Da 5 Bloods

A brutal and raw portrait of the aftereffects of war and the power that greed has over human beings.

Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods could not have been released at a more perfect time. It’s almost eerie how ironic it is that it came out during a time where the nation has never been so divided. The themes that this movie portrays speak so much to the human condition and the state of humanity, whether it was back in the Vietnam War era or even today. But then again, that is what makes Spike Lee such a brilliant director. The stories and themes in his movies are like a mirror to our society, even if at times it can be incredibly uncomfortable to see humanity at such a low point. You could say Spike Lee’s work has aged like fine wine, having made the critically acclaimed BlacKkKlansman just a couple years ago for which he won his first Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2019. His directorial style hasn’t lost its touch, if anything it’s become even more refined and calculated.

You can see the similarities to Tarantino with how stylish the direction is, along with the violence, gore, and the groovy soundtrack. But Spike makes this style his own and uses it to elevate the story further. His technique of switching the aspect ratios back and forth between the Vietnam War scenes to present day was an ingenious way to tell both parts of this story. The scenes of the Bloods battling in Vietnam are brutal and have this old timey look to them, which is a testament to the editing and how great it was done. Also, his use of presenting actual gruesome portraits of real-world events as the characters are discussing them was almost his way of putting it right in your face so that you don’t forget it and it sticks with you. This film holds nothing back at all. The images presented here are intense and violent and will stay with you long after you’re done watching.

This is a movie that has a lot to say. Spike Lee’s films are no stranger to social commentary, but this one especially has so many themes that at times it can even be unfocused. The dialogue here is riveting and enthralling. There are conversations about immigration, Trump and his wall, the impeachment, the Vietnam War, and the unjust way that this country treats Black Americans who fought in the war, and we even see the perspective of the war from the Vietnamese side. We may no longer talk about the war, but in Vietnam it is still very much in their minds. Their country was devastated. It was a civil war for them between North and South Vietnam that turned brother against brother, family against family. The wounds and pain are still present, and we see all of this in the film.

The second half of the movie is completely different from the first, both tonally and stylistically. Those who were expecting a Vietnam War epic might be disappointed at the turn the movie makes with the story, and others will be pleased with their subverted expectations. It all depends on the viewer and what you grasp out of movies with this subject matter. We follow the old Bloods as they go on this journey of trying to locate their old squad leader’s remains in Vietnam as well as buried treasure, but things of course don’t exactly go as planned. The performances are all strong, and we can clearly feel the brotherly bond this group of men have with each other. The standout performance is without a doubt Delroy Lindo as Paul. His character is absolutely tragic and his performance is heart wrenching, and it is certainly Oscar worthy.   

The film does drag during the middle and third acts and it can be predictable. We of course see the common theme of greed and the power that it has on human beings. I think Spike could have trimmed it down a bit to better serve the pacing but one thing you can count on from this movie is that it’s going to get a lot of people talking. It’s going to spark a lot of honest conversations about racism and the way that we treat each other as people. I could be wrong, but I have a good feeling this was Spike Lee’s intention with Da 5 Bloods.

Final Score: 7.5/10