Green Book - A Symphony of Lies | Renegade Cut

Green Book is a white savior film. A racial reconciliation fantasy. It isn't the first, but the fact that it can win Best Picture in 2019 tells us something about our lack of progress. Support Renegade Cut Media through Patreon: / renegadecut
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[@renegadecut9875]

I've had a couple people claim that Viggo Mortensen should have been able to use the n-word in the "context" he was using it. Here's the thing. White people don't get to decide what is and is not the appropriate "context" for when they may use the n-word. Black people do. When Mortensen used the n-word, he offended black people (including his black co-star) not only because he used the slur but because he thought that he could choose the context in which he was "allowed" to use it. Context does matter, yes, but that doesn't mean a white man is the person who can make that determination. It's not their word. It doesn't belong to them. And I, a white person, am not making that determination either. Mahershela Ali and other black people did. White people cannot claim the n-word because it is not a word used against them. The constant cry of white people and gross comedians asking when they are allowed to use the n-word and searching for radical scenarios in which it might be acceptable betrays their real intentions. I am not fooled by your falsely fair-minded pleas about "context" and "freedom of speech" here, and the absolute fool who thought they would actually use the n-word in my comments section has been shadow banned. Comments have always been on Approved Only. I have to click Approve before anything is visible outside of your account. You can't slip a racial slur by me. Don't even reply. Don't even try. Thank you.

[@peterwestmer576]

Oh, it's more than a slur, it's a death threat. The n-word is a constant reminder that a person of color can be raped, robbed or killed without consequence.

[@lyricbot8513]

@@peterwestmer576 ^^^

[@Rabbittavo]

@@peterwestmer576 Yes!!!

[@Missstarpro16]

Oh my god! Thank you for saying this. I get tired of explaining this to people.

[@inkypunk]

I looked this interview up because I couldn't fathom what possible context he thought was appropriate. "People don't say [the n word] any more". THE LACK OF SELF AWARENESS, VIGGO.

[@joshuabell7761]

An article was released a few days after the ceremony revealing that some Academy members thought that Roma was actually the best but that they didn't want to give it to a Netflix film. How petty.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Netflix is competition, the reason movie theaters are losing ground. That directly endangers the livelihoods and careers of too many Academy voters.

[@aechols2398]

And here I was thinking it was just some form of classism

[@sunnybear178]

So not only snubbing a simple winner, but also awarding a movie among many black nominees that objectifies their oppression? Crazy

[@rotopope]

Seth Meyers’ sketch was so spot on. Glad it got referenced.

[@justinpipes85]

I was really glad to see it used in this video too.

[@hassankhan-jg1dx]

I thought it was great.

[@ilikeme1234]

Amber Ruffin, the actress, is such a great talent on his show. I believe she’s primarily a writer but she gets the spot from time to time and is always great!

[@rashb3994]

@@goblinb It was from Seth Meyers late night.

[@Lag22987]

6:47 "Media does not force us to do things, but it does inform our worldview" That's my quotable forever now thank you!

[@briankaslewicz6130]

This was the kind of stuff Jordan Peele was warning us about in Get Out. Like, if Logan (the man occupying Andre's body) wrote a screenplay around the question "What is the African-American experience like?" this would be that film.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Maybe that's who actually wrote it? And Jordan Peele is awesome!

[@artheaux666]

That’s on point

[@johnathonhaney8291]

@@marcusdavis5599 How about you ask him some time about that? I'm sure you'll get an enlightening answer.

[@magenreed3579]

This is a really spot on point. This is the type of movie that me ten years ago when I was trying to look as “woke” as possible would have loved.

[@andrewnovak1390]

YES! That is so true omg

[@thehopeofeden597]

Thought I was gonna sleep but hoo boy! Into this generation's version of Crash we go!

[@Yony42]

​@@jp.dlamini My. Fucking. Sides. I don't even disagree. I'm just dying here.

[@Distimmer]

Lol

[@armaan3410]

So real

[@lettucetomatoebacon]

Surely we can have films about black figures told by black people without a white star to frame it, can't we?

[@SpoopySquid]

But then how are we white people meant to completely white-wash systemic racism and prop up our fragile sense of privilege?

