Widescreen: See 'Green Book,' then learn about the real thing
Is "Green Book" a barrier-breaking tale of two unlikely friends, or a pandering ploy to ease white guilt? You can decide for yourself right now from your couch - the divisive winner of the Best Picture Oscar is available for digital purchase from iTunes, Vudu, Google Play and comparable services. If you don't want to spend $15-$20 today, you can rent it more cheaply via digital platforms (or get it on DVD/Blu-ray) on Tuesday, March 12.
"Green Book" tells the story of black pianist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali, who won the supporting-actor Oscar) touring the South in 1962, and the white bouncer (Viggo Mortensen, nominated for best actor) hired to be his driver and bodyguard. Our Dann Gire named it one of the 10 best films of 2018 and praised its "acutely tuned performances."
"BlacKkKlansman" director Spike Lee, who reportedly tried to storm out of the Dolby Theatre when "Green Book" was announced as Best Picture, may disagree.
Learn about the actual book
The title of "Green Book" refers to a travel guide published from 1936 to 1966 that told black readers where they could safely eat, drink or get a room for the night while driving across an America segregated by Jim Crow laws.
A documentary about the travel guide and some of the places that appeared within its pages is available from The Smithsonian Channel. "The Green Book: Guide to Freedom" airs at noon Saturday, March 2, on the network, and is also available from Vudu, Fandango Now, Amazon, iTunes and Google Play. Visit smithsonianchannel.com for more information.
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