405. Da 5 Bloods; movie review
DA 5 BLOODS
Cert 18
155 mins
BBFC advice: Contains injury detail, violence
At last, my faith in film-making has returned. But, sadly, those who are wanting to push the boundaries and not just shove out superhero movies have had to turn to the television.
Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods feels like a big-screen picture but wasn't shown at cinemas.
That said, thank goodness for Netflix because it encourages risks.
They don't always come off but they do here with Lee's enthralling if long exploration of the return of four African American GIs to Vietnam more than 40 years after the end of the war in which they served.
Lee favourite Delroy Lindo plays one of the quartet, Paul, a man haunted by nightmares from his three tours.
His memories have caused him such trauma that he is bordering unhinged. So much so that his son (Jonathan Majors) arrives unexpectedly in his hotel to try to ensure his safety.
He has his work cut out because his dad has lost any ability to hold his angry tongue.
Clarke Peters' character has an ulterior motive for his journey - a meeting with a long-lost love (Y.Lan).
Meanwhile, outwardly wealthy Eddie (Norm Lewis) is running away from his failed business and the fourth pal, Melvin (Isiah Whitlock Jr) is struggling with his health.
They have returned for two reasons - to find the remains of their unit leader (Chadwick Boseman) and the gold which they had discovered in a plane wreck.
Stepping back into the Vietnamese jungle, memories come to the fore and some handle the confrontation with the past better than others.
Lee's movies are wonderfully original. His leads are tarnished or even quirky and he always delivers new angles on politics.
In this case, he interjects news clips from the Vietnam war period which give the viewer context.
The storyline of Da 5 Bloods kept us transfixed, thanks to a bagful of surprises, while the acting is absolutely top drawer with Lindo the pick of the bunch.
Since the last Oscars, I can't recall a better picture and I am certainly glad I caught up with it before the year concluded.
Reasons to watch: A Spike Lee classic
Reasons to avoid: A tad too long
Laughs: Two
Jumps: Two
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 9.5/10
Did you know? The five "Bloods" were named Paul, Melvin, Otis, Eddie, and David. These are also the individual names of the five members of the Motown group The Temptations. Their fallen "Blood" who was the leader and inspiration for the others during their days in the Vietnam War, was named Norman. Songwriter Norman Whitfield produced virtually all of The Temptations' music during their time at Motown.
The final word. Spike Lee: “Black and brown Vietnam vets, they loved the film, and that’s my validation. They put their lives on the line, for the red, white, and blue, while also knowing that their brothers and sisters were fighting another war in the United States of America.” IndieWire
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