Tag Archives: Jonathan Majors

02Mar/23

Creed III is a Strong Directorial Debut For Michael B. Jordan

March 2, 2023FIlmblack creative, black culture, black excellence, black love, boxing, creed, Creed3, Jonathan Majors, Michael B Jordan, Rocky, Ryan Coogler, sport, tessa thompsonDapper Dr Feel

Creed III Stars: Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed (who is also the film’s director), Jonathan Majors as Damian Anderson, Tessa Thompson as Creed’s wife (Bianca Creed), Mila Davis-Kent as Amara Creed, and Phylicia Rashad as Mary-Anne Creed.

Synopsis: Adonis Creed’s (Michael B. Jordan) life has flourished both professionally as a Boxer and personally. An old friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian (Jonathan Majors), re-emerges after a long stint in prison, eager to live the life he always wanted as a boxing champion. The two former friends engage in the fight of their lives which is more than a boxing match; it is a fight to overcome their pasts.

Why Creed III is Worth Your Time?

Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut is nothing short of phenomenal, especially with the film being the trilogy to one of the biggest movie franchises of all time. It’s apparent that this was a passion project for Jordan as he was able to craft this great film carefully. During a recent press conference, he mentioned he’d had scenes that were all but ripped from his fingers and left on the cutting room floor, but he didn’t let that jeopardize the film’s quality. I can confirm that this project was well-paced and that the film’s tone was consistent from beginning to end.

There were rumors of former Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder appearing as the son of James “Clubber” Lang in Creed II a few years ago, which would’ve been decent provided the right script; but I am glad this particular Creed spinoff franchise was brought to life. Much kudos to the writing team of Zach Baylin (King Richard writer) and Keenan Coogler (Ryan Coogler’s brother) for putting together a story with characters compelling enough to add quality to the Rocky franchise.

The underdog storyline, which the Rocky franchise is known for, fits well into this story because we see Damian Anderson go from serving time in prison to his pursuit of living his dream as a Champion. We also see Creed’s rise from being a retired Champion to fighting his former best friend, the current Champion. Both characters must not only fight their opponent in the ring but also fight their own internal battles.

I feel like Creed III offers more depth than the more recent Rocky films because even though you have a designated antagonist and protagonist, you really can’t instantly side with Creed. You understand why Damian is the way he is; honestly, he very convincingly reflects those who have struggled with a complicated past and have had to overcome major life obstacles. I can see Ryan Coogler’s fingerprints all over this script because it’s quite similar to Black Panther‘s ruthless Kilmonger character in that you understood and almost couldn’t blame him for his actions or way of thinking.

There is a lot of American Sign Language representation in this film. With Creed and Bianca’s daughter being deaf, we see excellent attention to detail depicting what the environment would be like and how families interact with someone who is hearing impaired. Also worth a mention is Mila Davis-Kent as Creed’s adorable daughter, Amara Creed. We get a glimpse of how Creed’s actions affect his relationship with his daughter. We even see her passion for boxing showcased. Can we see how her storyline plays out when she finally puts on the gloves? That would be fun to see. Although her screen time is limited, Davis-Kent’s charisma is undeniable.

The Characters

One of the surprising elements of the film was that it is an origin story for Adonis Creed, exploring his growth from a troubled teen to the man we see today. This is accomplished seamlessly without dragging the cinema or stealing focus from the storyline. The film carefully weaves in the character’s past while dealing with actions that will undoubtedly impact his future, leading to a conflict you’re unsure if he’ll win.

The chemistry remains strong between Jordan and Thompson. They create a relationship that appears to have stood the test of time and survived the pressures of their careers. There are moments in the film where Creed is standoffish and wants to shut his family out, but the presence and voice of Thompson creates a clear path of communication, allowing Creed to be vulnerable and honest with her. Creed III shows Bianca as not only Creed’s other half but also as the glue that holds the family together.

