Da 5 Bloods

This weekend presented the first unique opportunity I've seen in a while:

I wasn't supremely busy with moving, unpacking, and/or work. 

There were three new films - still not in theaters - and I was eager to get back to some reviews. It's been a while!

Artemis Fowl was getting ripped to shreds and I have to be more conscious with my time these days. The King of Staten Island looks good, but I utterly refuse to pay $20(!) to watch it. $20 for Tenet? Sure, absolutely. But otherwise I feel like these VOD pricing models are a bit ridiculous. 

So Da 5 Bloods it was. Don't take that as it being my last choice; I was looking forward to this more than the other two, especially after glowing reviews began showing up. Within the nucking futs 2020 that we're living in, it's clear our nation is fed up with a lot regarding race, equality, police brutality, and many more topics. I've been incredibly busy (which isn't an excuse) so I've used this time to spend educating myself by watching several documentaries and reading some books on how I, as a white male, can do better. 

Da 5 Bloods - something that was obviously created many months ago, before Coronavirus and George Floyd, is incredibly timely. It feels like it might as well be a response in support of current Black Lives Matter news cycles. Watching it now - and paying attention - definitely has added weight and I highly recommend to do so. 

Regardless of its timeliness, Da 5 Bloods is an incredible film and will likely be one of my favorites from 2020. It's hard to determine that at this point with so many future releases up in the air, but Bloods is memorable, highly entertaining, unique, and challenging while still opening up time to have fun. 

Historically on Rath's Reviews, I've enjoyed Spike Lees films (I'm admittedly not very up to date on his earlier work) but from Oldboy, Chi-Raq, and BlacKkKlansman he's never gotten above "good" for me. I enjoyed the latter of those the most, but I also remember being disappointed by it despite the hype. After watching 5 Bloods, I can confidently say it's my favorite Spike Lee Joint and I also think it's him at his most confident. His style is still here, but reserved and unobtrusive. The plot and overall scope of the film itself is large - not quite a war film, but definitely not a straightforward drama either. 4 older men, ex-soldiers of Vietnam, return to that country. They're on a treasure hunt of sorts, looking for gold they left behind and the remains of their squad leader, Stormin' Norman (played by Chadwick Boseman in a small role). 

Part of me wanted this scene to last for ~20 minutes

Inspiring shots of the vistas
and horizons are common

At first I thought it would play out like "Grumpy Men" set in the jungle and be more comedic than dramatic but things eventually take a turn for the worst, creating a firecracker of excitement that may catch you off guard. I know for a fact there are a couple scenes that will surprise you and it's a film that keeps you consistently on your toes. The violence here is brutal, even if its dispersed across the latter third and I was shocked with the level of gore here, but it is rated R after all. 

The core plot and treasure hunt is more than enough to keep you entertained, but it's truly all of the subplots and character moments that elevate 5 Bloods to something more. When I said its scope was big earlier, this is what I meant. It's a 2.5 hour film and it juggles a lot in terms of plotlines, action, characters, messaging, and backstory. At one point I almost wondered if it could have been a 4-6 part TV show, but it works fine as a film without ever feeling rushed or paced poorly. Again, it's Spike Lee in his most confident form, taking us through a film that has a screenplay much deeper than what you see on the surface. These characters are incredibly memorable and it says a lot when Chadwick Boseman is somewhat of an afterthought by the time the credits roll (he does great here, but is not what you'll remember). Paul (Delroy Lindo), Otis (Clarke Peters), Eddie (Norm Lewis), and Melvin (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) all leave an impression and have their own hardships they're working through from the time they left Vietnam as soldiers and reunited there as treasure-hunters. Each actor is mentioned because the performances are outstanding, providing one of the best ensembles I've seen in a while and their chemistry as a group of friends is organic. Outside of the message and the entertaining plot, this film belongs to Delroy Lindo's performance. As a MAGA-wearing black man suffering from Stormin' Norman's hauntings, he plays that person I'm sure we all know in our lives. His conservatism isn't harped on, but you can tell that he's come out of the war scarred, not just with PTSD, but with a outlook on life that's pessimistic and based in conspiracy/fringe beliefs. He commands the screen, especially later on, and the writing for his character (or the whole film for that matter) is its own rewarding journey in a film with several of them. 

A memorable group of friends to take the ride with

On top of all that, we're treated to a film that can often earn laughs easily, features some incredible cinematography of the countryside and geography, and has a fitting original score and soundtrack - coupled with many flashbacks of the Vietnam War (some are VERY hard to watch) and the Civil Rights Movement. 

Da 5 Bloods deserves your attention, not just because it's as timely as a film can be, but also because it's just damn well made and entertaining. It's a shame we can't see it in theaters - I would have loved to - but I could see it still being one of the year's most talked about films and make noise whenever/however Awards season happens. Shockingly, only after just a few months, it replaces Marriage Story as my favorite Netflix Original film. 

CONS

• It's Spike Lee's style but some of the ways he edits from one scene to the next is too sporadic for me. There are moments I wish he would let breathe
• Probably a little too long at 2.5 hours, but I couldn't tell you exactly what I wish got cut...

PROS

• Confident direction from Lee in what's nearly an epic. The scope is bigger than you may think and there are a lot of things he has to manage here, all while filming a war-lite film. His style often adds to the movie
• An incredible screenplay that's layered, complex, but consistently entertaining. The treasure hunt is fun by itself, but the character development and side plots are significant and important
• Wow. Just so damn timely. Deserves to be watched in that regard for how it relates to the Civil Rights Movement and treatment of blacks during Vietnam
• Memorable characters that feel like a genuine family. There isn't a weak performance in the whole film, but Delroy Lindo's complex and highly interesting Paul is likely to get awards attention
• Shockingly violent and gory, so be prepared. As an action movie I enjoyed myself and it's like icing on the cake from a film I was already liking
• Gorgeous cinematography
• Wonderful music pairings
• A truly complete movie that entertains, wows, and makes you think. I dare you to be distracted by your phone during this one

Rath's Review Score | 9.5/10