Da 5 Bloods (2020)

O’Sullivan gives the film a strong endorsement, saying it makes her yearn to be in a packed cinema. She particularly praises Delroy Lindo’s raw, compelling performance as Paul and Jonathan Majors’s crucial contribution to the ending.

Brody sees the film as a powerful, politically resonant reworking of Black veterans’ Vietnam experiences and their lasting impact. He especially praises Delroy Lindo’s performance, describing its emotional force and Shakespearean grandeur.

Ebiri calls the film one of Spike Lee’s greatest works, praising its forceful blend of race, American history, and black patriotism. He singles out its humanizing treatment of complex characters and its sharp use of film-history references to challenge how war is depicted.

Tallerico finds the film sprawling but powerful, with Spike Lee bringing urgency to its treatment of race and war. He particularly singles out Delroy Lindo’s performance for its force.

Bradshaw finds the film a wildly inventive, emotionally powerful work, despite its deliberately unsettled mix of tones. He especially praises its final outpouring of sadness, grief and determination.

Rooney finds the film sprawling and structurally flawed but timely, frequently brilliant, and ultimately affecting. He particularly praises Delroy Lindo’s mesmerizing performance and the ensemble’s vivid camaraderie.

Latif calls the film one of Spike Lee’s finest works and a vital reminder of his filmmaking. She praises the performances of Delroy Lindo and Chadwick Boseman, while noting that the female characters are thinly drawn and the epilogue slightly weakens the ending.

Aspinall finds Spike Lee’s film a fascinating adventure that shows the director going from strength to strength. He praises its exploration of the African-American experience of the Vietnam War.

Scott views the film as ambitious, unruly and forceful in its engagement with the legacy of the Vietnam War. He particularly singles out Delroy Lindo’s performance as a standout.

The review finds Lee's Vietnam drama fiery and full of old scars and new possibilities. It praises the film for highlighting the role of African-American soldiers in Vietnam.

Graham finds the film frequently fierce and fascinating, though not quite as strong as Lee’s best work. He praises its urgent engagement with present-day racism and its use of the actors without de-aging in Vietnam flashbacks.

Kohn finds the film messy and overstuffed but ultimately entertaining, praising Spike Lee’s uncompromising style and the veterans’ chemistry. He particularly singles out Delroy Lindo’s fascinating, tragic portrayal of Paul.

The critic finds the film fascinating, gripping, and powerful, despite its sometimes messy, overloaded approach. They praise its forceful connection of American imperialism and anti-Black racism, especially through its use of archival footage.

Chang finds the film politically urgent and cinematically ambitious, though its abrupt tonal shifts can feel chaotic. He singles out Delroy Lindo’s seething, vulnerable performance as a standout.

The critic finds the film ambitious and largely successful, despite some cursory plotting and underused Vietnamese characters. Delroy Lindo’s performance is singled out as magnificent, while the film’s links between past and present give its central themes force.

The available page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. Its standfirst describes Lee’s film as an epic Vietnam War film and says it fires off a series of grenades.

Debruge finds the film ambitious and politically resonant but overlong, erratic, and uneven. He praises its historical critique and Delroy Lindo’s performance, while faulting its second-half action clichés and stereotypes.

Bowen finds the film a politically charged but overstuffed and uneven blend of genres. He praises the feverish jungle cinematography and a superbly timed land-mine set piece.

Baron finds the film overstuffed and uneven, despite Lee’s evident ambition. She praises Delroy Lindo’s intense performance as Paul, while faulting the film’s competing action, drama, and political commentary.

The critic finds the film politically muddled and unable to confront the complexities of Blackness, war, and imperialism. They praise Clarke Peters and Isiah Whitlock Jr. as the film’s most entertaining performers.

Han praises the film as an urgent, potent work that turns an adventure plot into a forceful examination of Black history and American violence. She singles out Delroy Lindo’s blistering performance and monologue as especially compelling.

The critic calls the film a must-see, praising Spike Lee’s forceful blend of history, entertainment, and political urgency. Delroy Lindo’s fierce, haunting performance is singled out as the film’s standout, though the score can be distracting.

The critic finds Da 5 Bloods a powerful anti-war film whose slow build leads to a forceful finale. They praise its vivid, nuanced portrayal of Black veterans and the enduring damage of war.

The critic calls the film a powerful, ambitious masterpiece and one of Spike Lee’s best. They praise its distinctive style and its forceful treatment of history’s recurring cycles of violence and racism.

Crump finds the film powerful and affecting despite its overloaded, sprawling ambitions. He especially praises Delroy Lindo’s portrayal of Paul, highlighting his wrenching monologue as a standout.

Robi finds the film engaging and timely, offering a fresh perspective on war. She particularly praises Spike Lee’s use of music to deepen a poignant scene and reveal the soldiers’ humanity.

The review calls the film urgent and involving, though its central adventure story sags. It singles out Lee’s distinctive storytelling and Delroy Lindo’s monumental performance for praise.

Goldberg finds the film ambitious and compelling, though its many themes sometimes leave the story spread thin. He especially praises Delroy Lindo’s nuanced performance as Paul, which gives the character depth and complexity.

Crow finds the film ambitious and moving, even as its sprawling ideas and long runtime make the narrative uneven. He especially praises Delroy Lindo’s performance and the emotional truth in the veterans’ fractured relationships.

Kermode finds the film ambitious but scattered, uneven in tone, and ultimately short of its potential. She praises Delroy Lindo’s performance and the political use of archival footage, while criticizing the excess of subplots and the lack of focus.