Oscars 2019: Green Book wins Best Picture

[sandensea]

Source: Pitchfork

At the 2019 Academy Awards tonight, 'Green Book' picked up the Oscar for Best Picture.

The film won over Bradley Cooper's 'A Star Is Born' (starring Lady Gaga), Spike Lee's 'BlacKkKlansman', the Queen biopic 'Bohemian Rhapsody', Marvel's 'Black Panther', 'Vice', 'ROMA', and 'The Favourite'.

Earlier this year, Green Book won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy.

Directed by Peter Farrelly, Green Book is about Dr. Don Shirley (portrayed by Mahershala Ali), a pianist who recruits Tony 'Lip' Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen) as his driver and security for a 1962 tour in the South.

Ali also took home the award for Best Supporting Actor; this marks his second Academy Award following 2017's 'Moonlight' win.


Read more: https://pitchfork.com/news/oscars-2019-green-book-wins-best-picture/

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[brandnewday2009]

1. Pretentious drivel

Blackklaansman deserved the Oscar.

[Salviati]

5. The winning tweet about this:

Link to tweet

Really messed up that Spike Lee lost to Driving Miss Daisy a second time three decades later
Lindsay Ellis
@thelindsayellis

[dalton99a]

11. +1

[SunSeeker]

51. Green Book was nothing like Driving Miss Daisy. I saw both. Green Book deserved the Oscar. nt

[yardwork]

19. I completely agree. Once again white Hollywood picks the complacent route.

[Honeycombe8]

23. I saw Blackklaansman.

It was really good. Excellent picture. But not a "best picture" winner, IMO.

I didn't see The Green Book, so can't say if that was the right choice. But instead of criticizing, maybe a nod to their community for voting for so many people of color as winners. The winners of the night were people of color, mainly Af. Americans. I doubt so many have won in prior years. And the winner of Best Picture was also a racism-issue movie. And winner of Best Supporting Actor from the same movie. And Best Original Screenplay for the same movie. Apparently The Green Book is a pretty good movie in the opinion of many.

[ananda]

27. Agree about BKKK

I really liked Green Book better, though
I did think that BKKK was good, especially
for the history.

[question everything]

2. Saw it and liked it

Yes, some cliches about characters but they were believable.

And could not help wonder whether the bigoted racists of the south are now the deplorables. They would love Trump.

[yardwork]

20. Have you seen Blackkklansman? Awesome film.

[redstateblues]

3. Green Book was a well deserved winner.

BlackkKlansman was good though I was disappointed that the part of the of the story about the bomb at the end was not true though it made for a good movie

[frazzled]

4. The NYT critics who were live blogging

were totally ragging on that win (especially the two of the three who are black). They were also incensed that they dragged John Lewis up to try to give some cred to the picture when it was introduced. They even were pissed that Richard E. Grant didn’t win for Best Supporting Actor (no offense to Mahershala). They kept worrying the whole time that Green Book would win best picture. It was kind of funny. (Best line: “ Congratulations to Driving Miss Daisy for being the first film to win Best Picture Oscar twice!”)

Green Book was one of the few films I hadn’t seen, and I probably won’t be rushing to do so anytime soon.

[3Hotdogs]

22. It ain't bad. Its worth Netflix or discount movie night. Not full price, though.

[MaryMagdaline]

52. Saw Richard Grant. He and Melisss McCarthy had zero comedic chemistry.

Zero. I don’t know what happened on set but a very good script came out absolutely flat. Mahershala was believable in the role of Dr. Shirley. I thought Blsckkklsndman’s Adam Driver was best.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

6. Oh, good.

I don't watch the Oscars (no TV, although I suppose I might have found a site streaming it) because I have zero patience of the pretentiousness of the whole enterprise.

BlacKkKlansman was also good, and would have also made a great winner. To be honest, those were the only two of the nominated movies I saw.

[AlexSFCA]

7. never heard of it

I was rooting for bohemian rhapsody, at least Rami got the oscar.