It’s worth stating again how Mila Davis-Kent as Amara Creed was so adorable and charismatic. The moments with Jordan were like watching a genuine love between a daughter and father. Davis-Kent not only stole focus during her screen time, she respectfully represented the American Sign Language community (ASL), normalizing the community and giving attention to many small details providing a sense of authenticity appreciated by ASL and non-ASL viewers alike.

Jonathan Majors once again puts on a robust and touching performance as Damian. He makes you hate the character at moments, and sometimes you even feel sorry for him. After serving so many years in prison and feeling abandoned by Creed after receiving no contact from him and watching him live the life he planned, Damian wants his opportunity. There is just so much the character must learn and let go of, but cannot because of his haunting prison experience. Damian reminds me of Killmonger, as his actions are driven by hurt and disappointment, making him a compelling character. Being a former Golden Gloves Champion and boxing prodigy, Damian believes his dreams are still possible. When asked where Majors got the inspiration for this role, he mentions that he watched the previous Creed films and gave much credit to his stepfather. He explained, “My stepdad was locked up 15 years before he got with my mom and then raised me.” Majors also said “Like, I was the kid that was trying to make sure Dad got home on time before the parole officer got to the crib. And I watched it. You know, I watched that happen. My stepdad tried out for the Dallas Cowboys. I’m from Dallas. And almost made it to the Cowboys. He was in the second round. I watched that inspiration. I watched that hustle. You know, I watched that dream that he had”. Majors, a friend of producer Ryan Coogler, also consulted him.

Videography and Sound

I saw Creed III on Imax, of course, which was well worth it because I heard and felt every punch that was delivered during the fight scenes. The sound design in this film made me feel like I was in the match, and there were a few times I physically reacted to the punches. Especially when Michael B. Jordan takes a particular punch in the solar plexus in the third act. I really felt like I couldn’t breathe for him. There are other moments in the film where the sound design helped enhance the action and tension between the boxers.

With Jordan’s direction, the film is visually appealing with anime and The Matrix-influenced angles that help the audience stay engaged during the matches. When a boxer sees an opening, the camera allows you to see it as well, so when the punches land, you understand why it is so effective.

Jordan utilizes his skills not only when the characters are boxing, but also when he shares conversations with his wife, daughter, and Damian. I love the scenes where he places the characters in front of the giant Apollo Creed painting he has in one of his rooms, representing their passions as fighters. It also shows that Creed has forgiven his father.

The Takeaway on Creed III

This emotional and action-packed sequel is well-written and has a phenomenal cast. The film highlights male trauma, growth, forgiveness, and healing. Even if you disagree, you’ll still feel connected with the characters and understand their actions. It is a must-watch that could be shared with family and fans. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself cheering during fight scenes or even holding back tears.

15Feb/23

Jonathan Majors: The Undoubted Star of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

February 15, 2023FIlmAnt-Man, Ant-Man 3, Antman and the Wasp: Quantumania, avengers, Dapper Dr. Feel, Jonathan Majors, Marvel, Paul Rudd, taji magDapper Dr Feel

Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror in Marvel Studios’ ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

Where to find: In Theaters

Rating: PG-13

Time: 124 minutes

Release: February 17th

Synopsis: Scott Lang and his family find themselves in the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible. Jonathan Majors joins the franchise as the powerful and new baddie, Kang the Conqueror.

Starring: Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Hope Van Dyne/the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors), Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), and Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton).

What is the Film About?

There has been much anticipation for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, especially with the announcement from Marvel that Jonathan Majors would play Kang the Conqueror, the newest threat to the Avengers. This 3rd installment of the Ant-Man series presents an interesting storyline while setting up a great introduction to the film’s protagonist (whether this is evident to the viewers or not is another question…keep reading for my full opinion of the flick). This film goes into great detail about Scott Lang and his family’s life after saving the world from Thanos and reversing the blip felt around the world. It does make sense where Lang’s head would be, which is borderline basking in the celebrity of being an Avenger. This hightened level of confidence does set him up to emerge anew once the final battle takes place. This “epic” battle with Kang the Conqueror is the height of the film and is honestly what we all came to see. Will Ant-Man emerge victorious or will we see the end of this [mini] hero? Given Marvel’s recent propensity to send fans on an emotional rollercoaster by taking out our beloved heroes, it could truly go either way! I’ll let you see for yourself.

