Spike Lee’s ‘5 Bloods’ lands at right time
Also: Pete Davidson being Pete Davidson somehow works
It’s looking a lot like the summer movie season — online, that is. Even though the state announced this week that movie theaters will be allowed to reopen and film productions can resume soon — with significant safety precautions on both counts — there has been no indication yet when theaters will actually open their doors or what all this might do to the studio release schedule. In the meantime, the streaming world sees three big releases hit this Friday: Spike Lee’s of-themoment “Da 5 Bloods” (Netflix), the Pete Davidson-Judd Apatow collaboration “The King of Staten Island” (available for rental) and Disney Plus’ family fantasy “Artemis Fowl.” Here are reviews of “Da 5 Bloods” and “King.” “Artemis” will be reviewed next week.
“DA 5 BLOODS” >>
When Spike Lee gets fighting mad, his films benefit. That was the case with “BlacKkKlansman,” which was nominated for a best picture Oscar, as it is with his latest knockout, an intense Vietnam War-themed epic about how American greed, racism and corruption only add to the pains of war for black soldiers. With Lee’s trademark blending of archival footage, provocative storytelling and references to such topical issues as Black Lives Matter, “Da 5 Bloods” feels as timely as a minute ago. Oakland resident Delroy Lindo commands the screen as Paul, a MAGA-cap-wearing Vietnam veteran coiled with resentment and just one outburst away from losing his mind. He and his fellow African American veterans (Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis and Isiah Whitlock Jr.) revisit Vietnam to bring home the remains of their valiant squad leader Norman (“Black Panther’s” Chadwick Boseman). Each has had a hard time maintaining their foothold in America after a war that had a preponderance of African Americans on the front lines. Joining the crew is Paul’s idealistic son David (“The Last Black Man in San Francisco’s” Jonathan Majors), who’s had an uneasy relationship with his father. But there’s something else on the itinerary — finding a treasure chest full of gold. That sets the stage for Lee and co-screenwriters Danny Bilson, Paul DeMeo and Kevin Willmott to weave in flashbacks of the five GIs during the war with presentday scenes. (Lee was inspired by “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” and it shows.) The biggest flaw, as with many of his other films, is Lee’s underdevelopment of female characters. Lee gets terrific contributions from Terence Blanchard’s score (Marvin Gaye songs included), facile editing by Adam Gough and the cinematography by Newton Thomas Sigel. The cast is outstanding, especially Lindo, who delivers an Oscar-worthy performance. The acting, writing, camerawork and historical relevance makes this complex, sprawling film (it runs over 2½ hours) an Oscar contender — if there is such a thing this coming year. DETAILS >> \*\*\*/* out of 4; available Friday on Netflix.
“THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND” >>
“Saturday Night Live” comedian Pete Davidson and “Knocked Up” director Judd Apatow make a winning team in Universal’s latest high-profile release. The quasi-autobiographical dramedy emphasizes the drama over the comedy. It’s one of Apatow’s better recent films and proves the gangly Davidson can not only carry a film but run away with it. Based partly on Davidson’s headline-making battles with depression and his life in general, “Staten Island” verifies what “Big Time Adolescence” (available on Hulu) already showed us — Davidson is a gifted actor. True, neither film poses much of a stretch for its leading man. But Davidson excels at being unapologetically Davidson. In “Staten Island,” he plays 24-year-old Scott Carlson, who is kind of like the Mayhem character in those Allstate commercials. He triggers disaster at every turn, leaving his mom (the magnificent Marisa Tomei), and college-bound sister (Maude Apatow, the director’s daughter) to clean up. They’re at a loss trying to get Scott to break his cycle of getting stoned, playing video games and watching horror movies with his buddies in a basement. Even when he lands a job as a busboy, he messes things up. Yes, the guy’s a loser, but while Davidson makes him annoying at points, he also makes him vulnerable. You can’t help but root for the self-sabotaging guy. The screenplay by Apatow, Davidson and David Sirus balances Scott’s lack of drive with his internal struggles, pinning much of his lackadaisical behavior on the loss of his firefighting father. (Davidson’s real-life firefighter father died while responding to the 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Center.) As in all Apatow films, “King” could shave 10 minutes and lose some awkward cuts. But it’s still a treat to spend time with such flawed, fleshed-out characters. Even Tomei’s frustrated mom, her affectionate firefighter beau (Bill Burr) and Scott’s wanting-something-more girlfriend (Bel Powley) offer a lot. The smallest of parts matter to Apatow and that’s the reason why his films about the messiness of life are such big deals. DETAILS >> \*\*\*; available Friday on various platforms.
“THE BLACK PANTHERS” >>
For the month of June, the Criterion Channel is streaming at no charge independent films pertaining to Black Lives Matter. Don’t miss this short documentary from the late, great Agnes Varda. In under 30 minutes, Varda covers a lot about the Oakland-born revolutionary group and manages to add a deeper historical perspective (\*\*\*/*; www.criterionchannel.com). So does Stanley Nelson’s more extensive PBS documentary, “The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution” (available for free on www.pbs.org/independentlens). Other free civil rights-themed studio releases you’ll find on various platforms are “Just Mercy,” with Jamie Foxx and Michael B. Jordan, and Ava DuVernay’s “Selma.”