Da 5 Bloods Review

To say there’s a shortage of films that speak to the black solider’s Vietnam war experience would be an understatement. The topic has not been approached since the mid-90s when the criminally underrated Dead Presidents and criminally awful The Walking Dead brought it to the big screen with mixed results. Spike Lee uses the subject to take a 2nd shot at a film based on black soldiers after 2008’s critical and financial failure, Miracle at St. Anna. Da 5 Bloods, Lee’s follow-up to the Oscar-winning BlackkKlansman, is the story of four Vietnam War veterans who return to the battlegrounds to search for the remains of their squad leader and the gold they buried while at war. Does Lee have enough "flavor" left to continue his renaissance or is he a step closer to being put in rice? It's not Uncle Ben's time yet because Spike shows no signs of slowing down with this one

While Da 5 Bloods doesn’t boast any huge names outside Chadwick Boseman (in pretty limited screen time), its ensemble cast makes up for that in talent on the screen led by a stunning performance from Delroy Lindo. His Paul character is highly complex due to a plethora of psychological and emotional issues. Still, Lindo nails bringing him to life by taking the range he’s shown throughout his diverse career and putting it all into this role. He doesn’t miss in any scene, but the standout might be when Lindo breaks the fourth wall in the film’s latter stages. It’s as poignant as it is entertaining.

The cast’s remaining talent excels but does so in familiar territory. Clarke Peters brings his usual calming influence to Otis, the group’s voice of reason who’s willing to get his hands dirty when necessary. Isiah Whitlock’s Melvin and Norm Lewis’s Eddie balance out the group with lighter roles, but they still excel in heavier moments, especially in Lewis’s case as he reveals the reason he joined the trip. Rising star Johnathan Majors also warrants mention as for his role Paul’s son, David, if only for the scene in which he explains the root of their dysfunctional relationship.

Behind the camera, Da Five Bloods is more impressive. The film is ultimately a heist movie. However, Lee and writing partner Kevin Willmont revised a previously written script and crafted a multilayered story that injects elements of war, action, buddy comedy, and social satire films to tell a richer story. Lee and Willmont’s script addresses modern-day issues such as racism, mental health, division within the U.S. and the black community, and the lasting impact of war while maintaining its focus on the main plot. On a lighter note, the script does include a Motown motif that every music lover will catch and enjoy.

Lee’s direction is the jewel of this film. His ability to take such a loaded script and make it into a coherent work should be enough to place him in the awards season conversation. However, it is the more nuanced details of his direction that ensures Da 5 Bloods resonates beyond the first viewing. The decision to use the actors in their modern-day forms when most directors would have employed age defining effects or makeup? Risky, but brilliant move as it fortified the connection between the battles fought in the ’60s and the ones fought today. The infusion of historical clips as a method of moving the plot forward? Yes, Lee has done it before, but this time he includes lesser-seen footage such as the public execution of Nguyen Van Lem and Kent State and Jackson State massacres as a reminder of the horror spilled well beyond the battlefield.

Da 5 Bloods is easily one of the best films of 2020 thanks to strong acting, nuanced directing, and a timeliness that can’t be understated. Lindo and Lee should be firmly in the best actor and best director awards conversations, respectively. The film does have a runtime of 2 hours and 34 minutes, but it is time well spent and worth the investment. You definitely want to move Da 5 Bloods to the top of your Netflix queue.