[@barcarolleenjoyer]

Hidden Figures? The movie's title alludes to the marginalization of African-Americans in history. Also, I think Blackkklansman and Malcolm X (both directed by Spike Lee) are biopics that fit your criteria.

[@katherinemorelle7115]

Well, you had one movie, what are you complaining about? /s Though I do appreciate Black Panther, one big movie just doesn’t cut it. But I do think that white people will probably get pissed off if they see a push for more- just look at the reaction to Jordan Peele stating he wasn’t looking to hire white male leads.

[@oof-rr5nf]

This is just so weird. Just two years ago Moonlight won! Why are they regressing...

[@johnathonhaney8291]

@@troyjardine5850 Answer: there were none, before, during or after. A bridge too far for studio heads...

[@amyfey3112]

When I heard that Mahershala Ali was a supporting actor I was stunned, because this is a story about a black man. Thank you for this video.

[@curiousworld7912]

As a relatively 'old person', these kinds of movies depress me with the observation that we haven't progressed nearly as far as we'd like to think.

[@Distimmer]

I'm 38. Seems old, online ;)

[@idrk3707]

@@Distimmer what

[@TheBiggestMoronYouKnow]

The internet has made racism instant and made small groups of racists organized groups of pale and violent virgins

[@MyssBlewm]

"Prestige schlock" is a popular genre that I wish wasn't so popular. If Leon coined this term, thank you. These kinds of films are so much more harmful than they are feel good films that they think they are. P.S. I loved that you used the Seth Meyers skit.

[@kansailai5462]

The other day I overheard somebody talking about this movie (an old white guy) and he actually said , "The black guy is actually more racist than the white guy because he doesn't know these black jazz musicians." It hurt to hear

[@funkymonks8333]

how tf did he get that out of the movie?

[@claytonvitor1687]

what the fuck man

[@TheDreamerExtreme]

Dragging Green Book needs to be a tradition

[@MyssBlewm]

Not enough people did when Crash won Best Picture, we must make sure not to do the same to Green Book.

[@oof-rr5nf]

One can hope.

[@Vercettislugger]

Hopefully it will stop the trend of these hollow shitty films from being produced, but it seems unlikely.

[@armaan3410]

Fax tho

[@helenl3193]

"knowing the difference between guilt and responsibility" 👏❤️ I'm borrowing that!

[@johnathonhaney8291]

It IS an important distinction.

[@helenl3193]

Exactly, it's one of those succinct explanations that I always wish I could come up with, but never can - especially in the moment.

[@tonydancer]

Again an on point critical analysis. You're one of the few video essayists who actually mentions systemic problems; structual violence, etc.. Keep up your work, regards from Germany.

[@JustCozItsMe]

I wouldnt say he is the only one, Lindsay Ellis and Hbomberguy for example, plenty more. But he is one of the ones that is willing to focus so heavily on the subjects and so very often.

[@aspiring...]

A movie about the real life of Don Shirley and the history surrounding the green book would have been infinitely more interesting than this weak film. Such a missed opportunity😔😔

[@Distimmer]

Right? I didn't know about the book till recently. Waaaaay more interesting.

[@selty]

Yes! Hes a fascinating man deserving of the lead

[@nlpnt]

Hell, 90 minutes of footage of that Cadillac being put through its' paces with no dialogue would've been more interesting.

[@LisaSimpsonRules]

Lovecraft County is a novel/ Netflix series which starts, specially the two first episodes, about the Green Books and sundown towns. There is an increasing amount of fantasy in the mini series, but you may consider checking it out.

[@demh7823]

It is important for Black filmmakers to tell the stories of Black people from behind the camera in addition to in front of it. When white filmmakers are in charge of telling stories ostensibly about black experiences, they intrinsically tell those stories from a white perspective, which usually involves a white actor as the star of the movie.

[@reasonablyskeptical]

ok you don't deck a cop and not get shot, they'd both be dead, i can't imagine that happening now or in the 50s and not ending in bloody streets

[@abigailgriffin2546]

The first and last good thing "Green Book" did was cast Arwen the Janitor from the "Suite Life of Zach and Cody." That's it. I will give them credit for nothing else.

