• Interviews

Mahershala Ali, Viggo Mortensen and Peter Farrelly on “Green Book”

Director Peter Farrelly, one half of the sibling duo more noted for broad quirky comedies like Dumb and Dumber and There’s Something About Mary, takes a more traditional turn with Green Book, a road movie biopic set in 1962. The movie recounts the true story of Dr. Don Shirley (played by Mahershala Ali) a world renowned African American pianist who embarks on a tour of the segregated deep South. He hires Bronx strong man Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen) to be his driver and protector. Despite their differences and the racial tensions they face, the two form a long and enduring bond. HFPA members Mirai Konishi and Tina Jøhnk Christensen spoke with Farrelly and the film’s two stars, Mortensen and Ali for this report.