Four African American vets battle the forces of man and nature when they return to Vietnam seeking the remains of their fallen squad leader and the gold fortune he helped them hide.
Related titles: The Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now, Blackkklansman
9/10
By Leanne
Where to begin with this film? I've slept on it for nearly a year and wish that I had tuned in much sooner. For so long, I was put off by the 156 minute runtime but it deserves every minute of it. The film is directed by Spike Lee and anyone who is familiar with his previous work won't be surprised to hear that this film is a masterpiece. The film very cleverly ties together real life stories and footage of American history but also keeps it's storytelling and characters somewhat apart.
The film opens with Marvin Gaye's Inner City Blues which is very apt for the content of the film. While this tracks plays, American news floods the screen. It covers the first man on the moon then cuts to the news of the Vietnam War. I feel like I've studied the Vietnam War to death having covered it at A-Levels and then again at university but the picture/film reel that is included in the opening montage is still horrible to watch. The atrocities of the Vietnam War and the all of the problems that were left behind in the wake of the war are prevalent from the get-go.
The film fairly, quickly cuts away to modern day Vietnam where we meet our leading men: Paul, Otis, Melvin and Eddie. A group of veterans who have all reunited with one goal in mind - to recover their 5th companion killed in action many years previous. Their companion goes by the name 'Stormin' Norman' who is introduced through a series of flashbacks throughout the film. The film follows their journey to recover his body and other things lost during the war. It takes many turns along the way and definitely kept my attention and had me hooked waiting to see what or who the group would face. Throughout the film other characters are introduced and the key ones are given, in my opinion, just enough backstory to set them up and make them seem more than just a token add in. I also want to mention how I loved the change in camera that was used for the flashback vs the modern day. The flashbacks/memories are filmed in 4:3 aspect ratio which is the same size as the archive footage used throughout the film, This is easy to see when compared with the scenes in Ho Chi Minh which are filmed at 2.39:1 which engulfs the whole screen. I really liked that this touch was added in and made the flashback scenes all the more significant and noticeable.
The political commentary is all over this film. You can't miss it. From a character toting a MAGA hat to the inclusion of footage from Trump's rally which includes a sole 'Blacks for Trump' supporter. Throughout the film, there are so many moments that show that life in America hasn't changed all that much. From protests taking place across the states against the Vietnam War and in the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King to the protests that broke out last year in the wake of George Floyd's death. In addition, the whole film constantly points out that war is for money and money is the cause of the war. This is constantly referred back to and one of the biggest things that eventually tears the group apart. It's also interesting that early on, someone says that war never really ends. This stuck with me throughout the film for a number of reasons. While they travelled around Vietnam, the group met many different people who treated them in different ways and they often came face-to-face with people calling them baby killers and accusing them of killing their families - this is just one way that the war never ended for these veterans.
PTSD also plays a key role in this film with Paul especially suffering with extreme PTSD. He is referred to as having nightmares, talking to himself and his son constantly worrying about his mental state. A particular stand out moment for me was in the latter half of the film when Paul monologues direct to the camera. The whole film generally includes all of the men on screen at once so the sudden shift to a sole Paul made the scene all the more impactful. It is clear that he never really recovered from his experiences in Vietnam and his final reunion with Stormin' is especially emotional. Don't get me wrong, this has been portrayed in many films before; but like this film comments on itself, there haven't been any films with leading heroes from the war being black or representing the experiences of the African-American soldiers. This film does a fantastic job of highlighting that and bringing attention to the divisions that existed between the white and the black soldiers and how vastly their experiences differed.
Spike Lee has created a fantastic film that memorialises African American stories and experiences. Many of the actions that characters undertook in the film are based on real accounts from veterans in the war. The use of fiction mixed in with real life footage and photographs has led to the creation of a film that hooks the audience in but gives them a history lesson at the same time. Two of my favourite things combined! For some of the real life accounts and experiences that are included in the film check out this article.
There is so much I haven't go on to touch upon like the numerous references to Apocalypse Now and I'm sure plenty of other references that went over my head or the way that tension is created in the back of your mind just by the introduction of a character that works on bomb and landmine disposal. This film is a fantastic balance of fiction and non-fiction and is definitely well deserving of recognition.
I was really excited to watch Da 5 Bloods, only because Leanne was raving about it, not because of its extremely long run time. If you haven't noticed already from reading our reviews, run time is often something that is discussed a lot, in terms of, why make a film longer than necessary. While I do think 2hrs and a half is a very long run time, I wasn't clock watching, so I guess that's a good sign. I was also excited as we have just watched and reviewed 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' which had Chadwick Boseman in it, and he also features in this film. As you can see from my rating it didn't hit as much as I thought it would, but maybe it's because my expectations were high. My main issue wasn't the subject or characters, it was that it was far too predictable, in my opinion.
The premise of the film is that 4 American Vietnam war veterans return back to Vietnam to find the remains of their 5th Blood, Stormin' Norman, and the gold that they discovered while they were at war. They hatch a plan to hike in the forest and have a contact who can help with the extraction of the gold into offshore bank accounts. There were obviously a lot of twists and turns along the way, but you could see them a country mile off! Instead of being surprised and shocked, I was kind of like 'here we go again' sort of thing. By no means does that make it a bad movie, just slight personal preference, in that I want to be caught off-guard by the plot.
One part that struck me was the opening scenes. Spike Lee (director), sets the tone and context so well with showing news clips and raw footage of the Vietnam war. How disturbing it was on all levels, and the uproar it created back in the US as tensions were high as protests happened all of the country. It also focused on the involvement of Black people who were conscripted in the US Army. This was mentioned a lot throughout the film, how they fought for a country which didn't even give them their civil rights because of the colour of their skin. At the time Black people in America were 5% of the population however they made up 30% of the forces in Vietnam. Once the horrific opening scenes finish, it switches to present day and the 4 Bloods meeting up. The atmosphere switches 180, as now it's colourful and vibrant and the mood is upbeat and joyous. The focus throughout the film switches often between present day and flashbacks of them fighting in the war, specifically focusing on Stormin Normal (Chadwick Boseman). He was the leader of their pack and they all respected him/looked up to him. One of the 'Bloods', Paul, was particularly close to him, and this meant that in the present day he was really adamant that the trip wasn't only to find the gold it was also to find Norman's remains.
The storyline shifts to Paul quite often as he was a quite outspoken character. He suffered major PTSD which caused mood swings and his temperament was low. You can't really miss him as the whole movie he's wearing a 'Make America Great Again' hat, and you find political commentary in most conversations. The other bloods do have an impact on the story but not as much as Paul does. In a way, it revolves around him, his guilt, his relationship with his son, and his PTSD. There was a line which said something along the lines of that the war doesn't end for the people involved. Which couldn't have been reflected more on these characters.
While this film is solid, and deserves all the recognition that comes it way. It just didn't hit the mark for me as mentioned. I appreciate the important topics that it highlights, especially at the end it mentions the Black Lives Matter movement. I think more than anything I appreciated what this represented, rather than the actual action of the film.
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