Driving Mr. Green

Erik Bates | February 28, 2019
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Samir Mehta | March 1, 2019
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Scott Hardie | March 1, 2019
I haven't seen Green Book, so I can't say from my own experience. I will see it someday, regardless of the controversy. Just because the movie is problematic and clueless in its choices about race does not mean that it is entirely without merit.

Justin Chang of the L.A. Times ripped the Academy for their choice. Considering that his piece was published within minutes of the award being given, it seems to have been written in advance. Perhaps Chang wrote an editorial for each possible winner? It's angry and sharp and makes some great points, but the piece that Erik shared is much more historically comprehensive.

Samir, great summary. I agree completely. There's also the matter of the preferential ballot, which means that if a lot of people name Green Book their #2 or #3 choice, it wins the award even though more people may name Roma or BlacKkKlansman or The Favourite their #1 choice. In other words, the Academy specifically rigged their voting system to favor nice, safe choices like Green Book over striking, bold choices. Nobody seems to care about that! But when it's announced that a few categories won't be aired live and will instead be shown later in the broadcast, people lose their shit.