[@justinpipes85]

How did we go from Moonlight winning Best Picture (even though the filmmakers were slighted by calling the wrong name) fairly recently to this garbage winning?

[@b.l.m2427]

I'm so disappointed in Mahershala Ali. I am trying to understand why he decided to act in this movie.

[@0Advocat0]

@@b.l.m2427 Because he's operating from within a system as much as everybody else.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

I heard it put like this years ago: "Who said that Oscar winners even had to be good?" It's movies like this which makes me distrust far too many movie critics. They tend to give top marks to tripe like Green Book, which only has a shelf life of five to ten years. Get Out will likely--and rightly--be more remembered for tackling racism more seriously.

[@SpoopySquid]

*side-eyes Roger Ebert*

[@johnathonhaney8291]

@@SpoopySquid And his old partner Gene Siskel. And too many others. It's like they're all in competition to find the next Citizen Kane, Godfather or whatever. It tends to encourage cultural blinders that make them not truly reevaluate these films long after the five to ten years noted above. And don't get me started on how so many miss the significance of genre works well after their heyday.

[@oof-rr5nf]

@@SpoopySquid I don't get it. What did Ebert do?

[@Lexivor]

The Academy voters aren't movie critics, though.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

@@Lexivor Be that as it may, ever notice the consensus between such voters and critics of a certain age? As Brie Larson rightly pointed out, a lot of those are white males. I don't believe in coincidence for a reason.

[@ciwa8286]

I love the inter-spliced scenes of Seth Meyers "White Savior" with this video, lol.

[@kellyl3728]

When this movie came out, I absolutely loved it and I was genuinely surprised when people were upset that it won, I scoffed at the notion of it being a white savior film. Watching your analysis makes me wonder why in the world I didn't recognize this before (especially the fried chicken scene, which honestly I had interpreted as a slight against the white character for being such a brute). So thanks for making this. Apparently people like me are part of the problem and we've got to stop backing these kinds of stories.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

You learned. That puts you ahead of quite a few folks I could name.

[@davidmccarthy4206]

Same here. Looks like I need to sharpen my critical spirit way more.

[@delandamorris9027]

If you are a reader I would like to suggest a book by Robin DiAngelo. It focuses on how social conditioning can blind someone to the existence of racist tendencies. Don't let the title detour you. It is called "White Fragility," and it is a current examination of how racism is involuntarily perpetuated and reinforced.

[@ariw9405]

I always say you don’t know what you don’t know so be proud that you have the ability to critically think because that is a rare commodity in this day and age

[@princekyle4132]

Rakesh K I still like Avatar. If you want to hate on a white savior movie, try 12 Years A Slave.

[@kellybeck4579]

Anybody else thinks this movie just looks ugly? The color correcting on it just looks wrong and phony, like a lifetime movie.

[@Distimmer]

The past is sepia-toned

[@cnking27]

I can't tell if it's the lighting or the makeup but Mortensen and Ali both look like wax sculptures of much older versions of themselves.

[@TheLizardhead]

What's your thought on Blindspotting - the interracial friendship movie written by real-life interracial friends and, in my opinion, did a better job at exploring systemic injustice in the US?

[@BleuCinefile]

TheLizardhead It’s better by comparison but it’s still a white saviour film that talks about racism from the perspective of a white person. Although it’s not a ‘symphony of lies’ Michael Oher (the real life man the film is based on) criticised the film for making him seem less intelligent in his characterisation - in real life his adoptive mother did not help him learn how to play American Football.

[@jjmaster322]

@@BleuCinefile lol you're thinking about The Blind Side

[@BleuCinefile]

CameraGuy322 Omigod I didn’t even clock 😂😂😂😂. I need to sleep more.

[@lacydoe]

sad thing to me is, a story about the green book would really be an amazing pic and tell how people really did work together in a time where blacks were afraid to travel..........but instead hollywood gave us this......

[@Renaye83]

Exactly

[@davidcrawford9026]

That's the point though, to make white audiences feel 'informed' and comforted while not really providing true information and keeping alive the false narrative that they've always been fed. Don't want people to get ideas about how to actually change things and face up to power

[@LittleMissLounge]

I watched this movie with my parents. I'm a Millennial and they're Boomers. The differences in how we viewed this movie were astronomical. They couldn't understand why I thought it was mediocre at best.

