Moving film, timely themes, a little convoluted

Rating: 7/10 (26 June 2020)

Overall, I enjoyed "Da 5 Bloods," Spike Lee's newest film made for Netlifx. The cast includes some veteran actors in engaging performances, particularly Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters and Isiah Whitlock, and Chadwick Boseman in an all-too-brief appearance only in flashback scenes. The movie follows four Black Vietnam War veterans as they return to Vietnam on a trip that is, on the surface, a reunion/nostalgia experience combined with an effort to recover the remains of their fallen comrade, Norman (Boseman). However, the four men have a secret mission: to locate a CIA gold stash they discovered and buried decades ago.
Lee's bold directorial style shines in the flashback scenes most of all, where he switches to a nostalgic look and narrower screen reminiscent of early '70s movies. "Da 5 Bloods" combines humor and action with some poignant, sad scenes that explore the lingering emotional scars of the veterans and the impact this had on their families and relationships. Some of the film's flaws may be that it's a bit too long, with a plot that seems convoluted at times, as if they threw too many things into one script. A few of the minor characters, such as a smuggler (or maybe corrupt official? I couldn't tell) played by Jean Reno, don't ring true. The movie can be preachy at times, but I think that's the point, and there's a lot of chemistry between the four vets. I couldn't help wondering how it may have looked and sounded on a big screen, though.