As I’m still paying tribute to the greatness of Chadwick Boseman I’m looking back at my review of his latest film, the Spike Lee Joint Da 5 Bloods. Enjoy!

I am speechless. Of course, that’s figurative because I have to write this review but…just…wow. What a movie!

I’ve seen four Spike Lee Joints now. Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, BlacKkKlansman, and Da 5 Bloods, and each film has far surpassed my expectations but Da 5 Bloods just may be the most poignant of these four movies.

Spike Lee has never been one to soften his story for the casual viewer. He makes movies that leave a lasting impact on you, will teach you something and show you just how difficult is to live the black experience in America.

Da 5 Bloods is an extraordinary film and undoubtedly, in my opinion, Netflix’s greatest original movie to date. It tells the story of four Vietnam veterans (joined by one of the vets’ concerned sons played by Jonathan Majors) and their quest to venture back into Vietnam to retrieve the remains of their lost brother-in-arms (Chadwick Boseman) and the treasure worth $17 million in gold that they buried there.

What transpires over the course of two and a half hours feels like a history lesson, a social awareness campaign for soldiers’ PTSD, a testament to the ugliness of war, how money can corrupt even the best of men, and the travesties of the Vietnam War all wrapped into a dark and almost sadistic gift box of emotion.

With a poorly assembled cast this movie could’ve been boring but with the powerful performances led by Spike Lee alum Delroy Lindo and Chadwick Boseman leading the charge, this film feels incredible to watch.

Delroy Lindo deserves an Oscar nomination for Best Actor after the searing performance he gave in this movie. He made me cry, he made watch with concern/shock, and as his story reached its end, I was blown away by what I had just witnessed.

If Chadwick Boseman could get a nomination for Best Supporting Actor heck I’d give him one too for completely breaking the Black Panther mold and becoming Stormin’ Norman, a fearless soldier/leader who was nothing if not inspiring. He commanded every scene that he was in and his final scene is undoubtedly the best part of the movie.

Honestly, I’m very disappointed to see this film receiving so much backlash but honestly, I’m not surprised. Like I said earlier in this post, Spike Lee doesn’t hold back from making a statement with his movies and this feels like a political bazooka toward the current administration at times with jeers made at Trump and his MAGA hats.

If you like war movies and you like Spike Lee’s works then please give this a look. This movie is worth the time and is undoubtedly one of the best films of the year. I mean, if The Irishman or Marriage Story could be nominated for Best Picture, Da 5 Bloods surely can.

I’m giving this movie 97 out 100 and 4.75 out of 5 stars. It’s nearly perfect and sometimes that’s all you can ask for.

I thank you for reading and I hope you have a splendid day.