In terms of Oscar Best Picture winners with contentious legacies, “Green Book” is the most recent example that’s cited as a “questionable winner” alongside the likes of “Shakespeare in Love” and “Crash”.
The film has also had a series of controversies both around and after its release from issues over its historical accuracy to its tone-deaf approach to racial politics and some misplaced comments from those involved during the publicity tour.
Viggo Mortensen, who scored an Oscar nomination for his work in the film, has recently been out promoting his directorial debut “Falling”. Speaking with The Film Stage, he reflected on the legacy that “Green Book” has left behind and believes the movie will stand up to history despite the controversy around it which he himself got caught up in:
“It was unfortunate that it happened, but the public, of all stripes, in all countries, reacted extremely favourably to the movie. I think – and I said so at the time – I think it’s a really good movie, and it’s going to stand the test of time.
I think it’s up there in the finest tradition of the best work from people like Preston Sturges and others. It’s a really well-made movie, period, and a valuable glimpse of a specific time in U.S. history, with repercussions to this day and with lessons for this day.
So it was unfortunate. I got s–t for that, but why should I retreat? It was a great story, well told. The studio retreated for too long. It was an annoyance, but I’m open to talk to anybody about anything”
Despite the controversy, the film still scored three Oscars and made $322 million off a $23 million budget.
