Staff Pick (Intern Edition): Film Intern Kolby Davis reviews Da 5 Bloods
Normally, I need a dimly lit room with an array of Mastrotto Leather recliner seats, tens of other people with hands slicked with popcorn butter, soda priced at crazily inflated prices, and at least ten minutes of trailers to be eagerly assimilated into the most famous of storybook worlds. That was until Da 5 Bloods took me by my heart and threw me fully into the political/social chaos surrounding the Vietnam war within the first few seconds of its opening, while I sat in an office chair on a regular Thursday evening.
The tone is quickly transformed from social revolution to campy middle-aged jubilation by four black Vietnam veterans (Paul, Otis, Eddie, and Melvin) whose sweet moves glide smoothly through swaying party lights, and contagious disco fever. The group then sets out to Vietnam in search of their beloved soldier’s remains, and a fortune of gold they promised to return to upon discovering it during the war. Although the film is mostly set in Vietnam, the story is less about the war, and more used as a canvas to explore depths of grief, loss, anger, encouraged by ghosts that are never too far behind.
Stormin’ Norman is the engine of this story. His premature death during a shootout has woven these band of misfits back together for one last jungle adventure. His prophet-like depiction makes his inevitable demise, and the deep collateral damage, feel all that more effective to me. Through a series of timely war flashbacks, the film puts Norman on the same pedestal as Martin and Malcolm, a teacher of black freedom during a time of radical political contradiction. He was Paul’s religion, and once Norman went down, so did Paul.
If Norman is the engine, then Paul is the vehicle. He embodies grievances that have hampered veterans’ psyches for seemingly decades after war. Admittedly, the most fascinating thing about Paul is how you can still empathize with him regardless of his reckless abandon. In his eyes, the war has never truly ended, and relative to the rest of his friends, Paul is the most unpredictable because of this. He sports a “Make America Great Again,” and proudly claims to be a Trump supporter much to his friend’s chagrin. Although a Black Republican runs the risk of being a bit taboo, his support to Trump serves a bigger purpose than shock value. His ideology demonstrates his dissatisfaction of historical governance of the black community due to being used as cannon fodder. In essence, he is “The Forgotten Man,” whose sacrifices to American society have been taken for granted and thrown under the rug. I think this direction is allows for such a sophisticated understanding of the spectrum of American political ideology, and how generational trauma shapes our social consciousness.
Honestly, this film expertly exhibits the dichotomy of remembrance and grief. There are a plethora of other beautiful aspects including brotherhood, family, and loss that further culminate the story into a profound work. If I was to create a mantra that perfectly represents this film, I would simply utter that “life hits you hard.” And that’s that. Nothing more, nothing less. Frankly, sometimes life can just suck and, if you’re lucky, you may find yourself lost in a Vietnamese jungle looking for buried treasure.
Join us for a Conversation With
Kevin Willmott
Austin Film Festival is excited to host Oscar® and BAFTA award-winning Kevin Willmott on August 9th at Huston-Tilson for our Conversation in Film Series. Willmott will discuss balancing messages of social justice with entertainment, working with famed director Spike Lee, and writing BlacKkKlansman, Destination Planet Negro, and Da 5 Bloods.