Driving Mr. Ali.
130 Mins. Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali & Linda Cardellini. Director: Peter Farrelly.
Put this down. No other actor working today has the poise of Mahershala Ali. It's kind of like what (should have been 'True Grit' Oscar winner) Hailee Steinfeld said that Matt Damon displayed greatly in 'The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs'' Cohen Brothers remade John Wayne, Wild West classic. Although the child star back then may as well have been talking about herself and the 'Pitch Perfect' idol for young women she would grow into with 'Bumblebee' buzz this Winter. "You never win with violence, you only win when you maintain your dignity", Ali says like he's quoting Muhammed, or the King. But with poetic grace, this dignified people's champ is making his own quotable legend. Legacy making role, by legacy making role. His shore side counsel with Little after tenderly teaching him how to swim by 'Moonlight' has already given him his first Oscar with less screen time than Anthony Hopkins in 'The Silence Of The Lambs' as the 'Best Supporting Actor'. And now being driven around by Aragon like Miss Daisy in the back of a caddie the same colour as the jacket of forever First Lady Michelle Obama's million memoir 'Becoming', Mahershala looks to go for another in competition with Barry Jenkins's amazing adaptation of James Baldwin's beautiful book 'If Beale Street Could Talk' with his own 'Green Book'. The pre-civil rights indispensable guide to where you could eat and drink on the road in peace in the middle of a Deep South segregated time of ignorance in need of inspiration. And oh how it courage came from this legendary jazz pianist virtuoso Dr. Don Shirley. Moving people with more than the handshakes and smiles of his notes. Both on the keys and behind the chords of life. Ali makes Shirley his due homage respects, honoured own. Giving him the same gentlemanly air he gave his love interest in the true story, equality space race of the women of 'Hidden Figures'. Going big on the road and never home, as the former small screen gem of 'Roxanne, Roxanne's' Netflix's 'House Of Cards' and 'Luke Cage' series' does the double right now (not to mention the triple with 'Alita: Battle Angel' for the former 'Hunger Games' franchise star. Who damn, is also The Prowler right now in the animated 'Into The Spider Verse' best web slinger film yet. Rumble young Ali, rumble), returning Season 3 of the now playing 'True Detective' to its alright, alright, alright, Matthew McConaughey glory days. Now this is a McConaissance. A Mahershaissance. "So if I'm not black enough. And I'm not white enough. Than tell me what am I"? He demands for an answer in the cold, pouring rain to the soulful Sam Smith's pleading 'Pray' in the terrific trailer that will move you to tears like it does any critics calling it tame to reconsider. Just like he rewrites anything else that "you know this is pathetic right" to the letter. Like when he one leg crossed over the other, palms draped dapper to the Gentlemans Quarterly, Esquire wasp checked blazer don, smartens up his partners love note to his wife over a fast food, bench break road stop. With musings of spirit, falling in love being the easiest thing in life and cowbells at the opera. That like his tinkling of the ivories as his fingers dance across the keys. Or disarming ease of diamond and pearl smiles in a world of purple punches with no heart and forlorn frowns of bruised souls that relaxes all those muscles, is just as perfect as the way he says that word of reassuring, knowing grace. And so it goes. Sidney Poitier. Denzel Washington. Mahershala Ali. But don't look at the race. See the man.