[@demh7823]

You should show them this video.

[@JoshFoxi]

Flight Of The Concord ended racism, again!

[@MrAspiringactor]

The Greatest Showman is the same way with disabled people 22:21 Same thing happened to me when I saw Bohemian Rhapsody

[@sarahnadespeaks5047]

I work as a cashier in an area that is mostly made up of white people. (I myself am one.) After the academy awards, I had an older white lady customer who told me that she thought that Green Book was better than Moonlight. It took all my restraint not to tell her how wrong she was because I was on the clock. As a film lover, I think that best picture should have gone to Roma or The Favourie. Both were objectively better films. What would you have liked to have seen win the top prize at the oscars?

[@KookiesNolly]

I've come across people who felt the same, and I think it's because Moonlight is a very "specific" story. You can tell it wasn't made to have a mass appeal, it's a personal story that relates to life experiences that many people, especially white people, don't have and when faced with things like that some people just have a hard empathizing with characters because they are too different and just "clam up" instead of opening themselves to better understand others. Also, Green Book was made to make people like her feel good about themselves so of course she loved it lmao. I freaking loved the Favourite, I wish it would've won. I haven't watched Roma yet 😬

[@chloecho2448]

I...would’ve needed a moment to step away if that happened to me because holy shit. 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@parkermccalip8386]

TBH I thought that Green Book was obvious Oscar bait without even seeing it. Just the premise alone got me thinking “oh Christ again?!”

[@christianfriisjensen2055]

Man, that Flight of the Conchords song fits perfectly over the credits.

[@kingofthegundam7974]

what can i say but YIKES. Didn't like the movie since it felt way too white savior-y, but your critical analysis just makes it even worse. You pretty great.

[@lux_24601]

I am a white female, and I am ashamed to say that I used to enjoy movies like Green Book, The Help, and The Blind Side. I saw them as feel good movies, but I have recently started to educate myself on the true messages of these films and how the people that are supposed to be the center of these stories actually feel about them. I can never fully understand the harmful impact of these narratives, but I will continually educate myself and support people that face racism.

[@phaedrus4931]

Excellent take on how the present still has to do some serious work to drag itself to the right side of history. I'd much rather a film confront me with the realities we still have to work on than to just pat me on the back on behalf of my flawed progenitors. Stagnation is death.

[@sufferedsage]

"anyway...MAGA" killed me

[@IamMissPronounced]

I find it funny that you included a short clip of "The Help", even if it's pretty white savior-y, only because that specific book got me thinking about how racism is systemic instead of individual. It made me realize "oh shit, this happens to a _lot_ of black people" and I guess the book made me feel the feels and evoked a ton of empathy for women of colour. The movie portrayal still managed to tug on my heartstrings, but it made me feel a little uncomfortable and I could never really explain why until now.

[@julissavillatoro5725]

Ugh, thank you for covering this topic. I can't believe THIS was the film that won best picture. Blakkklansman was so much better and more thought-provoking than this dreck. And then speaking of, I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt a bit bothered by the "not all cops" trope Spike Lee took in the film. It's still a much better film and more deserving than Green Book, but I like that you acknowledge it as well. A well done video essay all around.

[@yvyrose195]

I used to believe racism ended decades ago when I was a kid in elementary school. For a Hispanic person, I thought it was a good thing. That is, until I got older when I heard about police brutality and immigration problems that I realized I was blissfully ignorant.

[@jimbrown5091]

Movies like this anger me. These little morality plays obscure the reality that 1. The Jim Crow era wasn't that long ago and 2. Racism is alive and well.

[@Leafpool2]

A month or so ago when I was seeing Lego Movie I swear to god it took me a solid 30 minutes to get my ticket because an army of old white people showed up and every last one of them was going to a matinee showing of Green Book. Having seen the exact same scenario unfold (and having known white people lmao) I can buy that story.

