Key Takeaways:
– Revisiting the controversial Best Picture Oscar win of ‘Green Book’ in 2019.
– The controversy surrounding the win due to perceived racist undertones and backlash.
– Despite criticism, ‘Green Book’ enjoys enduring popularity among audiences with high IMDb and CinemaScore ratings.
– Comparison with ‘Crash’, considered as the worst Best Picture winner by some critics.
Hey, have you ever thought about the big winners at the Oscars? If you look back for the past 25 years, there will certainly be some standouts. Movies like ‘No Country For Old Men,’ ‘The Departed,’ ‘Gladiator,’ ’12 Years A Slave,’ and ‘Birdman,’ to name a few, really earned their top spots.
Let’s dive back into 2019, when the film ‘Green Book’ won Best Picture. It caused quite a stir, and not everyone was thrilled. To put it mildly, it led to a severe backlash among critics and racial justice groups. Some people believed that cheering for this movie was a sign of racism. A significant figure like the president of the NAACP echoed this sentiment.
Viggo Mortensen, one of the lead actors in ‘Green Book,’ defended the film against charges of racism, saying such accusations were “unfair” and “dangerous”. He invoked vivid memories of how chaotic the winter 2019 was for the film world.
Film director and producer, Spike Lee, was similarly critical. He labeled the film a “white savior” and “magical negro” film. When the film scooped its Best Picture award, beating Lee’s ‘BlackKlansman’, his dissatisfaction was plain to see as he turned his back in protest.
But not everyone thought ‘Green Book’ was all that bad. Many people, even critics, found it enjoyable especially for its two outstanding lead performances, with Mortensen and Mahershala Ali at the helm. With its light humor and amiable partner dynamic, it evoked a sense of nostalgia for old-school buddy comedies, a genre seldom explored these days.
Oscar-nominated ‘Green Book’ found an ardent fan in Steven Spielberg. The famed filmmaker even compared his love for the movie to that for ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’, a renowned buddy comedy.
The controversy surrounding ‘Green Book’ on winning the Best Picture award was extensive. Media criticism of the film was indeed fierce, with the L.A. Times publishing an article titled: “‘Green Book’ is the worst best picture winner since ‘Crash.'”
Yet, in spite of all the criticism, ‘Green Book’ has managed to secure a solid place amongst audiences. Evidenced by an 8.2 IMDb rating and an A+ CinemaScore, it is clear that the film has endeared itself to regular moviegoers, standing tall despite criticism.
Bringing us to a crucial point of discussion: not all critical opinions should dictate audience reception. There comes a time when audiences form their own judgments, often differing considerably from the critiques. ‘Green Book’, with its humorous undertone and engaging storyline, certainly won over a mass of viewers, irrelevant of the controversy.
Movies are created to tell stories. Each has distinct perspectives and interpretations. It’s essential to remember that one person’s takeaway might not match another’s. This narrative variance is possibly one of the most exciting aspects of storytelling. So, while ‘Green Book’ remains controversial in the sphere of critics, it has proven itself a resounding success with general audiences, retaining its ‘shelf life’ seven years later.
In the end, we must understand that no movie is without its flaws. It’s about finding the elements you connect with and appreciate. That’s what makes each movie-going experience unique and worthwhile. And it certainly seems ‘Green Book’ found a way to pull that off, even amid a storm of controversy.
