In 2018, several films addressing race and culture made significant impacts, featuring strong Oscar contenders such as BlacKkKlansman and Black Panther. While these films challenged traditional narratives and offered fresh perspectives, the Academy’s Best Picture went to Green Book, a period dramedy directed by Peter Farrelly. Released in 2018, Green Book tells the story of an unlikely friendship set in 1962 American South, but its approach to race and prejudice has drawn substantial critique. Despite the film’s shortcomings, Mahershala Ali‘s Green Book performance stood out as a highlight recognized with the Best Supporting Actor award.
Green Book and Its Old-School Hollywood Storytelling Style
Green Book is based on the real-life experiences of Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga (played by Viggo Mortensen), a Bronx bouncer who becomes driver for concert pianist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) during an eight-week tour across racially segregated areas of Middle America and the Deep South. The title refers to a guide known as The Negro Motorist Green Book, a resource African Americans used to navigate segregated spaces safely during Jim Crow-era America.
The movie follows a familiar Hollywood formula: two racially different men initially clash but gradually form a bond through shared challenges. This narrative mirrors past films like The Defiant Ones and more recent ones such as The Upside, often treating racial issues cautiously and without deeper complexity. Mortensen’s portrayal of Tony Lip leans into an exaggerated, sometimes comedic intensity, which undermines the dramatic potential of the story and diminishes its gravitas.
The film misses an opportunity to explore more deeply the realities behind the Green Book itself—how such a guide was compiled and what it meant for African Americans during that era. Instead, Green Book opts for a safer, less challenging tale focused on personal growth and overcoming racial barriers through friendship, a choice that disappointed critics and audiences seeking more nuanced social commentary. Director Spike Lee expressed frustration with the film’s conventional portrayal of race relations, and members of Don Shirley’s family disputed the accuracy of the friendship depicted, despite audio proof confirming its basis in reality.
Mahershala Ali’s Performance: The Film’s True Strength
Against the backdrop of Green Book’s contested framework, Mahershala Ali delivers what is widely seen as an extraordinary performance. As Don Shirley, Ali commands the screen with a dignified presence, balancing the pianist’s refined exterior with glimpses of emotional vulnerability and suppressed inner conflict, including the realities of Shirley’s identity and desire for acceptance. Ali injects depth and humanity into a character that, in less experienced hands, might seem one-dimensional.
Ali’s Green Book performance has drawn comparisons to Denzel Washington’s portrayal in The Hurricane, where both actors elevate standard biopic material into deeply affecting character studies. Like Washington’s performance, Ali’s work leaves a lasting impression, standing apart from the film‘s simpler narrative and helping to preserve its place in cinematic discussions. While Green Book remains a source of debate among film enthusiasts, Ali’s acting remains its most praised and memorable element.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Mahershala Ali quit?
A. Mahershala Ali is still part of the MCU’s Blade movie and has not exited the project.
Q. Can Mahershala Ali actually play piano?
A. The first person is Don Shirley, a well-known musician during the 1950s and 60s, performing live and on records. Mahershala Ali is the second; he acts as Shirley in a movie but doesn’t actually play piano. The third is Kris Bowers, who plays all the piano music for Ali in the film.
Q. Can Mahershala Ali really play the piano?
A. The second person is actor Mahershala Ali, who acts as Shirley in the movie, but he doesn’t play the piano himself. Kris Bowers is the third individual. He performs all the piano parts for Ali’s character in the movie. Bowers expertly mimicked the music of Don Shirley, showcasing his talent in both jazz and classical styles.
