The first Spike Lee movie I saw was "Do the Right Thing", which had a big impact on me. It also encouraged me to do research on racism and the struggle for equal rights in America
Spike Lee is a great filmmaker, with excellent cinematic works, some of which are extraordinary, and he also has irregular works. But he is a filmmaker who is always faithful to his ideas. Always throwing a dart against the system, in the fight for equal rights in an America where racism is still alive.
What is the story of the film?
Paul Otis, Melvin and Eddie, are ex-combatants of the Vietnam War. All four have returned to that country, with the aim of finding the remains of Norman, a brother-in-arms who died in combat, during one of the missions. But they also have another objective, next to the body of their companion, is hidden a treasure, a fortune in gold bars. On the journey, David, Paul's son, will join them, and he too wants a share of the gold. The war brothers will return to the place where they had terrible experiences, they will have to make peace with the past, with the consequences of a war that was not theirs, nor did they understand the reason for that war of others.
As in BlacKkKlansman , Spike Lee makes a dramatic film, but with a lot of comedy. A big part of the film, has very funny scenes and situations. The four main characters convey a real brotherhood. Their discussions, fights and fun moments help us to get to know them. We immediately realise that Paul is really crazy. This is confirmed when the dramatic and violent scenes are present in the story.
The director returns to include parts where they refer to or explain some real fact or character, which was important in the history of the United States, but whose names are not known to the public. Spike Lee had already done so in his previous film, in that one it worked very well.
I think the film is too long, there's a moment in the narrative that feels like it's getting longer. I felt it that way, I understand that the director wants to get his political message across, but the message would be more concrete if we took half an hour off the film.
There is a scene where the message is direct, the director makes the risky decision to break the fourth wall. The best one called Paul, speaks directly to us, the viewers. I liked the message, but at the same time I was shocked that he broke the fourth wall. Was it a good decision? I'll let each person I see make his own decision.
There are several protagonists in the film, the four main actors are great, but some did it better than others.
The actor Delroy Lindo gives an extraordinary performance of Paul, the ex-soldier who has more problems than the others. He is the one who has the greatest trauma of the war, towards the end of the film, we will discover why. He is also the one who serves to convey the director's message with great energy and dramatic weight. He's the one who stars in the scene where the fourth wall is broken. We don't accept what he does, but we understand the reason for his madness.
Clarke Peter plays Otis, the sanest character in the story, the most reasonable of all. Besides having a past in common with his brothers in arms, he has a story with a Vietnamese woman. The actor is best known for his role in the television masterpiece, The Wire, where he plays Lester Freemon. I also remember his character in another series created by David Simon, Treme, where he played another unforgettable character.
Another actor in The Wire, is part of the leading role. Isiah Whitlock Jr. plays Melvin , one of the nicest and who is having a great time on his return to Vietnam, getting drunk, drinking cocktails and eating a lot. The actor is famous for always using the word he says in all the productions he participates. Shiiiiiiiiiiiiet! That's the word we all want to hear from him, or that we have followed his career. In The Wire , where he played the corrupt Senator Clay David, will be a constant use of that word, in this film also has that special scene.
Norm Lewis is the actor who plays the fourth main character, called Eddie. I didn't see the character as well constructed as the others, but there was chemistry between the four of them, being credible that brotherhood of ex-soldiers, necessary for the development of the story. The cast is completed by Chadwick Boseman, famous for being part of the marvel universe, in the role of the black panther. In this film, he is the fifth soldier, called Norman, who we see in flashbacks or in Paul's visions. Mélanie Thierry , Paul Walter Hauser , Jasper Pääkkönen and Jean Reno are some of the other well-known actors.
The film is available on Netflix. I recommend you watch it.
My Rankin: 4/5
Trailer