Now, as promised, my opinion of this most recent Marvel release…it’s a miss! There are so many moments of potential for this to be a great film, but it just…well…missed! The storyline, outside of the much-anticipated battle, hurts the film. Also, instead of the hilarious voice-over storytelling of Luis, played by Micheal Pena (which we so loved), the film has voiceovers by Lang which are merely serviceable and nowhere near as funny as Luis’. And finally, I didn’t appreciate the twist at the end when…you thought I was going to ruin it for you, huh? NOPE.

Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man and Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror in Marvel Studios’ ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2022 MARVEL.

The Characters

Many wondered why the film does not announce Michael Pena and the rest of the crew. This particular storyline would not have been a good fit for Scott Lang’s previous crew. With the introduction of multiple new characters this time around, it just would’ve been too much; especially on top of the already awkward moments of random pointless commentary.

Although this project has some great actors portraying these characters, the talented cast is only as good as the script would allow. For example, William Jackson Harper’s character (Quaz) has the potential to be important to the storyline, instead he is used as comic relief. M.O.D.O.K’s (Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing) potential suffers the worst out of all the characters as its origin is quite creatively plausible, but unfortunately also ends up just being comic relief.

Paul Rudd provides some laughs throughout the movie…then again he’s Paul Rudd. Did we expect anything else? The relationship with his daughter feels genuine, and the current state of Rudd’s Scott Lang is fitting. These circumstances allow the character some room for growth, but, Marvel unfortuntely fumbles the oportunity. Even with his performance, Ant-Man 3‘s tone is so off that it’s hard to overlook.

Kathryn Newton as Cassie has a lot of screen time which is good since her character is likeable. It’ll be interesting to see what role her character will play in the rumored Young Avengers.

Michelle Pfeiffer, as Janet Van Dyne, had me pondering many questions. The most pressing to me is why she hadn’t spoken of her time in the Quantum Realm. In the trailer, she clearly knows the dangers, but fails to discuss them with her family. An explanation of this does not seem convincing, especially once the viewer finds out what happened during her time in the realm.

The obvious standout of the movie was Majors as Kang. He put on a phenomenal performance per usual, making Kang a character that fans will love to hate. Major’s tone, expressions, and body language serves to create a worthy adversary. Kang is cerebral, scholarly, poetic, manipulative, and offers something anybody would find hard to refuse…time. He will undoubtedly pose a significant threat to the Avengers with his technology and his ability to manipulate multiple time lines.

Jonathan Majors as Kang The Conqueror in Marvel Studios’ ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2022 MARVEL.

The Visual Effects

Visually, the Quantum Realm does have some intriguing environments, but what wears on the novelty of the effects is that it’s been done before! At times, the scenes resemble those of Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness or previous transitions into microworlds that have occurred in prior Ant-Man films. But I guess it’s hard to continuously evolve and create unique worlds after having done it so many times. A few creatures look unique, like giant fluorescent amoebas and living buildings. It is noticeable, as expected, that Marvel did not go the cheap route on the effects. A detail even more noticable while watching the film in IMAX.

(L-R): Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Kathryn Newton as Cassandra “Cassie” Lang, Evangeline Lilly as Hope Van Dyne/Wasp in Marvel Studios’ ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

Worth Noting

Be on the lookout for plenty of easter eggs that tie into films for the upcoming Phase Four of the MCU. I won’t give any spoilers, but you’ll really have to look (or maybe even give the movie a second watch) in order to catch these. And YES, there are some post-credit scenes.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania serves less as a sequel in the Ant-Man franchise and more of an origin story for Kang the Conqueror. One must wonder if Marvel can use the talent of Majors and the many exciting stories of Kang (from the comics) to create a Phase 5. Ideally, this would propel the MCU into a stratosphere in which viewers aren’t developing comic book movie fatigue. Marvel has been known to surprise its fans…let’s see where they go with this!

