This film is possibly the year's first clear major Oscar contender. I see it already vying for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Score and Best Original Screenplay.
Spike Lee's latest film was a lot of everything. It was topical as it was entertaining; educational and yet thrilling. It had dramatic beats with worthy emotional payoffs, and also comedic moments that did not seem cheap. It had twists and turns and gunfights and bombs and laughs and tears. It was about brotherhood, and familial bonds; it was about secrets and guilt; it was about Black Lives Matter and the horrors of war. Perhaps the only thing that did not work was the shoehorning of a quasi-romance.
It was a long film, at 154 minutes, and with so many things on its plate, there were a number of discourses and the film definitely could have been more streamlined if Lee only stuck to the A-plot. But, the film was much richer because he did not and was much more interesting. The acting was also great all across the board with Delroy Lindo and Clarke Peters both being standouts, with Lindo being a potential Best Actor nominee.
Lee co-wrote the screenplay and his influences and activism showed especially in the first act of the film. Although, undoubtedly, some Republicans and "President Bone Spurs"-supporters will be turned off by the political undertones.
Lee's directing was superb and although the film was long, the pacing was great. It only lagged at a few moments, namely at the aforementioned romance (between Jonathan Majors and Melanie Thierry), which also highlighted Lee's weakness in writing female characters and authentic romances. This film definitely did not pass the Bechdel Test. And to be honest, the film did not require it, of if it did it should have been more all encompassing and included the females in all the characters' life which would have then made the movie even longer.
Lindo was fantastic in the lead role. From his first appearance as a MAGA-wearing, ex-GI to the film's closing moments, Lindo gave a captivating performance that felt rooted in plausibility. His was a complex character, holding on to so much emotional weight and trauma that it had begun to manifest itself outwardly and bled out into his physical behaviour.
Peters was the other standout actor. He was the moral and emotional core of the story. A steady presence amidst the chaos, and a sympathetic audience surrogate.
Other great supporting cast included Jean Reno in a great Trump-skewering role, Chadwick Boseman as the 5th Blood, and the always reliable Paul Walter Hauser in a bit role.
Newton Thomas Sigel's cinematography was outstanding. The different aspect ratios used for different parts of the films was innovative and clear. The shots were beautiful especially of the gorgeous Vietnamese landscapes and also the odes to Apocalypse Now and Good Morning, Vietnam.
The score was by Terence Blanchard who also scored Lee's previous film, BlacKkKlansman. It was a fittingly beautiful and resounding score that helped to underpin the dramatic and adventure beats of the film, On the other spectrum, Blanchard's score, together with the soulful voice of Marvin Gaye, also helped to weave a lovely emotional tapestry that lifted and supported when the film got serious and honest.
This film would have been fantastic on a large screen, but Netflix would surely allow Lee's film to reach a wider audience. And in this climate, the film's message deserved to reach as big an audience as possible. Da 5 Bloods is a serious contender - more so than Lee's previous BlacKkKsman - and hopefully it can keep its momentum all the way to April 2021. #BLM
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