[MattP]

8. Beale Street was better than all the nominated pics

[YOHABLO]

9. I'm really at the point where they should just give an Oscar to the top 5 movies. Why single one out

[trackfan]

10. It's the only one of the eight I haven't seen yet.

Of the ones I saw, BlacKkKlansman was my favorite.

[LovingA2andMI]

12. Disgusting....

Maybe someone should have asked Don Shirley's family how they felt about this. Oh, wait....never mind, here you go....

“Green Book” has been most often compared not to “Crash” but to an older, more genteel best picture winner, 1989’s “Driving Miss Daisy,” another movie that attempted to bridge the racial divide through the story of a driver and his employer in the American South. “Driving Miss Daisy” was adapted from Alfred Uhry’s play; “Green Book” was co-written by Nick Vallelonga (with Brian Currie and Farrelly), drawn from the stories he heard from his father, Tony. The truth of those stories has been called into question by many, including Shirley’s family, which wasn’t consulted during production and which dismissed the movie as “a symphony of lies.”

Historical accuracy is, of course, just one criterion by which to judge a narrative drawn from real events, and a movie could theoretically play fast and loose with the facts and still arrive at a place of compelling emotional truth. Distortions and omissions can be interesting in what they reveal about a filmmaker’s intentions, and “Green Book,” whether you like it or not, does not have a particularly high regard for your intelligence. In its one-sided presentation and its presumptuous filtering of Shirley’s perspective through Vallelonga’s, the movie reeks of bad faith and cluelessly embodies the white-supremacist attitudes it’s ostensibly decrying."

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-oscars-green-book-worst-best-picture-winner-20190224-story.html

Waiting on the day when Caucasians stop being "Black Folks" so-called savior, so-called films stop getting so-called "Best Picture" awards. Signed - Black America....Everywhere.

[happy feet]

33. [phone]

Yet again a civil rights movie with a white 'hero' and blacks seen through the lense of a white character. My mother, when asked what she thought about the movie, said "I was disappointed. I thought it was about the Green Book and Shirley. I remember hearing about Shirley, but they had nothing in the movie about the Green Book itself...how it came about, who used, aside from the one scene with the 'black' hotel and dysfunctional guests --- the reality is that many black people opened their private homes to singers, movie stars, politicians, etc. and served them home cooked meals as 'guests'. I was really disappointed having lived through some of that time. The movie wasn't worthy of the name - The Green Book."

[LovingA2andMI]

39. No It Was Not Worthy of the Name....

Or ever being made into a movie. Agree with you Mom.....

[still_one]

13. I will not see the Green Book, nor any movie with Mortensen or Sarandon

Last edited Mon Feb 25, 2019, 08:06 AM - Edit history (1)

It has other issues associated with it also:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211861414

[MicaelS]

34. Sarandon I get. What the problem with Mortensen? n/t

[still_one]

35. He voted for Jill Stein, but it isn't because of that. It is because both him and

Sarandon made a point to use their celebrity status to publicly try and influence others not to vote for the Democratic nominee.

For that matter I won't see a Eastwood movie either, especially after his NOT FUNNY, throat-slashing gesture toward President Obama.

[ananda]

14. Love. Well deserved!

Imo

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

15. I want to see all of the five.

I saw Black Klansman, pretty good.

I saw Roma, but it was many years ago. I look forward to the new one.

[yardwork]

21. It's a completely different movie.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

40. I sure hope so. Fellini's Roma was, well, I just don't know. nt

[Sherman A1]

16. Saw it and enjoyed it

I believe the award was well deserved.

[obamanut2012]

17. The second most weakest of the bunch

And, more than a bit white savior, and it was really straight-washed, too.

Beale Street should have won, but since it wasn't even nominated, The Favourite or Blackkkklansman should have.

[Roy Rolling]

18. Other films were good

So was Green Book. It was an excellent film, despite its flaws.

Go see it, rent, or buy it and decide for yourself. Don't quote some estranged family member or say how you'll never see it because you know it's bad.

That's bullsh*t. All you're doing is rattling off all the justifications for judging something without seeing it yourself. Lose the judgemental attitudes, movies are about "suspension of disbelief".