10Oct/20

What Jonathan Majors Loves About Lovecraft Country and Why He Wants to Play Superman

October 10, 2020FIlmColtrane, DCU, GQ, HBO, HBO Max, Jonathan Majors, SupermanDapper Dr Feel

It was last year when I was able to watch the highly touted Last Black Man in San Francisco and I loved every single bit of it. Not only because of the title or the visually stunning camera shots, but because of the powerful performance of Jonathan Majors. I didn’t know much about the 31-year-old actor, all I knew was that his performance in the final act of the film showed the promise of a rising star.

Jonathan Majors’ new series hit, Lovecraft Country on HBO, and the Spike Lee helmed, Da Five Bloods, has made way to take part in many big-budget films. Luckily for Taji Mag, Majors took time out to talk about the new series, his GQ feature, and his desire to portray Superman.

Dapper Dr. Feel (DDF): How do you keep your faculties together given all you have gone through in Lovecraft Country?

Jonathan Majors (JM): Love, man! I think that’s the key. He [Atticus aka Tic] is the most selfless character I’ve played. The alternative is if I fail the family fails. If I don’t get this right, Leti goes down, if I don’t get this right Uncle George goes down. We know how this plays out in the series. He loves his family so much he is willing to take the hit and keep on going because failure is not an option.

DDF: In episode 6, Meet Me in Daegu, we see Atticus’s life during the Korean War and relationship with Ji-ah. Who do you think is more of the monster Ji-ah or Atticus?

JM: In one of the scenes, Ji-ah tries to persuade Atticus that he is the monster. I would say from Atticus’s point of view, he would be the monster. He was closest to freedom when he was with Ji-ah and then it was snatched away. Exoneration was close but snatched away. That event made him double down on the idea that he was a monster. For some reason or another, he was not worthy of this love between him and Ji-ah because it all went bad.

DDF: What was your reaction after you read episode 6 “Meet Me in Dego”?

JM: To me, that episode is very different from the other episodes. I love the episode because it gave me insight into who Tic was. From that episode, there is a transition from “Tic” to Atticus. When episode 6 ends, it is the birth of Atticus. He knows too much now. He’s seen physical violence, he’s done physical violence and war crimes. Now he’s experiencing something so mystical, spiritual, monstrous and it’s stuck in his brain. So when I read the script, I was like “Cool, this episode unlocks a great deal of information.” It was so great, I happened to have read episode 6 before we started shooting episodes 2 and beyond. So I could walk around with that feeling of dread and fear. This is necessary because, as you see in the series, Atticus calls back to Korea multiple times. I loved the script! It’s sort of a ballet piece I would say.

DDF: I read some of the GQ article you were featured in. It mentioned your father was in Desert Storm; your paternal grandfather served in World War II, your maternal grandfather in Korea and Vietnam. What kind of memorable advice did they give you and have you used it for roles like Atticus in Lovecraft Country?

JM: It’s interesting how the men in my life work. Advice never really comes. As cliche as it sounds, we lead by example. Take care of your business, look after your brother, make up your bed, say what you need to say and that’s it. Get your work done and do your best. These are simple things that are inherent in survival. More so when it comes from men whose lives been in jeopardy since their genesis. Then there are ancestors, that is who hooked me on set. They were with me and looked after me. Sometimes they would tell me how to walk. The baron of them is what I use and remember to portray Atticus.

DDF: In episode 7 we see Atticus go into a time portal. If he were to be transported to the present day, how would he react to what’s going with Breonna Taylor and racial injustice?

