Da 5 Bloods

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It’s hard to find a genre as rich in talent as War. Many iconic filmmakers have dabbled in the epic war thriller, including Steven Spielberg, Stanley Kubrick, Clint Eastwood, Francis Ford Coppola, and many others. Despite appearing repetitive at first glance, each director infuses their distinct vision that keeps this classic genre feeling new. Even when the story is based on familiar territory, as demonstrated in 2020 by a director who surprised audiences with an intense Vietnam War drama, unanticipated by most fans.

Spike Lee is primarily recognized for his direction of thought-provoking, witty, and sometimes unexpectedly humorous dramas that showcase a passionate and distinct style. Films like “Do the Right Thing“, “BlacKkKlansman“, and the bold and provocative “Bamboozled” exemplify this. However, when it was announced that he would direct “Da 5 Bloods“, a reflective war drama, even his most ardent fans and critics were taken aback. The film exhibits a relaxed yet tension-filled atmosphere due to Lee’s unique filmmaking techniques, and despite being a departure from his usual style, it still ranks among the greatest of all time.

What is Da 5 Bloods?

Despite achieving global fame as a filmmaker admired by both cinephiles and casual viewers, Spike Lee has had an unconventional and diverse career. He’s not afraid to take chances, as demonstrated by his questionable remake of “Oldboy” in 2013 and his upcoming adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s “High and Low,” which fans are tentatively excited about. His propensity for risky ventures, shown through projects like “Chiraq” and the previously mentioned “Bamboozled,” may pale in comparison to his biggest career gamble yet: “Da 5 Bloods.

In contrast to other projects that were high-risk due to their subject matter or being compared to iconic films, Spike Lee’s film, Da 5 Bloods, marked a significant departure from his usual comfort zone. Although the movie addresses classic themes such as class, race, and trauma for which Lee is known, it offers more than just these familiar topics. As the casual atmosphere and reminiscent conversations subside, the narrative unfolds into a darkly cynical and graphic journey that surpasses the intensity of trauma depicted in Lee’s previous work, even though he had previously dabbled in thrillers and violence.

The main storyline of Da 5 Bloods focuses on four African American veterans who served together during the Vietnam War. After many years, Paul, Otis, Eddie, and Melvin decide to reunite and travel back to Vietnam with the goal of finding and bringing home their late squad leader’s remains, as well as seeking a hidden treasure that had been left untouched for decades.

The movie starts off with friendly gatherings, nostalgic recollections, and a poignant look back at their past, but gradually takes a darker turn as they journey deeper into the jungle. Old scars reopen, hidden truths are exposed, and actual violence breaks out when they discover that the Vietnam jungle has remained largely unchanged. The risks escalate from active land mines to full-blown conflict when a band of smugglers attacks them. Paul, who symbolizes the bloods’ darkest aspects, is particularly affected by this trauma and PTSD, as well as his strained relationship with Norman before his demise.

The movie Da 5 Bloods follows their trek through the jungle, where memories of their Vietnam War days resurface, subtly echoing their earlier war experiences. This film tackles themes such as Black identity and ideology during the civil rights era, historical suppression, and the relentless emotional scarring caused by conflict. Effortlessly transitioning between genres, it moves from humor to drama to an intense war suspense narrative. Although this production might not have been what some anticipated from Spike Lee in 2020, it was still a valuable addition to his filmography.

Spike Lee is Constantly Snubbed at the Oscars

We Cut Heads.” Winning a Student Academy Award is already an achievement, but following it up with the caliber of directorial debut that “She’s Gotta Have It” was, just three years later, takes impressive to a whole new level.

Despite his strong initial success and apparent closeness with the Academy of Motion Pictures, it might seem logical that Spike Lee would claim his first major Academy Award early in his career. However, this is far from reality. In a surprising turn of events, Lee has only been nominated for five Academy Awards throughout his career, with three of those nominations coming an impressive 36 years after the release of Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads. His first nomination was in 1990, and he received a Best Documentary Feature nomination for 4 Little Girls in 1998. Remarkably, it wasn’t until the premiere of BlacKkKlansman that he finally took home an Academy Award.

In a well-deserved recognition of his talent, Spike Lee finally received the Academy Award in the Best Adapted Screenplay category for his work on BlacKkKlansman. Interestingly enough, Lee had to wait until 2016 to receive an Honorary Academy Award due to the delay in this win.

At the peak television event, the alleged theft during the awards ceremony reaches beyond just Lee himself, affecting some actors from his movies too. A striking illustration of this occurred at the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021, when the film “Da 5 Bloods” garnered few nominations. Notably overlooked was Delroy Lindo’s exceptional portrayal of Paul, a role that multiple ensemble members deserved to be recognized for.

Audiences who enjoy movies might remember Delroy Lindo from his hilarious yet heartfelt comic relief part in …. He excelled, astonished, and brought roars of laughter with his unpredictable portrayal of Delta Slim. However, his dramatic abilities could arguably be more awe-inspiring. Delroy Lindo masterfully depicts the treacherous descent into self-inflicted pain. His performance is heartrendingly tragic and devastating, leaving viewers in admiration due to the intriguing paradox that his character, Paul, embodies at every twist.

In several early award shows such as the Critics’ Choice Awards, Satellite Awards, and NAACP Image Awards, Lindo received nominations for his performances. However, he didn’t manage to secure a nomination at the Academy Awards, which was all the more frustrating given that this wasn’t the first time an Oscar nod eluded Spike Lee during one of Delroy Lindo’s standout roles in a film. Another strong contender for Lindo’s best performance came from a role where he portrayed a character as intricate, but significantly more stable than his previous one, and it was certainly deserving of an Oscar nomination.

Critics and Fans Disagreed on Da 5 Bloods

Despite Spike Lee frequently delivering critically acclaimed blockbusters, he also isn’t unfamiliar with both critical and financial disappointments. Interestingly, Lee’s movies tend to polarize opinions, either being universally panned or universally praised. The film “Da 5 Bloods” was one of the first instances where this split between audience and critics was particularly wide.

Immediately upon its release, critics enthusiastically endorsed “Da 5 Bloods,” commending the powerful lead performances, deep exploration of PTSD, and daring ventures into uncharted film genres by Spike Lee. By 2025, however, while the movie had received high praise from critics, it didn’t resonate as strongly with audiences.

IMDB ScoreTomatometerPopcornmeterLetterboxd Score
6.5/1092%53%3.5/5

Viewers appeared strongly displeased with the movie’s genre changes and length, noting that significant moments were missed. Although there has been some renewed interest in the film recently, as eagerly anticipated is another Spike Lee production, Da 5 Bloods continues to receive poor ratings on movie-review sites. At present, the movie has a harsh 53% rating from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes, and unless Highest 2 Lowest encourages fans to reconsider the film, it doesn’t appear likely to improve its standing soon.

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2025-05-18 00:14