[@thecinematicmind]

Imagine if Bohemian Rhapsody won. Thank goodness that didn’t happen. Then again why the Academy picked this over The Favourite and Roma is madness.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Because of Bryan Singer, I'm eternally grateful that never happened.

[@Shalalacls]

Roma probably would have won if it weren't for all the Netflix haters... Alas, as far as movies dragging famous musicians' names through the mud go, this was at least technically decent.

[@starkingbiker]

Yeah but Bohemian Rhapsody won 4 oscars...the most of that night. That alone is a joke in and on itself

[@eartianwerewolf]

Yeah bohemian rhapsody was just okay-ish. But winning Oscars LuL.

[@imgomes6425]

@@eartianwerewolf I'm with you on that. Rami Malek's performance is great, but the movie as a whole is just decent and absolutely has its faults.

[@rafaelalmada723]

These movies actually gave me a warped perception of racism. For a while I believed only these extreme cases were racist and wasn't aware of micro-aggressions. Also, these movies always have racist white men being overtly, associating racism with gender. Some people literally think "White men are racist" while ignoring the more subtle but also harmful racism by women. Most microaggressions I've gone through were by women, though at the time I would rationalise it by thinking, maybe it's because I'm a man and she's not comfortable and something like that. And acknowledging that may help to save lives (Just look at all the viral 911 calls).

[@tomboz777]

Driving Mr Ali is a more accurate title.

[@EmeraldMinnie]

The fact that First Reformed didn't get anything is also a hot garbage decision. Schrader lost for Taxi Driver and now he's lost with First Reformed which is his best film in over a decade at least. I can't with the Oscars anymore.

[@cianryan5955]

Asside from everything race related, which this film deserves a good kicking for, this won best original screenplay over The Favourite and First Reformed. Insert professor Farnsworth "I dont want to live on this planet anymore" meme, while i go to my special angry box to yell.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

My response to that meme: there is no Planet B. So you have to make this one better where you can.

[@yeeyee8416]

thank you! i really hate these white savior movies. it literally doesnt bring unity or destroys racism.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Just a comforting fairy tale that such folk tell themselves to pretend that the problem has been solved when, in fact, they stopped trying or never bothered to try.

[@anastasiageorge1279]

i know this is an old comment but it shows a lot about the non black people who love white savior movies

[@charliedawson6318]

Flight of the Concords: Unexpected but welcome.

[@EthanCyr]

I gotta just thank you man, you have continually put into words feelings I have failed to express, from Wes Anderson to Green Book. I really appreciate what you do, and I know you disabled comments on the Hereditary video, but that was very important for me. Thank you

[@thefollowingisatest4579]

Baldwin's critique of the Defiant Ones really hit me hard when I first read it, as someone who really enjoyed that movie when he first saw it and has a lot of respect for Kramer as a filmmaker (although the only female character in that film....wow Stanley, really?). Baldwin's critique of the ending is interesting in the context you pointed out, though, that being of "who is this film made for?" And at the time, it is unlikely it was made with most black people in mind. Given that, is Poitier not leaving Tony Curtis at the end of the movie potentially a different message to whites? "Black people can be trusted as honorable as you"? Especially given that Tony Curtis chooses to not leave Poitier to a potentially tragic fate a few moments before. It wouldn't really absolve the film of the critique at hand, and it's still not an especially deep or even non-problematic message, but it is something to think about when considering the (maybe) original intended audience.

[@ErinHeartpenny]

I was so confused when green book won. I haven't seen it, but my twitter feed blew up in outrage after the Oscars, and I know there were so many better films nominated. Now I know why, thank you for this essay.

[@catb6195]

something that helped me understand the caricature of a racist was me watching Mad Men. I haven't finished Mad Men, I've only seen the first maybe 5 episodes, so idk if it gets any better, but the way that sexism was shown tried to make it seem like sexism was a thing of the past, and it only showed over-the-top cartoonish versions of sexism. It kind if made me feel like the show was pretending to be bold, but it was so incredibly safe.

[@anastasiageorge1279]

mad men does address these things better over time & show a lot more

[@mechajay3358]

This is why I stopped watching the Oscars, they are all full of crap.

[@loganmansiongames]

The Academy Awards chose Shark Tale over The Polar Express & The SpongeBob Movie.

