People keep on finding new reasons to be annoyed about Green Book.
The Best Picture winner has been criticised for having an overly simplistic view of racism, or less generously, being a movie about racism made to make white people feel good.
And it's especially problematic that a film which sells itself on being a true story has also been condemned by the family of Don Shirley, the pianist who is the film's subject.
Now, the makers of Green Book have stepped into a new controversy – by dedicating the film’s Best Picture win to Carrie Fisher.
Dedicating an award to a beloved actor is usually a good call at the Oscars, but this one came with no explanation and viewers were caught off guard.
[googles] why was carrie fisher just thanked for green book please help me understand— Rachel Paige (@Rachel Paige) 1551068300
And because this is the internet, some people jumped to being ridiculously angry about it.
You wanna thank Carrie Fisher?! She woulda hated this trash movie.— Naomi Ekperigin (@Naomi Ekperigin) 1551068310
Carrie Fisher in space hearing she was thanked for Green Book. https://t.co/mFuBBPHB4J— The Mary Sue (@The Mary Sue) 1551068304
It's concerning that Fisher got a shoutout before Shirley and Victor Hugo Green – the man who wrote the Green Book that the film is named after.
When Carrie Fisher gets mentioned in the #GreenBook acceptance speech and Don Shirley doesn't https://t.co/TM7AKgzyC1— Josiah Durie (@Josiah Durie) 1551070053
Wow. Just wow. Notice how they did not even acknowledge the creator of the actual Green Book, Victor Hugo Green in… https://t.co/C9Eb5fN45f— Rebecca Theodore-Vachon (@Rebecca Theodore-Vachon) 1551068414
So why did Fisher get a mention?
The answer is producer Charles B Wessler and Fisher knew each other for a long time – definitely as early as 1980, when he worked on Star Wars films as a production assistant.
Charles Wessler and Carrie Fisher, to whom he dedicated his Oscar win (all the way back to Return of the Jedi) https://t.co/oE2QBtr9xi— Andrew Dyce (@Andrew Dyce) 1551069508
Other people pointed out that Fisher and Wessler are apparently childhood friends.
okay I found it: Charles Wessler was one of Carrie's childhood friends and also a PA on Star Wars— Rachel Paige (@Rachel Paige) 1551070483
So maybe people should lay off the producers this time.
Some people have said Fisher would never have liked Green Book, due to her reputation as a socially progressive person.
CARRIE FISHER WOULD NOT HAVE VOTED FOR YOUR MOVIE— Catrina ⚔️ (@Catrina ⚔️) 1551068636
But it’s not necessarily fair to assume Fisher would have hated the film.
Although she’s a modern day saint who spoke passionately about feminism, ageism and mental health, there really isn’t much evidence of her campaigning on racism.
Fisher could have enjoyed the film and not really thought about the problems with its “white saviour” narrative, like many viewers did.
At the very least, Star Wars co-star Mark Hamill seemed happy with the shoutout.
"I want to dedicate this to our great friend Carrie Fisher!"- Best Picture winner Green Book producer Charles Wessl… https://t.co/AD9zjAIGHM— Mark Hamill (@Mark Hamill) 1551069256
Then again, Charles Wessler isn’t exactly the nicest guy in the film industry – according to this email he allegedly sent to a film critic who dared to criticise the film.
here’s the email I received about Green Book from one of the producers. I censored the name of the editor he cc’d,… https://t.co/CKXYj8aAOv— Jenni Miller (@Jenni Miller) 1551070599
And he apparently sent a similar email to another critic.
So maybe we shouldn't feel too much sympathy for him.
Either way, we think we can all agree Green Book is definitely not the best film of the year.
HT: The Daily Dot