My beliefs must be suspended, yours, too. It's a comedy, for Christsake, not a drama or documentary. Lighten up, Francis.

[melm00se]

24. The flailing around

of a dying institution.

Traditional Hollywood is going to be supplanted by at home streaming services. Movie theaters' decades long stranglehold on entertainment dollars is going away.

Home theaters offer far more advantages than movie theaters:
- Big screens - home theater screens of 70"+ are becoming more common
- Quality/high resolution - blu-ray and streaming offer near film quality and 4K will exceed that.
- Audio quality - 5.1, 7.1 etc rival the theater "experience"
- Comfort - your recliner, your couch etc can be more comfortable than theater seats.. With the added bonus of no children in R rated movies, no chuckleheads using their cellphones, no one putting their feet up on your seat, and no one blocking the screen because they are 6'6" and you are 5'5" and no 20 minutes of ads and "coming attractions".
- Convenience - watch when you want. Need a bio-break? Pause it. Want something to eat/drink? Pause it. No $15 coke and popcorn. Couldn't understand what was said? Rewind and turn on close captioning.

The real upside to this is 3+ hours of self indulgent, over ego'd, folks completely filled with more self-importance than they really bring to the table will be freed up to do other, more interesting things - - - like, I don't know, watching paint dry.

[Honeycombe8]

25. I'm just glad that arrogant Bradley Cooper's A Star Is Born was snubbed.

I couldn't believe that Lady Gaga was nominated for Best Actress for her first time doing an untrained acting bit. That was a slap in the face to all trained actresses, who have spent their time in the trenches and spent years becoming experienced at their craft.

I haven't liked Bradley Cooper ever since he pushed Liza Minellli out of the way so he could be in front for a group selfie that Ellen Degeneres did at the Oscars, when she hosted. And there he was in the selfie, right in front, smiling like a cheshire cat. He actually pushed Liza Minelli out of the way so he could be in front.

I've since read that he's very arrogant, and that fits with what I saw. Can't stand him.

[SunSeeker]

37. Eeeeeeeuuwww. Did not know that about Bradley Cooper.

Sounds like he did one of these to Liza:

[Honeycombe8]

41. Yeah, that's sort of how it was. I saw it real-time.

I thought I had not seen correctly, because who would do that? Liza Minnelli, an entertainment icon (who is older and not in good health)...being pushed aside so that someone can be front and center in Ellen's selfie? I later saw it again, and a reporter asked Liza about it. She was gracious. She said that, yes, he did that, but "you know, it's okay. I was surprised, but it's okay." It must have hurt her feelings that she was regarded to be "in the way."

Then I started thinking...you know, his career was just getting started when he took up with Renee Zellweger. Then his career shoots to the moon, and her drops. Then he dumps her. Hmmm.

Then I read comments on the internet about winning the "most arrogant actor in America" award (it's not really an award...just what people in the biz think). And that jived with my impression. And may explain why they didn't vote for him for the Oscar.

I just hate arrogant people.

Maybe he'll get more humble, and start winning awards again.

[samnsara]

26. of all the movies niminated I have only seen Bohemian R.....

….great movie!

[Honeycombe8]

42. I hadn't seen any of them! Oops--I saw BlackKklansman.

Last edited Mon Feb 25, 2019, 06:00 PM - Edit history (1)

Blackkklansman was great.

I never heard of The Favourite. I think I'll see that one. Looks good.

[roody]

28. The documentary Green Book is coming out on

Smithsonian channel. Its director calls the Hollywood version fiction.

[DrToast]

31. Green Book is not a documentary

Bohemian Rhapsody also played loose with the facts. It happens.

[SunSeeker]

50. Exactly. They're movies, not documentaries. They were not in the "Best Documentary" category.

They were in the Best Picture category. They told a compelling story, based on real events, but edited to make the story more dramatic and flow better, in the typical 3-act play structure of build-up, climax, resolution. Bohemian Rhapsody did an excellent job of doing that, which is why it won the Best Editing award, along with Sound and Best Actor.

