A dramedy - based on a true story - that focuses on a road trip of an odd couple. It is a smooth ride, and sometimes thought-provoking.
Tony Lip - played by Viggo Mortensen - is an Italian-American that checkmarks all the items on the list of stereotypes. He works as a bouncer at a club, and is always looking for another gig to make ends meet. Mortensen is a master of his craft, and fully immerses himself in the role. The other member of this odd-couple is Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali's character), an African-American musician, who has three doctorates and speaks eight languages fluently.
These two clash on multiple fronts, from skin colour prejudices of the time to their personal cultures and upbringing (blue collar vs. white collar). Along the journey from northern to southern states, both characters feel more like misfits as they go from one city to another, and they only find comfort in the presence of one another. More specifically, as the (semblance of) tolerance of general public fades, the bond between Tony Lip and Don Shirley strengthens. This juxtaposition is where the film shines most!
I can't say it's the must-see movie of the year, but it sure was a good film that was worth the time. I give it 9/10.
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