Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 15 November 2018
'Green Book' is sure to put a smile on your face

By LINDSEY BAHR heart-wrenching in "Moon-
Associated Press light," puts his own stamp
If there is a big studio on a character who feels
movie that's more gener- alienated from his own race
ally crowd-pleasing than and those he's performing
"Green Book " this season, for. Although a consider-
I have yet to find it. In this ably more staid role than
landscape of challenging, Tony, Ali also manages to
provocative, edgy films, have his own fun with Dr.
Viggo Mortensen, Maher- Shirley's seemingly incur-
shala Ali and, of all people, able snobbery, wincing at
director Peter Farrelly have Tony's lack of decorum, or
come along with a movie care.
about friendship that goes In fact, this film allows ev-
down so easy that it's al- eryone to play against
most suspect, as though it their Hollywood-prescribed
were flung out of 1996 and "type," from the actors to
gifted to our weary 2018 the director, who is perhaps
brains. the most surprising revela-
Based on a true story, tion of them all.
"Green Book" recounts The Farrelly name conjures
a 1962 road trip when a This image released by Universal Pictures shows Mahershala Ali in a scene from "Green Book." up a very specific kind of
Bronx bred Italian-Amer- Associated Press movie: The big, bawdy
ican Frank Anthony Val- comedy that he and his
lelonga, also known as wife (Linda Cardellini), two spite the prejudices. ing extra pounds and an brother made their own
Tony Lip (Mortensen), was sons, a limited vocabulary, The constructs will feel fa- astute comedic sensibility. and, later, failed to keep
hired to drive a renowned institutional racism, but a miliar and well-worn and He knows just how far to fresh. If anything, the charm
black pianist, Dr. Don Shir- generally good heart. Dr. surprises are few on this push his caricature without and success of "Green
ley (Ali), to all of his concert Shirley is a wealthy, erudite journey toward accep- making it cartoonish. When Book" makes a heck of a
engagements across the dandy, a master of his art, tance and friendship, but Dr. Shirley says to make sure case for giving directors
Deep South. a snob and a loner. He also the pleasure of this film is that there's a Steinway pia- more room to work outside
The two men are obviously knows he needs reliable in the larger than life char- no at every concert venue, of the genres or styles that
mismatched — what would protection on this journey acters created by the Tony scribbles down "STAIN- they became famous for.
anyone have to learn if to a segregated south, asks two leads and their per- WAY" on a sheet of paper. There is certainly a more se-
they weren't? Tony is a around and finds this Co- fectly askew chemistry. His doltishness is endearing, rious story to be told out of
working-class bruiser and pacabana bouncer Tony Mortensen is almost unrec- not annoying. this road trip, and about Dr.
world class eater with a Lip is the one for the job de- ognizable as Tony, pack- And Ali, so memorable and Shirley's extraordinarylife. q

'Black Velvet' is Charles Bradley's

last, moving set

tone Records)
Charles Bradley was past
60 when he released his
first album with the ex-
tended Daptone Records
family, and his death
from cancer a year ago
robbed soul music of one
of its most expressive and
exuberant singers and
performers.
"Black Velvet" collects 10
songs recorded mostly
during sessions for his three
solo albums, its title com-
ing from Bradley's nick-
name when fronting a
James Brown cover band.
It's also an instrumental
tune written by producer
Thomas Brenneck and his
Menahan Street Band,
and the only track on the
This cover image released by Dunham/Daptone Records eponymous release not to
shows "Black Velvet," a release by Charles Bradley.
Associated Press feature Bradley, who was
too weak by then to add
By PABLO GORONDI Charles Bradley, "Black vocals. Instead, it's now a
Associated Press Velvet" (Dunham/Dap- poignant tribute.q