[@brendanmccabe8373]

Louie Man Gaming ok maybe the oscars are good

[@bluebutterfly5062]

How do they have a movie about a real black man that was a wealthy, gay, incredibly talented musician, and not make him the main character? 😒 him confronting his roots like how he did at the plantation, dealing with discrimination despite such a high status, and him growing by becoming friends with his driver is a WAY more interesting movie

[@alexramey2062]

As a white guy these videos are... helpful. Even if they're hard pills to swallow, it's important to understand and learn about these topics.

[@1997residente]

It's curious. I was impressed by "Captain Fantastic" 's themes and Cinematography but not by Viggo Mortensen. I was in impressed by Viggo Mortensen in "Green Book" but not by the themes nor the Cinematography.

[@jermainewalls5613]

I've been anxiously waiting for this one.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

@@camaradiop3731 Oh, we are not going to be a grammar Nazi about this, are we?

[@sarenakuhn5702]

when I saw this movie in theaters, the audience was also mostly older and white. when the main character called Iqbal Theba's character a "ch*nk," the audience erupted in laughter. made it extremely uncomfortable to sit through the rest of the movie

[@skullbearer]

This reminds me of when my University lecturer told us that the only reason 'To Kill a Mockingbird' was on school curriculum, was to make white people feel better. Hard Truth.

[@redcoatgaming4141]

Well as a whatever the fuck I am considered Mum is white my Dad is mixed race (Black and White) The film at least made me feel uncomfortable. Did not read the book in school as it was for the english literature students. (I did English Language)

[@MrMelkor98]

Currently I have a film seminar in university and we watched in a row: Avatar, Gran Tarino and then this shit. All of these films being pretty atrocious examples of white saviour stories. Our teachers wanted us to exclusively talk about how "nice" these films make us feel. I now spent like 3 lessons being the only one pointing out the various shortcomings of these movies and how all of them are just cringey attempts to tackle race of all things from a white perspective and my whole (of course exclusively white) course acts like I am a spoilsport for it.

[@ChuckBrowning]

I always wonder if any of these films have any appeal outside of the United States. I know a friend from mom's workplace who loved the film (I'm Puerto Rican, BTW) so I know that people ignorant of racism as institutional can accept its message, but otherwise I'm not sure.

[@danicajekic1595]

GodDAMN it I was just about to go to sleep. But thank you so much for calling out this movie on its bullshit! It was so funny, I didn't care about the movie at all (I was betting on the favourite or blackkklansman) so I was quite shocked when it started winning oscars. I left it alone for a while, but then a few weeks later, I decided to go watch the movie with my mom at our local theatre since we had the night off and free tickets. She's not a very critical person with movies. She genuinely enjoyed the emoji movie. Said she liked it more than Wreck it Ralph. When we walked out of the theatre, we just looked at each other for a minute, and she said two things 1. "how the FUCK did that win best picture?" 2. "why the FUCK wasn't Don Shirley the main character?" The movie isn't even good. It's just cute. It's ignorant and myopic, acting like Tony is some big hero for being friends with Don, and undermining Don's arc as a result. Also, Tony's lack of homophobia was absolutely comical to me. I've grown up surrounded by Italians. You cannot tell me that a racist Italian man is somehow magically okay with gay people. Edit: I can support your "outrageous" claim about the theatre being overpopulated by old white people. There weren't too many people the night I went to see the movie, but everyone was white and no one was under 60.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

I love your mom for those questions, even if I've no intention of EVER watching the Emoji Movie.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

@@camaradiop3731 Do me the small favor of citing your sources (pro tip: "Google it" is not a serious answer to that request). Anybody can say anything, yes?

[@HBarnill]

Like, you can make a film about race that shows the good and bad of a black man and a white man. That’s not an issue. Salvador Dali made one and it’s fantastic. This film was a lie and should have not been made. You want a good movie from Farrelly? Go watch Dumb and Dumber. Has more depth and humor.

[@Murdock_the_Pooch]

Would you mind providing the name of that Salvador Dali flick you mentioned?