JM: I think Atticus would hit the front line. Atticus knows things, he knows magic. There’d be a whole genre of action taken.

I think emotionally he would be saddened. Especially because there’s such a jump of over 70 years and he’s worked so hard for protection. So, to see his tribe adjacent with sister [Breonna] Taylor is not protected. It could be an existential crisis with him.

DDF: During your Zoom interview with Jimmy Fallon, I saw you had a guitar in the background. Do you play guitar or any instruments?

JM: I play a little bit of guitar and am learning how to improve my playing skills. I am also learning to play saxophone and to play the harmonica. So yeah, I get down.

DDF: What is your favorite thing to listen to?

JM: It’s a mixture of things. It depends on the day. If I had put on some music now I’d say, Otis Redding, Ella Fitzgerald, Coltrane, and Dizzy Gillepsie.

DDF: Is there an artist you would like to portray in a biopic?

JM: Oh yeah, I’d play Coltrane. I’d like to try that out.

DDF: Would you like to write and direct that project yourself?

JM: I’d be involved. I think if I had the time and spirit hit me, I could get it done. I think he is such a fascinating man.

DDF: If you could portray a superhero or villain in a movie, who would they be?

JM: To be honest, I have an infatuation with Superman. I love Superman. I think they’ve gotten him wrong in film this whole time. Somehow we have to get Metropolis caught up in Gotham because I would like to play the Riddler. If we could somehow get that going where the Riddler takes his interest off Batman and he focuses on Superman, that would be crazy!

DDF: You may have to pitch it to DC films!

JM: You can produce it, we can roll!

The future is looking bright for Jonathan Majors as he prepares to star in the upcoming star-studded film The Harder They Fall with Idris Alba. There are also talks of him portraying a villain in the MCU, rumored to be the next big villain after Thanos. Until then make sure to tune into HBO and HBO MAX to catch the latest episodes of Lovecraft Country.

16Aug/20

Lovecraft Country: Is Racism Scarier Than Ghosts, Monsters, and Witches?

August 16, 2020Creative, Culture, FIlmHBO, HBO Max, Jonathan Majors, Jordan Peele, Jurnee Smollet-Bell, Lovecraft CountryDapper Dr Feel

SYNOPSIS: HBO’s new drama series, LOVECRAFT COUNTRY, based on the 2016 novel by Matt Ruff of the same name, debuts this August. The series follows Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors) as he joins up with his friend Letitia “Leti” (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) and his Uncle George (Courtney B. Vance) to embark on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow America in search of his missing father (Michael Kenneth Williams). This begins a struggle to survive and overcome both the racist terrors of white America and the terrifying monsters that could be ripped from a Lovecraft paperback.

If you love 80’s movie nostalgia and horror-themed shows like Tales From the Crypt and Underground, this is the series for you. Showrunner and creator of Underground, Misha Green, brings all of these elements together in the new HBO MAX series Lovecraft Country. As a horror buff and a supporter of the various creatives involved (i.e., Jurnee Smollet-Bell, Jonathan Major, Jordan Peele, etc.), I had to check it out and satisfy my palate for a Black horror series. Plus, the series showrunner is a Black woman, something not common in Hollywood.

Courtney B. Vance, Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollet-Bell
Photo courtesy of Warner Media

The Horror of Lovecraft Country

While watching the characters interact with the world around them, I wondered if racism in the 1950s was scarier than the ghosts and monsters? I saw the terrifying look the Black characters had when they were being questioned by white police officers, and I honestly couldn’t tell the difference between those moments and the moments when they encountered a monster.

