Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Surprisingly Good War Drama - Da 5 Bloods review by GI

This is a real surprise. It starts out and lulls you into thinking it's going to be one of those gentle, bittersweet films about a bunch of old guys trying to come to terms with their past before it launches into a gritty war movie and mixes social satire and drama in for good measure. The story concerns four Vietnam veterans including Paul (Delroy Lindo) and Otis (Clarke Peters) who journey to Vietnam to officially recover the remains of their beloved squad leader (played in flashbacks by Chadwick Boseman). But they are also intent on finding a cache of gold they stole and hid whilst fighting in the jungle. Joined by Paul's son, David (Jonathon Majors) they find getting and keeping the gold is far more difficult than they anticipated. Director Spike Lee has lots to say here about the role of African Americans in US society and the character of Paul, a Trump voter, is front and centre as the one who gradually becomes less in control of himself as the story plays out. The combat violence is tough and bloody, both in the flashback sequences where Lee has cleverly had the actors appear as they are in the present day, it works really well. The tone and mood of the film switches along the way making it a constant surprise. It's a little too long but by the end you'll have had an education on the plight of African Americans and enjoyed a very entertaining war film.