GREEN BOOK Press Conference | TIFF 2018

It's a premise for dystopian fiction, but the actual setting is 1962 America. A celebrated New York musician must hire an assistant to drive him on a concert tour through the Southern states because he is unable to travel safely on his own. The musician is Black. His driver is white. Their story is true.
Fresh from his Academy Award win for Moonlight, Mahershala Ali plays the inimitable Don Shirley. Born into a Jamaican immigrant family, Shirley absorbed a wealth of musical influences to create his own genre, blending jazz, spirituals, and European classical music. He carries himself like a prince, garbed in sharp suits or West African robes, speaking perfect, literary English. He's not built for the brutal bigotry of his time, so he hires Tony "Lip" Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen), his exact opposite. An Italian-American raised in the streets and bars of New York, Tony uses his loud mouth to get his way. If that doesn't work, he uses his fists. As this mismatched pair sets out on their journey, the Negro Motorist Green Book guides them to safe hotels and restaurants in the segregated South, but they'll need more than a book to understand each other.
Ali and Mortensen are terrific in their roles. Having played everything from a Tolkien hero to a Russian gangster, Mortensen once again proves his brilliance at transformation. And Ali embodies both Shirley's outward grace and the pain it masks. Green Book was directed and co-written by Peter Farrelly, known with his brother Bobby for outrageous comedies such as There's Something About Mary. That's surprising only if you were immune to the genuine emotion that's always been at the heart of their films. Here, expressed in dramatic form, Farrelly's Green Book is powerfully moving.
Programme sponsored by Fairmont
Director
Peter Farrelly
Peter Farrelly was born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. He has directed numerous features including Dumb and Dumber (94), There's Something About Mary (98), Me, Myself and Irene (00), Shallow Hal (01), The Heartbreak Kid (07), Hall Pass(11), and Dumb and Dumber To (14). Green Book (18) is his latest feature film.
www.tiff.net/tiff/green-book/

[@TGATP]

This is the best movie of the year so far. Viggo and Mahershala are both Oscar worthy! And the screenplay is a definite lock, which is so wonderful for Tony Lip's son the writer Nick Vallelonga. I saw this last night and already want to see it again. Viggo totally disappeared into the role of Tony Lip. And thank you to Mahershala for articulating the frustrations that so many of us, as Black Americans, STILL experience in not being able to be who we wanted to be due to racism, even today.

[@kaffekaffekaffe5225]

Viggo is so talented...Wish him everything good. This man is a precious human being. And Viggo should have had at least 2 previous Oscars. History of violence, and lord of the rings....or at least for Captain Fantastic 😤

[@jayceewriter7826]

Voter here, you can bet the ranch this is a LOCK for nomination screenplay no doubt. Acting phenomenal, adore this film. Viggo always does it for me and Mahershala is pure gold

[@janetalvarado6557]

My opinion exactly.

[@stevekrause5931]

Loved this movie and the actors. Also, this interviewer is very good.

[@b991228]

The jazz fans of Milwaukee starting in the 70’s learned about the very unique Don Shirley by the late Ron Cuzner, an all night D.J., who was such a fan that he closed his show every night with “Trilogy” a piece by the artist. What a gem.

[@swellinger213]

Viggo for an Oscar... finally - vote vote vote

[@BigZ7337]

This was such an interesting panel, now I'm really looking forward to the movie. Alicia was a great host, and I could listen to Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen talk for hours.

[@claudiavaschetti9848]

I'm waiting for the release in Argentiina, for me I saw the trailer I loved the performance of Viggo, what to say about his evolution from witness to now, I hope Hollywood remembers him this time since he should have won in Fantastico, Viggo besides of Actor, he is Singer, Musician, Poet, Photographer and polyglot, for me an Angel on earth can only be said THANK YOU FOR EXISTING

[@lorrainebonk9697]

I am looking forward as well to seeing this movie. Intriguing story, wonderful cast

[@elenalatici9568]

Like the film, this panel was a gift.

[@rozembergbarbosa8661]

reminded me when Mahershala character makes the character of Viggo come back to get the garbage left on the road 💖 Memories of Nina Simone very cool 😘💞💕❤️

[@MMRP2141]

Amazing!!!

[@artisfine]

Great film, great content and a real classic also for future generations. Love it.

[@LeahsWALKABOUT]

I have not seen the film yet, but this 'Press Conference' is very rich and cosmic. Leah Tunkara

[@rodjohnson2534]

Linda is such a beautiful actor!

[@ePacksBagsLuggage]

This is a really good movie, I actually signed up to Amazon Prime, just to watch this movie. 🙈

[@pr0gressd]

What a crew

[@hayabusa5930]

Whens he drop it?

[@OUTBOUND184]

Perpetuating the consciousness of oppression and thus heightening tension, further dividing.