I asked actress Jurnee Smollet-Bell, which was scarier, racism in the 1950s or monsters, ghosts, and witches? She replied, “With the Monsters, what you see is what you get. You kind of know what to expect? It’s pure danger. You do whatever you can to escape. Otherwise, you’re screwed. With systemic racism, which is what this country has been built upon and has yet to dismantle, it’s more horrifying because it’s more nuanced. You have to fight it at every single step of your life. In the pursuit of your happiness, whether it’s purchasing a home and fight against the redlining and housing discrimination in the 1950s, not being able to get a loan from a bank if you wanted to purchase in a certain neighborhood, driving while Black, trying to apply for a job at a local store. It’s actually more oppressive and terrifying to me because you don’t know what to expect,you don’t know when it’s coming.”

I can definitely see the Jordan Peele influence – using racism as a horror element. Showrunner, Misha Green, mentions in her Warner Media interview how much influence Jordan Peele had stating, “When we were working on Lovecraft – he was doing the film Us at the time – we talked a lot about our shared belief regarding horror, which is: You need the metaphor. I’d played with that on ‘Underground’; that it was a heist movie but set in slavery times.”

Actor Jonathan Majors also noted Jordan Peele’s influence. “This series shows we as Black people contain multitudes. We have all these things inside of us. We know that horror is a part of our life, we know Afrofuturism is just our imagination. It gives us permission to move into any genre we want. I was surprised that Jordan Peele took Black bodies and put them into a horror genre and expanded the scope.”

Jurnee Smollet-Bell
photo courtesy of Warner Media

Tic and Leti

The series lead protagonist, Atticus Aka Tic, is played by actor Jonathan Majors. The character has a love for books and a protector mentality – an extremely compelling character. Starting off as a nerdy kid with glasses who transformed into a courageous young man, I wanted to see more background of his transition into manhood. I discovered Majors had researched his role by reading various authors, some of whom are mentioned in the series. When Atticus is introduced, he’s seen reading a book and even mentions his love for books. I ask Majors if he had to survive in a mansion filled with ghosts and monsters what historical black figure would he choose to be with him? He responded, “Fredrick Douglas and Nat Turner because, in this type of scenario, we have to do a trio. Like Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman. It would be me, Frederick Douglas, because he has the brains and Nat Turner because he’s a fighter! Go homeboy Nat!”

Leti is a very amiable character. Her confidence, charisma, and charm had my attention every time she was on screen. She embodies the strength of strong female Black lead actresses from that time period. Smollet-Bell explained the inspiration for the character came from her grandmother, whom she never got to meet. “My grandmother’s nickname was Showtime! I grew up hearing the stories about her being a single mother, raising four kids, and being so mistreated by white folks whom she cleaned the house for. Yet they could not rob her of her dignity!” Smollet-Bell also read prominent writers like James Baldwin and Gwendalyn Brooks to research for the role. She mentioned her search to find the fire inside Eartha Kitt to bring life to her character Letitia and it shows.

Misha and the Music

One of the elements that set the tone of each scene was the amazing soundtrack. I found myself lured in the various songs and speeches that really give the series life. In my head, I thought, “Yeah we needed to have a Black showrunner in charge of this show because this soundtrack is dope and engaging.” Being a music, tv, and film lover, I was definitely satisfied having all those boxes checked off in one project. Especially when artists like Moses Sumney, Leon Bridges, and Black opera singer, Marian Anderson, play throughout the course of the series.

When asked about the soundtrack selection, Misha Green explained, “Joe Pokaski and I used to talk about how do we pull the slavery portrait off the museum wall and evolve the story beyond, ‘Look at how bad slavery was’? One way was by using more vibrant camera movements; the other was through using modern music. I wanted to build on that in Lovecraft and also integrate ‘found audio’ into the score. For example, in the opening, we use voiceover from [the 1950 film] ‘The Jackie Robinson Story.’ Later we have [Ntozake Shange’s 1975 poem] For Colored Girls and [poet, Gil Scott-Heron’s] Whitey on the Moon. I love the idea of taking our show ‘out of time.’ It’s the past, present, and future. How do we wrap all of that into a unique soundscape? We want the show to be full-sensory, engaging, and have people learn from it without having to learn from it. My favorite learning experiences are immersive; those that make me re-think what I know as opposed to ‘here’s some bad history.’ How can we immerse the viewer even further? I love when I have revelations two weeks after the fact where I’m like, ‘Oh wow, ok.’”