[@Jennithebaker]

White person story: On This Day on Facebook and it reminded me that on this day six years ago, those three kidnapped girls were rescued. A customer told me "You know, I'm glad a black man saved them. It really makes them look good and boost their culture." I had no idea what to say or how to react since I was at work, so I said something like it was great they escaped and then asked if they needed help taking their catering order to their car. * facepalm * I didn't yet have the balls to call her out on it.

[@MJFAN666]

I am so glad you inserted Seth Meyer sketch here.. That's all I could think of at the beginning...

[@antonioalbul00]

Thank you so much for making this video as a person who lives in a pretty homogeneous country and only seen black people on TV your video makes me understand how complicated/systemic the issue actually is

[@saralindower6854]

I recently watched Green Book in a college class and I loved it. I then rewatched it with my parents, who also loved it... I wanted to learn more about the film's production and ended up going down the rabbit hole of critiques and problems with it that went over my head at first. I love how in-depth this video you made was, it's been really informative to learn about. Thank you for your effort in making this content!

[@7DaltonDoms7]

Phenomenal critique. The demographic stats, release timing, and your scouring of the specific reassurances this film peddles to the white suburbian audience are more than enough reasons to support your argument and damn the film. Not to mention the sources you're pulling from. This is a banger.

[@titusbramble7403]

Tbh I think all the issues with the film can be forgiven for the ingenious line “I can’t go eating twenty seven hot dogs every day”

[@JamaicaSugar]

Liked this 20 seconds in. Horrible disgrace of a so called true story of a fantastic musician. An embarrassment.

[@berkleypearl2363]

Movies like this make me wish that Cultural Anthropology classes were mandatory in American schools

[@ilikeme1234]

I just want to mention how awesome using that Seth Meyers clip was. Amber Ruffin, the actress and I likely head writer for that skit, is such a great talent! I’d love to see her in way more stuff, not just comedic.

[@jorgeortizmaya9064]

I watched it for Vigo, I wanted to see his transformation from a long-haired horse rider to a fatty, greasy Italian stereotype. I was not disappointed.

[@Antonio_Ortiz]

Excellent use of the Seth Meyers "White Savior" skit to introduce your talking points. Each were hilariously (and sadly) pitch perfect. And yeah, while I could enjoy the movie as a light buddy comedy, the movie deals with the racism implications in possibly the softest, most hands-off way possible.

[@bravetraveler768]

As a choco-american I have to thank you for this analysis bro. Another spot on video essay. shared.

[@eartianwerewolf]

As a chalky-American , I agree with you.

[@FaeQueenCory]

I can't wait for Bright 2 to win Best Picture. That'll be greeeeeeeeaaaaaaaat................

[@AJ-cq5pw]

I mean the cover of the film had a white man in the front and the black man, a man the movie is supposedly about, in the back. That cover tells the story already

[@BdR76]

12:39 "For some reason, earning your respect is something I'm interested in" 🤣 so funny

[@MeBeCreepy]

I noticed a lot of white old people too when I saw Hidden Figures

[@magenreed3579]

When this movie won best picture I had that thought of “I am not surprised a group largely made up of white men would feel this way about it”

[@ShishkinaOlga]

Your point is great and I just want to add a little pazzle piece to the picture. I live in Russia and racism is really everywhere. It might be very outdated look on racism, but not for my country. And I consider it a big win that I can see movies like this on the big screen. It's a long way that is ahead of us

[@AleBanjo]

Was it a matinée screening when you went to go see Green Book? that would explain why there was a lot of old people at the cinema.

[@nebularobo8148]

Thank you dude. Great video again. And that one is, partially for personal reasons, one of my favorites in this channel.

[@debbee1145]

I first learned of the actual "Green Book" reading the novel "Home" by Toni Morrison. I admit my knowledge of American History is full of holes. If someone adapted "Home" for cinema, it would be a far superior film to this one.

[@sakuradeva555]

Excellent video as usual and as a side note I love that Seth Meyers skit it is absolutely on the money.

