Spike Lee is a master American storyteller whose films have wooed us since the release of his first feature, She’s Gotta Have It, in 1986. Timely, provocative, and uniquely told, he’s one of the greats of our time. Fresh off the success of his last film, BlackKklansman, which nabbed him his first screenwriting Oscar, Lee is back with a new movie for Netflix.
The first trailer for Da 5 Bloods radiates that trademark Spike Lee energy. It’s colorful and punchy, with an air of melancholy and the ugly parts of American history.
Here’s the official synopsis from Netflix.
From Spike Lee comes a New Joint: the story of four African-American Vets — Paul (Delroy Lindo), Otis (Clarke Peters), Eddie (Norm Lewis), and Melvin (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.) — who return to Vietnam. Searching for the remains of their fallen Squad Leader (Chadwick Boseman) and the promise of buried treasure, our heroes, joined by Paul’s concerned son (Jonathan Majors), battle forces of Man and Nature — while confronted by the lasting ravages of The Immorality of The Vietnam War.
As you can see from the trailer, it looks like Lee weaved real Vietnam War footage, including documentaries and news clips, into his feature. The segments with Chadwick Boseman also fit into this style, which gives the film such a striking identity. The Vietnam War left a scar on America, particularly on the veterans who fought overseas, and it looks like Lee is ready to poke at that wound in a profound, heartbreaking, and beautiful way. We cannot wait to see what Da 5 Bloods has to offer.
Netflix
Luckily, we don’t have to wait long. The film lands on Netflix on June 12. And with the release, Lee joins the ranks of prestigious directors like Martin Scorsese, Alfonso Cuaron, and Noah Baumbach who found success on the streaming platform.
Featured Image: Netflix