The film hailed as the most controversial Oscars Best Picture winner in recent memory has just landed on BBC iPlayer, offering UK viewers a chance to judge it for themselves.
Originally released in 2018, Green Book is a biographical drama that triumphed at the Academy Awards, securing the top prize alongside Best Original Screenplay and a Best Supporting Actor win for Mahershala Ali. Despite its critical and commercial success, grossing $321 million worldwide, the film has been a lightning rod for debate.
Acclaim and Accolades
Directed by Peter Farrelly, the movie is inspired by the true story of a 1962 tour of the Deep South. It follows African American pianist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) and his Italian American driver and bodyguard, Frank 'Tony Lip' Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen).
Set against the backdrop of Jim Crow America, the film's title comes from 'The Negro Motorist Green-book', a real guidebook published by Victor H. Green in the 1930s to help African Americans navigate the profoundly racist region.
Upon its release, many critics praised it. IndieWire called it a "touching and meaningful look at race and class in America", while The Los Angeles Times described it as a "savvy and super effective piece of popular entertainment." Ali's performance was particularly celebrated, earning him a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a SAG Award to accompany his Oscar.
A Symphony of Criticism
However, the film's victory was far from universally applauded. A significant portion of the backlash centred on its portrayal of Don Shirley and its handling of racial themes.
Shirley's family publicly denounced the film, labelling it a "symphony of lies". They specifically contested its suggestions that the musician was estranged from his family and that he viewed Tony Lip as an employee rather than a close friend.
Other criticisms included accusations that the film presented a 'white saviour' narrative, overly focused on Vallelonga's perspective, and that it oversimplified complex racial issues. The controversy was further fuelled when Viggo Mortensen used a racial slur during a promotional interview.
Reports from the 91st Academy Awards ceremony claimed that director Spike Lee was "visibly angry" upon Green Book's win and attempted to leave the Dolby Theatre. Some attendees said he turned his back to the stage during the acceptance speech.
The Stars Respond
In the years following the release, both lead actors addressed the furore. Mortensen later told The Independent that much of the criticism was "unreasonable... inaccurate, mendacious, and irresponsible."
Mahershala Ali, while expressing respect for Dr. Shirley and his family, indicated a desire to "move on" from the controversy, focusing on his responsibility to his craft and his future projects.
Now available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer, Green Book remains a compelling, if divisive, piece of modern cinema—a film that achieved the highest honour in its industry while sparking a conversation about who gets to tell whose story, and how.
