Oscars 2019: Green Book's Best Picture win draws social media backlash

25 February 2019, 13:54

By Nicky Idika

This year's Best Picture winner at the 2019 Oscars was Green Book and people had lots of THOUGHTS about that–including Spike Lee.

Green Book won Best Picture at The Oscars on Sunday February 24. The film starring Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen is about acclaimed African American pianist, Dr. Shirley, who hires a white driver, Tony Lip, to accompany him on a tour through the deep south. Green Book also counts Octavia Spencer as a producer on the film.

Green Book nabbed The Academy's highest honours as well as a best supporting actor win for Mahershala Ali. Despite earning accolades from The Academy, the internet has not reacted favourably to the film's win, with Justin Chang of The LA Times calling it "the worst best picture Oscar winner since Crash."

Green Book has attracted controversy, especially with regards to Dr. Shirley's family disavowing of the film.

The internet had a lot of feelings when Green Book was announced as the Best Picture winner.

Green Book has been called a "white saviour" film by some critics who believe the film portrays Viggo Mortensen's character as the hero in a feature meant be about the prejudice that Don Shirley faced as a black musician.

People were living for BlacKkKlansman director Spike Lee's reaction to Green Book's best picture win.

When asked what he thought about Green Book's win, BlackKklansman director Spike Lee remarked "I thought I was courtside at the [Madison Square] Garden, and the ref made a bad call.”

And, obviously, the optics of the win were... interesting.

Some people just wanted justice for Black Panther.

In the same Best Picture category as Green Book were Roma, The Favourite, BlackKklansman, Vice, A Star Is Born, Bohemian Rhapsody and Black Panther.

There were other controversies during the promotion of Green Book.

Viggo Mortensen apologised for using the n word during a Green Book panel and the film's director, Peter Farrelly, also apologised for misconduct on the set of There's Something About Mary.

What did you guys think? Did you have a 2019 Oscars Best Picture favourite? What did you think of Green Book's win?