Film Review: Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Spike Lee’s new movie has a lot to unpack. With not much subtlety, Lee has not only crafted a scathing critique of contemporary and historical black experiences in America, the military-industrial complex, patriotism, and capitalism, but also a near tongue-in-cheek subversion of ‘70s and ‘80s Cold War-era propaganda franchises, all while paying homage to one of cinema’s greatest stories about the corrupting power of greed. Da 5 Bloods is a movie only Spike Lee could have made, and that he made it when he made it is a gift to anyone who likes their movies topical, smart, and with plenty to say.

In his long career, Lee has made a name for himself by not pulling any punches. He says what he means, but does so in a way that is both thought-provoking, artistic, and often very funny. Da 5 Bloods is no different, but somehow, the iconoclastic filmmaker has managed to wring even more out of his story than usual. Using the Vietnam War as a backbone, Lee pulls a double-whammy by melding the U.S. war machine’s dependence on black bodies with modern struggles against police brutality and systematic racism. To this end, he highlights the often confused concepts of patriotism, duty, and servitude, all while telling a compelling story of brotherhood, family, regret, and forgiveness. 

On top of that, Da 5 Bloods pays homage to war films through the ages as both a tribute and critique. Lee pulls off some fun tricks by pointing out that 80s franchises like Rambo and Missing in Action are nothing more than revenge fantasies for bitter jingoists, then subverts this by having his players figuratively “re-fight” the war. There’s more. His use of Wagner’s “Flight of the Valkyries,” stylistic nods to 1986’s Platoon, lines from The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), and lifted plot elements from Three Kings (1999) and Kelly’s Heroes (1970) all contribute healthy doses cinematic flair while leaving plenty for film buffs to sink their teeth into. And of course, there’s the film’s direct lineage to John Huston’s greed-fueled psychodrama adventure, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, which is handled in such a maddeningly cheesy way that you can see it coming from a mile away but love it anyway. 

Wrap it all up with family drama and PTSD and Da 5 Bloods runs the risk of becoming overbearing, but it never crosses the line. With help from the tremendous cast, Lee has found a way to make all the politics, references, action, and drama work, and does so on a beautiful, epic, and sometimes surreal scope. There’s a lot happening, and that it all fits together and is kept coherent and inventive is a testament to Lee and his abilities. Above everything else, Da 5 Bloods is a sharply emotional film that appeals to a raw sense of morality and empathy that we would be wise to heed. 

Long Live Chadwick Boseman.