overrated by the media critics

Rating: 5/10 (19 June 2020)

On Metacritic it's labeled with "must-see" with currently 8,2 stars by 47 critics total.
Well, what a let down.
The importance of the topic is undeniable. There are some good ideas, legendary, beautiful music by Marvin Gaye and a great cast creating a few touching and funny moments.
Nonetheless the story feels too chaotic to be called outstanding! What's going on?! There are some cringe worthy, unnatural conversations, some Tarantino'ish bloodbaths and an Indiana Jones-like gold hunt, not in a good way. Also there is plenty of more or less known historical footage pressed in often too hasty, so it is necessary to pause every now and then to be at least able to read the text. I find this technique of film making for a fictional story quite lazy, especially if it's used so excessively often. (Other than with documentaries) It's too easy to make a film catchy by using real, uncensored footage of brutal events like executions.
At least I watched the whole movie, but not at once. Needed a break in-between.
In general I love the older Spike Lee's. After a long time and the high praise of the media I just expected a more genuine, profound, realistic, if too still artistic approach to this important topic.
Concluding the only clever and genuine thing were the scenes, which looked like flashbacks, just with the same old characters playing themselves at war back then...first it felt strange, but I interpreted it as dream sequences caused by PTSD. If it is so, I don't know.