Da 5 Bloods (2020)
Da 5 Bloods (2020) — directed by Spike Lee — follows four African-American Vietnam War veterans who return to Vietnam decades later to recover the remains of their fallen squad leader and the fortune of gold they buried during the war. As Paul (Delroy Lindo), Otis (Clarke Peters), Eddie (Norm Lewis) and Melvin (Isiah Whitlock Jr.) navigate dense jungle, treacherous terrain and shifting loyalties, they are joined by Paul's son (Jonathan Majors). The mission unearths not only the hidden treasure but also long-buried trauma, friction among the men, and painful memories of the war and its moral costs — with appearances by Chadwick Boseman in the squad leader’s flashbacks. Watching the film is an intense, often harrowing experience that mixes tense action and survival sequences with intimate, character-driven drama. Spike Lee blends present-day scenes with vivid flashbacks, shifting tone between gritty realism, dark humor and searing political commentary. The movie confronts themes of friendship, memory, racism, the legacy of war, and the corruption of idealism, while never shying away from the emotional and psychological toll the conflict has taken on the veterans. Visually and sonically striking, the film alternates lush jungle cinematography and chaotic combat set pieces with quieter, reflective moments. Strong performances — especially Delroy Lindo’s powerhouse work — anchor the story, and the music and score amplify both the era’s nostalgia and the film’s emotional weight. Viewers should expect a movie that is at once an action-driven adventure and a thoughtful, sometimes brutal exploration of history, loyalty and the costs of survival.
Actors: Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters
Director: Spike Lee
Runtime: 154 min
Genres: Adventure, Drama, War
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