12 Jun Da 5 Bloods Review

BLUF: A triumphant achievement by Spike Lee, infusing a powerful message about the African American experience of the Vietnam War with a touching and harrowing treasure hunt

For my first two movies of 2021, I chose Chadwick Boseman’s final two performances. First up: Da 5 Bloods, directed by Spike Lee and starring Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, and Clarke Peters. Da 5 Bloods is really three movies seamlessly combined into one.

The first movie is a modern re-telling of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, following five men searching for a hidden treasure in the jungles of Vietnam. One of them, Delroy Lindo’s Paul, becomes obsessed with recovering the treasure, and the cost to himself and his friends is catastrophically tragic. Paul descends into madness like Bogart’s Fred Dobbs, but for distinctly different reasons. Fred was simply a greedy idiot who couldn’t recognize when he was ahead. Paul, though, is a complex, nuanced character, whose brusque attitude hides a man whose life is defined by spiritual suffering, which leads into…

The second movie, which is a touching reunion story of four African American veterans returning to Vietnam together to reminisce, as well as recover a treasure they hid decades before. The movie starts out showing the obvious affection they have for one another, with each’s life having diverged greatly after their service in Vietnam. The primary focus is Lindo’s Paul, who suffers extreme PTSD and has refused to admit or seek help for the trauma. This has only compounded his pain, which is projected on anyone he perceives as slighting him. Jonathan Majors plays his son, David, who seems to be tagging along to get a share of the treasure, but is really looking after his father, who he knows is emotionally unstable. Peters plays Otis, with a newly discovered personal connection in Vietnam, and serves as the most well-adjusted, sympathetic member of the squad. Rounding out the brothers-in-arms are Norm Lewis’ Eddie and Isiah Whitlock’s Melvin.

One of Lee’s greatest strengths as a director is his ability to weave the African American experience into his films in ways that educate while also writing and directing incredible characters that are strikingly real and relatable. Da 5 Bloods is one of his best films, as his focus on showing the African American culture and experience during the Vietnam War and decades later is basically flawless in its complete immersion in the story and unflinching portrayal of the systemic racism that afflicted the soldiers. However, this highly skilled portrayal is not the greatest part of the film, which belongs to…

The third film, which is interweaved throughout Da 5 Bloods, and features the fifth member of the original squad of brothers: Chadwick Boseman’s Norman, who perished in the war, but whose presence utterly transcends the lives of the four survivors. This is expertly shown through flashbacks and dream-like visions of Norman in his prime as the squad leader who inspired his men to military greatness. Norman also set a moral standard that they have struggled to live up to every second since his death. Boseman’s performance is compelling and powerful because he was a terrific, gifted actor, and because the character is a near Christlike figure in the memories of his surviving friends. They both respect him and shy away from his memory as they gradually compromise Norman’s ethical expectations to recover and reclaim the gold. Boseman’s final scene with Lindo is heart-breaking, and a powerful testament to not only the importance of forgiveness, but the transformative freedom it can produce.

Lee combines these three distinct films into one seamless narrative that is entertaining, educating, and a brutal reminder that the crucible of injustice is more bearable through the comradery of shared experience. I appreciated the experience of watching Da 5 Bloods, and the opportunity Lee provides in sharing an unflinching look at the experience of African American veterans. Chadwick Boseman’s performance is a fitting memorial to his acting ability, but also his reputation as a genuinely good person who persevered through pain that most cannot imagine. Knowing what he was dealing with while filming Da 5 Bloods makes his performance so much more insightful.

Pros:

• Spike Lee’s best movie (my opinion) with his filmmaking prowess on full display
• Excellent acting, especially Delroy Lindo and Chadwick Boseman
• Great story, not rushed a bit, with plenty of room to develop the engaging characters

Cons:

• Some bloody, gruesome violence; but it’s an integral part of the story and experience

Rating: 5/5
Rarely do I see movies that compel me to reach out with such empathy and compassion to the characters on screen.

Review by Jim Washburn