rating: Gets an A. The contradiction of an unrefined white man in service to an educated, sophisticated black man is nothing short of exquisite. And to watch the same turn from employment to emotionally protective given Tony’s long standing biases is again exquisite. And this really happened…

See Green Book ASAP.