Netflix’s Da 5 Bloods – A Grounded War Character Study (Early Review)

Perhaps there is no better voice in these troubled times than that of famed writer/director Spike Lee. Along those lines, the COVID-19 pandemic has had its way with the film industry, affecting the production and release of several high profile films. Luckily for us, that has allowed Lee’s latest film, Da 5 Bloods, to fall right into our hands on Netflix. While this film would surely do great on a big screen (it’s not the film’s fault that it isn’t though maybe that chance will come later), many will surely take one of the best films of the year in any form at this point. Unlike his previous film, Blackkklansman, the racial elements aren’t as much on the forefront but they are certainly still there and still effective as Lee adds his own signature touches and references in telling this engaging and mature character study featuring a foursome of veteran actors that truly carry the film and are the best part as the film’s 2.5+ hour running time simply flies by.

Da 5 Bloods follows four African-American Vietnam War veterans as they returned to the country in the present to find the remains of their fallen squad leader while also retrieving a gold fortune he helped them bury. Paul (Lindo), Otis (Peters), Melvin (Whitlock Jr.), and Eddie (Lewis) each served in the same squad during the Vietnam War where they and other African-American soldiers were known as Bloods. Their squad leader Norman (Chadwick Boseman), described as the best damn soldier that ever lived, was not only a great soldier as they said and also the very woke, moral center of the squad. Meanwhile, it was certainly difficult for any African-American soldiers to fight in any war for a country that had yet to afford them any type of rights. What kept them going was not fighting for what their country was but rather for what it could be (which echoes what is going on today in not only in the United States but also around the world). In the end, it was this seldom-shown perspective in war films that made this film feel fresh.

Instead of taking a deeper dive of the issues, Da 5 Bloods tells them through the lens of these four men and their experiences. Taking place over multiple timelines, they were tested and after several decades, it was clear that their bond remained strong though the war had also taken its toll on them. While the story could definitely have gone deeper with these men to accentuate their evolution from the past to the present, watching their contrasting personalities play out on screen and the subsequent banter was fun to watch be it riffing off each other or simply reflecting on how times have changed. Suffice it to say that over the course of the film, these feelings wore away as the men’s deep-seated issues came to the surface in what was a different kind of war of sorts with relevant ideologies, and, to a lesser extent, egos coming into play. This further evolution of these characters was thrilling and unpredictable to watch as the situation devolved around them and the story became more about gold and their old squad leader. The question of survival was not necessarily as big of an issue. What was most interesting about this story was where these men would end up on the other side.

As a war film, Da 5 Bloods does not shy away from its horrors in terms of violence. Meanwhile, the decision to have the older actors play themselves in the flashback scenes was an interesting one that admittedly had something to do with the budget but worked as it highlighted their ongoing connections between these character and the war which they served in. Filming those flashback scenes in 16mm was another nice stylistic touch, adding a another level of authenticity to those sequences (as were the homages to classic war films). It just would have been nice to spend a little more time there. While most will notice the great cinematography as a whole as the film is well-shot, making the film beautiful to look at as it made the jungles of Vietnam another character in the story, what ties everything together was the epic score and entertaining soundtrack featuring plenty of Marvin Gaye.

Ultimately, the best part of Da 5 Bloods was its superb performances across the board. The chemistry between Lindo, Peters, Whitlock Jr., and Lewis as Paul, Otis, Melvin, and Eddie respectively make the film work. However, each still have their fair share of moments. The biggest takeaway of the film will inevitably be Lindo and his powerhouse performance as Paul. Primarily known as a character actor, Lindo gets a chance to shine as a damaged man on an emotional roller coaster of a journey to face his many demons. In limited screen time, Boseman’s star power still shines through as Norman, a very Spike Lee character.

At the end of the day, Da 5 Bloods is a grounded epic that is just as engaging and socially relevant as other Lee films and is definitely worth checking out.

*still courtesy of Netflix*

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.