Green Book: Ohio State
There isn’t a more controversial Best Picture nominee than Green Book, and there wasn’t a more controversial college football season than what transpired at Ohio State.
Green Book is your typical crowd-pleasing film that might end up winning Best Picture on Sunday night in a decision that will likely age poorly in the years to come. It’s based on the true story of Tony Vallelonga and classical pianist Don Shirley as they strike up an unlikely friendship as Vallelonga drives Shirley through the Deep South on a concert tour during the 1960s.
The controversies surrounding Green Book are plentiful. Inside the film, the all-too-often regurgitated white savior storyline is at the forefront. The family of the late Shirley derided the film, claiming that it was full of lies. Inappropriate past acts by director Peter Farrelly and past bigotry by writer Nick Vallelonga also surfaced, further shrouding the film.
Then, of course, there was all the controversy at Ohio State this season, centered around domestic abuse carried out by former assistant Zach Smith, and Urban Meyer’s lack of action for many years despite being well aware of all the allegations made by Smith’s ex-wife Courtney.
Meyer was suspended for the first three games of the season, and all was quickly forgiven as the Buckeyes worked there way to a Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl victory, with some even applauding Meyer for overcoming all the adversity his team faced.
Ohio State was a deeply flawed team, much like Green Book is a deeply flawed movie. Both, however, were carried by some outstanding performances to get them to the heights they ultimately ascertained. Dwayne Haskins was one of the nation’s best quarterbacks, continuously putting the Buckeyes on his back all year en route to a prolific individual season.
And despite Green Book’s issues, it’s hard to outright hate the film because of the outstanding lead performances by Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali.