BY CHARLES BOYLE
GREEN BOOK Set in the US in 1962, Green Book is the true story of black piano virtuoso Dr Don Shirley, who hires tough New York Italian nightclub bouncer Tony Lip (aka Vallelonga) to drive and protect him on a concert tour of the southern states. It’s a deceptively simple premise, the titular Green Book being a guidebook for black travellers to find motels and restaurants that would serve them in the racially divided Deep South. Subtle, provocative, and deeply insightful, this is a thoughtful movie for grown-ups. Part Odd Couple, part road movie, this is one of the finest pictures to come out of the US in recent years. Essentially a two-hander with outstanding performances from Viggo Mortensen as Tony Lip and Mahershala Ali as pianist Dr Don Shirley, the picture is also blessed with an excellent supporting cast: the delightful Linda Cardellini (The Founder, Scooby Doo) as Tony’s wife Delores, Dimiter Marinov (who really does play the cello), and Sebastian Maniscalo et al magnify the
BY LILITH
nuances of a powerfully understated screenplay into a mesmerising exploration of race and identity. The screenplay was co-written by the real Tony Lip’s son Nick Vallelonga – who also appears in the film, as do several other members of the Vallelonga clan. Meticulous direction by veteran Peter Farrely (Dumb & Dumber, There’s Something About Mary) brings masterful understatement to the narrative while production legends George Lucas (Dreamworks) and Steven Spielberg (Amblin Partners), lend serious cred to its pedigree. The other great element to this film is music – from Chopin to early sixties Motown to delta blues, the soundtrack is brilliant. While there are always problems with technical expertise when an actor plays a great musician, the application of invisible computer graphics allows the virtuoso hands of musical director Kris Bowers’s stand-in to effortlessly play the piano for Mahershala Ali.
Green Book cost $23 million and has already pulled $109 million at the global box office and has won a Best Picture award at the Golden Globes and has been nominated for five Oscars. Green Book will stay with you for days, and warrants a second viewing. It reminds us that great American artists still exist and US culture is not entirely morally corrupt. Short on schmalz, gratuitous sex and violence, but big on excellent performance and subtle humour, there is nothing not to like about this feelgood movie, and plenty to write home about. Go see it.
ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL In the year 2563, the earth has been devastated by a catastrophic war. While foraging through a junkyard in Iron City, Dr Dyson Ido finds a damaged female cyborg. He rebuilds the cyborg as a young girl and names her Alita after his deceased daughter. Alita has no recollection of her past, but we come to realise that she is a 300-year-old warrior cyborg and is the last of her kind. Alita is kind and loving, but when challenged, she is a warrior without equal – a girl superhero. This US cyberpunk anime sci-fi action film is based on
an original manga series by Yukito Kishiro. Co-written and co-produced by James Cameron, it takes the animation/live action technology developed in the Avatar films to the next level. The hero Alita is a computer-generated animated image that looks convincingly real and interacts seamlessly with real actors. Alita’s movements and expressions are VFX based on actor Rosa Salazar, using facial and body movement recognition systems developed by Cameron. The result is a doll come to life, almost but
ACADEMY AWARDS FILM DAY TUESDAY *.L@ G> >=:JM9JQ& 9DD 9<MDL LAP )(
FILM SCHEDULE 21 FEBRUARY 27 FEBRUARY 2019 ..0- -0*0 ooo&ha_`gmk]Û a[ck&[ge&Ym 1 Skinners Shoot Rd, Byron Bay
not quite human, and so real it’s deeply disturbing. Cameron has achieved a great leap forward in film technology and the result is astounding. It’s official: you can no longer believe what you see in pictures.
EGF<9Q *-L@ >=:JM9JQ
1&-(Ye Let The Sunshine In ))&+(Ye The Mule )&,-he ;Yh`YjfYme NOW PLAYING: GREEN BOOK, CAPHARNAUM, FREE SOLO, ,&)-he Green Book NA;=$ E9JQ IM==F G> K;GLK& .&,-he Free Solo THURSDAY 21ST FEBRUARY K9LMJ<9Q *+J< >=:JM9JQ 0&,-he Mary Queen Of Scots 1&,-Ye Klgje :gq 1&,-Ye Mary Queen Of Scots TUESDAY 26TH FEBRUARY ))&((Ye Mary Queen Of Scots ))&+(Ye Free Solo )*&((he Green Book )&)(he Vice )&+(he Green Book *&+(he ;Yh`YjfYme +&,(he Free Solo ,&((he Let The Sunshine In -&,(he ;Yh`YjfYme -&((he Closed .&((he ;Yh`YjfYme 0&)(he Green Book 0&+(he Mary Queen Of Scots KMF<9Q *,L@ >=:JM9JQ
FRIDAY 22ND FEBRUARY
1&,-Ye Klgje :gq
)(&((Ye Let The Sunshine In ))&,(Ye The Mule )&--he Mary Queen Of Scots ,&*(he Free Solo .&)-he ;Yh`YjfYme 0&,-he Green Book
))&+(Ye Free Solo
WEDNESDAY 27TH FEBRUARY
)(&*(Ye Let The Sunshine In )*&((he Mary Queen Of Scots *&+(he Green Book )&+(he ;Yh`YjfYme .&((he > adek >gj ;`Yf_]2 ,&((he Green Book Sensitive: The Untold .&+(he Free Solo Klgjq& 0&+(he Mary Queen Of Scots 0&+(he ;Yh`YjfYme
Adults $15 Concession & Kids $10 Tuesdays all tix $10 La[c]lk YnYadYZd] gfdaf] gj Yl l`] Zgp g^Ú []& www.echo.net.au/byron-echo Byron Shire Echo archives
STARS
Cameron chose director Robert Rodriguez whose deft direction has manifested the essence of anime, while supporting cast Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Ed Skrein, et al compellingly fill the picture. The film is made primarily for teenagers, but will also satisfy older sci-fi action viewers and gamers with relentless highspeed action and stunning imagery interspersed with predictable narrative. The politics are very positive, encouraging young women to be confident, strong and unafraid. But while visually breathtaking, the picture suffers from an inconsistent and at times clumsy script. The first fifteen minutes are tedious, but when it finally hits its stride the ride is thrilling. This project cost $170 million and in a few days has recouped $44 million. It is bound to be a teen cult classic and the planned sequels are obvious. The convincing female superhero has arrived. This is not just about James Cameron – fifteen thousand people worked together on this movie to achieve something wonderful. Watch it with your teenagers just to see how the future looks – it’s an exhilarating trip.
ARIES: Tired of the overemoting, finding it all a bit indulgent, wondering why don’t they give it a rest? Boredom is the breeding ground of creativity, so tune into the slow-release transformation train of Chiron in Aries whispering clues and offering blueprints for renewing your fire, drive, and passion. . TAURUS: The scintillating cycle of your ruling planet Venus in Aquarius makes the work life of Taurans more interesting, even romantic if that’s what you’re after. You may find yourself saying no to energy drainers and time vampires as this fluid week brings ongoing lessons in the existential art of flexibility. GEMINI: If casual comments get complicated responses this week, with promising conversations coming unglued and people seemingly at cross purposes, it’s easy to misinterpret information and miscalculate what’s really happening. Help! The good news is prayers will be answered. And if the answer’s no, then that’s the correct one. CANCER: The Crab clan are our zodiac’s premier accumulators, but this week’s planetary push continues to divest and declutter, especially in the relationship area. To Marie Kondo partnerships of whatever’s stale, tepid, and unexciting that doesn’t currently evoke joy – including people, objects, habits, thought patterns, behaviour, choices, and activities. LEO: If other people’s inconsistency makes them agents of change in your week, look past the blame game for the opportunity. Same applies to fluctuating finances sending you into a tizz: focus on gratitude for what you already have, and the law of attraction can’t help but draw more of it into your orbit. VIRGO: This week’s Piscean vibes are very Virgo friendly in the areas of bonding, loving intimacy, and intuitive resonance. Venus in unconventional Aquarius expresses affection in unusual ways, so light up someone else’s day by going out of your way with an unexpected gesture, incognito donation, even a smile or kind word.
THIS WEEK’S VENUS IN QUIRKY AQUARIUS SUGGESTS DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND UNEXPECTED FOR SOMEONE OR SOMETHING YOU LOVE… LIBRA: Venus in flirty banter mode is always a good time to socialise. And while others might think otherwise, you know facts are more reliable than feelings – which makes it worthwhile backing up your info and devices before Mercury retrogrades with the usual hitches, glitches and argy bargy of electronic malfunctions, upsets, and disruptions. SCORPIO: Don’t expect straight answers this week: you’ll have to read between the lines to what people aren’t saying and suss whether you’re hearing a snow job, the real deal, or a slick sales pitch. Being impatient or defensive is likely to get others offside, so practise your listening skills and leave the sting at home. SAGITTARIUS: Someone hurt your feelings? Before jumping to judge, are they actually doing you the favour of pressing a reminder button on when you may have unintentionally caused similar hurt with something you said or did? Always good to take a look at what’s going on under the hood, as understanding makes forgiveness easier. CAPRICORN: How’s this for a radical thought, Capricorn: you don’t actually have to be in charge 24/7, so why not go with this week’s flow? Fighting it will only cause frustration and aggravation, while surrendering to being a slave to the rhythm is not only way more fun but brings unexpected benefits. AQUARIUS: With Venus in your eccentric sign, people could suddenly reveal feelings you had no idea about. And your own emotions might take you by surprise, delightfully or otherwise. If rogue emotions you didn’t even know were there surface, let them flow but keep some cool aids handy – this kind of soul talk can be hot work. PISCES: Sun, Neptune, and Mercury, planets of energy, dreams, and communications all in Pisces make the perfect week for paired Fish to take a romantic getaway, and for singles a creative vacay before Mercury retrogrades with all the twists and turns that entails. Staying put? Then do some of the things you usually do on holiday.
DĕćſƖëſƷ ǩǧǽ ǩǧǨǰ The Byron Shire Echo 37