Elegance is Mahershala's presence. But Viggo...oh Viggo. Mortensen is something else altogether as the Tony Lip service of mob muscle B.S. But in warming the hearts on these rolled up like his sleeves window long drives and the performances he puts on to protect himself, he's one and the same jazz man. The most chameleonic, never one the same, yet underrated Danish/American actor of 'The Road', 'Lord Of The Rings', 'Eastern Promises' and of course 'Captain Fantastic', with all those distinct looks behind those one of a kind eyes (yep they're all him) is at his very best here. Cutting back the shaggy, unkempt locks and combing them down to something much slicker and beefier, with a drooping bummed smoke hanging off his top lip, or the greasy chicken fingers between his bruised knuckles. Yep you guessed it this Italian New Yorker from the "forget about it", fifteen to a dinner table heart of the Bronx works in "public relations". Any complaints, there's the door...you know the one you can see when you look up to your feet. But here next to the stirring soul of Ali, he's also the heroic heart of this piece. As his character goes from ignorant to inspired in as many times and ways as you can cross out a letter in biro and correction fluid start again as you wipe away the eraser marks and Newport ash. And if you just thought he was the funniest thing about the finest film we've seen in years then think again. Anyone can crack a joke. But knowing when to get serious is Mortensen and this films real drive. One that takes it from Oscar bait fodder to a movie that will last decades later in the all-time greats. And this odd couple are the perfect best and supporting actor partnership in classic combination collaboration. Both banter drawing laughs with their own dry wit and outrageous comments and other emotions until you wipe tears, with their wills and ways in a world that demands you come to battle with both. If Mahershala Ali is the kind of actor whose piercing pupils can say far more from the eyes of the soul than the words he wishes to compose ever could, then Viggo is a sledgehammer when it comes to subtlety. But there's more than one way to hammer a nail. Both ways work. Even if ones way of making noise is by first ink blot quilling the quavers on a songsheet, whilst the others is bashing two symbols over your head like "drumroll please"! Sometimes even when you play the piano perfectly (like Ali does here, worthy of a 'Revenant' dedicated Oscar like all singing, writing and guitar playing actor Bradley Cooper needs in nominated direction) you have to slam the lid down with a John Legend 'Green Light'.
Book all this however with some musical direction. As the previous green around the gills dramatic director Peter Farrelly debuts with a definitive Oscar worthy movie. Can you believe this all comes from the same director of 'Dumb and Dumber', 'There's Something About Mary' and 'Me, Myself And Irene' to name some gross out classics to begin? 'Shallow Hal' this is not. There's something so much deeper here, despite the off screen controversies that were long in the past and have been apologized and atoned for profusely. And all the mistakes made although are not excusable should not take away from the meaning of this money and what it should teach us as people in how we treat ourselves and others around us (the subject matter has certainly had its impact on everyone concerned). No matter where they come from, or what they look like. From not pulling out a wad of cash in a bar, to knowing not to lose your head in a history of violence, when "dignity always wins" in the end. Which is what we need in a time that is still a shallow reflection of were a man like any other can perform for a group of people who won't even want him to dine with them (let alone use their restrooms)...and still entertain them. The all too true example stories of Nat King Cole and the greatest big man of all-time, the Boston Celtics' Bill Russell will move you to hurt. This true story of a real friendship that will always last beyond the six years ago they passed within just a few months of each other educates us in so many ways. From the beats on the road like Kerouac to a greatest generation soundtrack, to hanging on something more romantic than the telephone cord back home. As 'ER' and 'Mad Men', Emmy Award winning actress from small screen to big, Linda Cardellini shows us why she's so much more than just the Hollywood clichéd stereotype, stay at home wife and mother character, just like she does in the 'Avengers Age Of Ultron' and 'Daddys Home' franchise series. Giving more realism to those roles like she does so much more helpings of heart and definitive dedication here. Like Doc Don Shirley this act is about a trio, not just not one man alone. The Holy Trinity also looks at there's ways of capturing an audience. Through humour, hurt and in the end heart. As for every moment over Kentucky Fried Chicken that splits your sides, there will be one that pulls you over to a sundown town reality that still sickeningly in some parts has to be lived with (why?) to this day. All before a final get together for all the family you could listen to back and forth all day, like a 'Daily Show' Jon Stewart classic bit offers more than something between Thanksgiving and Christmas akin to a mature version of the John Hughes 80's baby classic 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles'. All from a man who knows how to take heart from humour. In the perfect film to cure those January blues before the love of February is here for those who still don't want to wrap up the festive lights like Winona Ryder in 'Stranger Things' too. And it's these notes in dedication to the good doctor, Don Shirley's powerfully moving peace mission (as integral and important as all the Dr. King and King of the World Ali sacrifices and examples of a better world) through the changing hearts moving ability of music that make 'Green Book' the perfect guide to a better life by the letter. Something, especially right now we all need to read and heed. And if that wasn't enough in writing. After seeing this in a bonding session with my father, biting and blinking back tears as the credits rolled he simply said, "that was one of the best films I've seen in a long time." And that's all the review you need. P.S. "Kiss the kids". TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Moonlight', 'If Beale Street Could Talk', 'Driving Miss Daisy'.
No comments:
Post a Comment