(may contain spoilers)
Douban rating: 7.8
Director: Alexander Payne
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa
Douban Comments: “It’s like watching a movie you’ve seen countless times, yet you’re still inevitably moved at the end by a brief moment. If there has to be a “Green Book” every awards season, then I would prefer it to be like this – openly acknowledging its old-fashioned style, but meticulously crafting the details of its characters. From the small cracks opened up by the clash of dialogue, a kind of sincerity flows out, one that makes you willingly ‘fall into the cliché’.”
“‘To truly understand the present or oneself, one must start with history. History is not just the study of the past; it’s also an interpretation of the present.’ Upon hearing this, Angus was clearly moved and responded: ‘If you tried to introduce topics from a sexual perspective in class, we’d understand more easily, and fewer people would hate you’. In other words, Paul’s teaching method had issues. But when you think about it, isn’t Paul’s problem also the same issue with director Payne and this film? If you hadn’t stretched out this student-teacher redemption story (which reminds one of The Browning Version) for so long, taking over 90 minutes before getting to that interesting scene and dialogue in the ancient museum, we might have been willing to give it another half or full star, maybe even a four-star rating.”
“The strong sense of nostalgia and simple emotional touch – it’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a sincere, heartfelt, and full-of-humanity American film on the big screen. The film’s retro visuals perfectly complement its 1970s story, depicting the journey of a few lonely souls going from strangers to finding warmth in each other, and ultimately helping each other grow. There’s no grand sacrifice, nor intense romance, but the film creates an effect like a gentle, hidden current of warmth, slowly flowing through the audience’s hearts, turning the snowy winter in the movie into a spring-like warmth. Paul Giamatti deserves to win Best Actor for this, please!”
“Whether it’s the storytelling style, the dramatic structure, the character development, or the use of cinematography, the film feels like something made 30 years ago – and that’s not a criticism at all. On the contrary, it doesn’t diminish the emotional impact in the slightest. It’s touching, full of humor, and deeply resonant.
There are also many smart, unexpected, yet totally fitting moments that subvert typical movie tropes in a clever way. Just when you think a party is about to end with three couples getting together, the mood is immediately doused with cold water. Just when it seems like a father might finally express pride in his son, reality delivers a disappointing twist. And just when it looks like a teacher is about to give a student a heartfelt pep talk in a restaurant, a third person barges in and breaks the tension with humor.
This film is very likely to earn a spot on many people’s annual Christmas watchlist in the years to come.”