[@charlieni645]

I think it's quite curious and telling why the movie chose Green Book as its title even though it feels very tangential to the story. It is a relic of the segregation, which signifies the institutionalized racism during that era. It seems the filmmakers chose it as a shorthand for letting the audiences know that they acknowledge racism as a systematic issue, and as a mean to convince audiences that what is being tackled in the movie is actually more complicated than a white savior story. I would say it is a bait and switch if that's the case. Otherwise it is just another way to say "look at how far we have come!!", which is even worse. That Seth Meyers skit is phenomenal. Thank you for this analysis. I was distracted by the great performances and music of the movie to walk out of the cinema feeling entertained. Then I did some research into the backstory of the film and felt repulsed by what it actually is.

[@avaphynx]

They just came out with another white savior movie.

[@knightstormbringer]

@Renegade Cut Do you think American History X is also a racial reconciliation fantasy?

[@oftinuvielskin9020]

Feel like it's kind of different in that it isn't really movie that tries to present itself as being about racism itself or white - non-white relations? It's more an attempt at a cautionary tale, wholly focusing on nazi radicalization and deradicalization. The white protagonist isn't a white saviour or even a "racist, but not as racist as that guy over there" - he is the racist caricature. And I can't remember non-white characters having much of a presence at all. But it's been a while since I watched it now so... How do you figure it would be a reconciliation fantasy?

[@knightstormbringer]

​@@oftinuvielskin9020 I don't really know if it is, I just wanted Leon's informal opinion on it, but looks like Patreon's the only way he will ever give his opinion. That's fine too. If I had to argue, I'd say that it checks some of the boxes of being a racial reconciliation fantasy, as highlighted by Leon here, for instance, centering around a white protagonist, meets a black friend in prison who changes his mind and becomes less racist by the end of the film. But that doesn't make it a racial reconciliation fantasy and in fact, I agree with your take on it.

[@renegadecut9875]

@@knightstormbringer Patreon requests have been closed since last year. I don't take requests anymore, paid or otherwise. I don't have an opinion on American History X because I haven't seen it in over twenty years.

[@knightstormbringer]

@@renegadecut9875 Thanks for clarifying.

[@katherinemorelle7115]

Great video! I also recommend For Harriet’s take on Green Book- it’s important to listen to the voices of black people when talking about racism. And she’s wonderful, and has many pretty great takes.

[@shespawntwin1]

Where are the comedy clips from? Like the clip, 10:04 - " Whites only... and Loretta". I really want to watch it. It looks informative.

[@emmathestonedspider8676]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipC1haGrf9uabLc

[@ProfVRandall]

One of the problems with films is that none of them get at the problem that most racial discrimination in the United States is legal.

[@gretchenbaker7435]

I would have liked to see the movie about the Dr not his driver, what did the guy do after driving an amazing man around a bit.

[@xandermagne2141]

I clicked immediately because “Symphony of Lies” is strong

[@1997residente]

In other words,just watch "Mississippi Burning".

[@RX552VBK]

Great analyst. I knew where they was going with the story way before I saw it. The "White Savior" film is systemic in Hollywood in particular modern hollywood, it is constant or just underneath the surface of many movies. Im really enjoying your site. Thank you!

[@haleybeldin9247]

My dumb ass took nearly a full minute to realize you were talking about Green BOOK and not Green ROOM.

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

What's that movie used during the transitions? The tiny parts are really great.

[@renegadecut9875]

It's a skit from Late Night with Seth Meyers.

[@scarlettdamante4945]

Ngl I 100% clicked expecting an anlysis about Gadafi's book.

[@Raw774]

“Greasy alacrity” might be the best description I’ve ever read.

[@thomascrownrg]

This may be one of the most honest, forthright and Adult critiques I've encountered concerning....Anything, let alone the this topic. Personally, I'm an idiot and far from the sharpest pencil in the pack. even I know that denying the existence of problems has never and will never solve said problems. Each day brings us to a line in the sand. Whether it's a thought, an action or inaction...we consciously decide to cross or stand our ground. You are proof that the "Ground-Standers" are gaining just that...Ground. We are all responsible for the choices and progress we make. As surely as the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, we and we alone will atone for all that we Know we have done or failed to do. There's truth in the phrase "tell a lie so long that you believe it" however, the truth Will eventually knock you on your ass! Respectfully and realistically presented. Well done

[@OmoyeUduehi]

Green book = Song of the South.