There are plenty of Queen and Freddie Mercury documentaries on YouTube if that is what people want to see.

[FailureToCommunicate]

29. Not to dis the winner, but this short bit by Seth Myers gives knowing context...

"The White Savior" promo:

[Honeycombe8]

43. LOL! That's really funny. Is that a known actress?

Her expressions were priceless. Too funny.

[MaryMagdaline]

53. She's s regular on the show, Amber Ruffin

Catch her bit Amber says ‘what’”? On YouTube

[Honeycombe8]

54. Will do. I loved her expressions. I'm laughing again, just thinking about them. nt

[DrToast]

30. Someone tell Spike Lee that nobody likes a sore loser

Movies are subjective. If people liked Green Book more, then you can't say they are wrong. It's what they liked!

[Honeycombe8]

44. Did he say something about it?

I was watching the Oscars, but I was also doing something at the same time. I thought I heard most of his speech, but maybe I missed something?

[DrToast]

45. He complained after and he done so in the past too

https://deadline.com/2019/02/spike-lee-oscars-green-book-reaction-best-picture-1202564501/

[Honeycombe8]

48. Oh, that's not bad. He didn't diss the other movie.

Just a humorous comment about him losing to someone driving, again. And then he joked that they changed the seating arrangement this time. It's just humor, like someone would say "Gosh, darn...Every time that other team gets the ball, we lose!" Doesn't mean anything, IMO.

I did see Blackkklansman. It was a great movie.

[LanternWaste]

46. You're unable to do it yourself? Or merely unwilling?

Or do you simply realize the absurdity of your proposition and believe everyone but you should be responsible for "telling him...?"

[DrToast]

49. So much for your journal...

[mnhtnbb]

32. For the first time in a long time I had seen all the movies nominated for Best Picture.

I sent a text to a friend at the start of the evening telling her I was rooting for an underdog--Green Book--to win Best Picture. And I would have been happy to see BlacKkKlansman win, too.

Roma? Too long and too boring.

A Star is Born? Couldn't hold a candle to the Streisand/Kristofferson production, IMO. It was painful watching Cooper (much too pretty to be cast as an alcoholic has been musician) try to elicit a response from Gaga. I'm sorry, but she needs to stick to singing.

Black Panther? Fun and about damn time for a comic book story with African American characters. Deserved many of the individual awards, but just didn't rise (no comic book flick does, IMO) to level of Best Picture.

The Favourite? I LOVED it. Fabulous ensemble acting performances from Olivia Colman (nice to see her recognized, but was rooting for Glenn Close), Rachel Weisz, and Emma Stone. Wonderful costumes. Quirky story loosely based on history. Beautiful scenery/photography. Really lovely period piece with a twist.

Bohemian Rhapsody? Well done biopic--with well earned recognition/award to Rami Malek--and always enjoyable music of Queen, but again, not at the level of Best Picture.

Vice? OK, the make-up and performance of Christian Bale as that evil, heartless monster Cheney was scary. Just scary. He had the mannerisms and voice down. I was just graduating college during Watergate. I had not realized that Cheney was so closely linked to Rumsfeld when he was starting out in DC. So I learned something from the movie, but wouldn't want to see it again.


For me, the movies that I would see again and again and that will hold up with time were Green Book and BlacKkKlansman. Masterful acting, fascinating stories, and I left the theater with something to think about and the desire to see each of them again.

[hueymahl]

38. Good Summaries

Personally, I liked BK better than GB, but both were excellent movies.

Agree about Roma. I'm apparently far to unsophisticated to appreciate its "greatness." Glad it did not win.

I personally loved Star is Born, but then I have not seen the original.

Black Panther was way a way overrated, derivative work.

LOVE Rami Malek. Glad he won best actor.

Have not seen Vice yet.

All-in-all, there was no clear favorite for me this year. I'm fine with GB winning, though I would have preferred BK.

[Honeycombe8]

47. The Favourite looked good. I'm going to see that one.

Maybe Vice, too.

The others, I can wait to see when they're free.

[SunSeeker]

36. Saw Green Book and Bohemian Rhapsody and loved them both.