Green Book

Tony Lip, a hard drinking bouncer from New York, is hired to drive a world class pianist on a concert tour through the Deep South in 1962. Don Shirley, refined and fiercely private, expects a routine string of venues and quiet respect, while Lip provides blunt humor and streetwise practicality. They rely on the Negro Motorist Green Book to find safe lodgings and services in a country still split by segregation. On the road the two clash over manners, race and class, but their mismatched partnership slowly yields trust, moments of vulnerability, and an unlikely friendship that tests both men’s assumptions. The dynamic plays as a comedy of mismatched manners and growing trust.

Directed by Peter Farrelly, Green Book draws on a real life road trip and the people involved. Screenplay by Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie and Farrelly, with the story inspired by Vallelonga's father and Don Shirley and a focus on growth.

It grossed about 321 million worldwide, becoming a box office success and a surprise hit that drew broad audiences while sparking conversations about its themes and the era it depicts in the process for historians, students, and casual viewers alike.

At the 91st Academy Awards, Green Book nabbed three top honors and earned multiple nominations. It won Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Mahershala Ali took home the Best Supporting Actor trophy, cementing the film as a notable awards beacon of that season. It marked a bold if controversial moment.

Green Book sparked debate about representation and storytelling in cinema. Some praised the performances and warmth of the bond, while others questioned the portrayal of Don Shirley and the white driver frame. The film also revived attention to the historical Green Book. Its reception varied by audience yet lingered strongly.