The horror-themed time period piece, Lovecraft Country, it is in a league of its own – providing a world where fear is a theme defined in many ways and in some cases relatable. Is racism scarier than monsters, witches, and ghosts? Check out the series Lovecraft Country August 16th on HBO Max at 9pm and you can decide…

https://youtu.be/dvamPJp17Ds

LOVECRAFT COUNTRY is executive produced by Misha Green, who also serves as showrunner, Jordan Peele, and J.J. Abrams.

11Jun/20

Spike Lee’s, Da 5 Bloods, is Reflective of the #BlackLivesMatter Movement

June 11, 2020Culture#blacklivesmatter, Chadwick Boseman, Deltroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Spike LeeDapper Dr Feel

*DA 5 BLOODS* (L to R) Director SPIKE LEE, ISIAH WHITLOCK JR. as MELVIN, DELROY LINDO as PAUL, JONATHAN MAJORS as DAVID, CLARKE PETERS as OTIS and NORM LEWIS as EDDIE of DA 5 BLOODS. Cr. DAVID LEE/NETFLIX © 2020

SYNOPSIS: From Academy Award® Winner 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.

From the very start of the film Da 5 Bloods, the tone is set with a clip of Muhammad Ali’s disagreement with the Vietnam war. Issues of racism, selective patriotism, poverty, discrimination, greed, and mental health awareness were covered throughout this film – and are pretty much a sign of the times. The film even had its moments making fun of Donald Trump and how the world mocks his leadership. There were times I felt reflective, upset, and disappointed, but overall the film was one of the better high profile films I’ve seen.

Da History

I always love when Spike Lee puts history into his films, some things I have to google to make sure there is accuracy, and sometimes it’s just comforting knowing he gives a damn about our history and Black culture. I was highly impressed with the story of Milton J. Olive III, the young soldier who was awarded the medal of honor after sacrificing himself covering a bomb to save his fellow soldiers. Spike will later pay homage to this in the film. He also mentions the story of Crispus Attacks and his sacrifice for injustice, which also serves as motivation for them to get gold years later.

“My conscience won’t let me go shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big powerful America. And shoot them for what? They never called me nigger, they never lynched me, they didn’t put no dogs on me, they didn’t rob me of my nationality, rape and kill my mother and father. … Shoot them for what? How can I shoot them poor people?” – Muhammad Al

The appearance Hanoi Hannah, a Vietnamese radio personality who was most known for her broadcasting during the Vietnam war, was an interesting segment. The five soldiers listened to her speak via radio about the assassination of Martin Luther King and racially driven crimes that really had me connect with the characters. It was as if she was saying while you are over here killing people of color, the rights you claim to fight for are being stripped and Black people are being killed in the very same country you are fighting for.

*DA 5 BLOODS* (L to R) ISIAH WHITLOCK JR. as MELVIN, NORM LEWIS as EDDIE, CLARKE PETERS as OTIS, DELROY LINDO as PAUL, JONATHAN MAJORS as DAVID in *DA 5 BLOODS*. Cr. DAVID LEE/NETFLIX © 2020

I was intrigued by the French character’s interaction with the lead characters and the discussion of the French involvement with America during the war. It just made me think of how Americans perceive war and our reasons for war.

Da Cause *Spoiler Alert*

The MacGuffin of the film, the gold, was definitely a reward the soldiers deserved. Just like many Black people feel today after the blood spilled, lives lost, ideas stolen, land stolen, etc. They don’t get to enjoy the riches of a thriving economy? Damn right they made a smart call to return for that fortune. To me, it was a way they were fighting to receive their overdue reparations.

By the end of the film, it was compelling to see how it compares to what we are all experiencing right now – the importance of family and other people. I am not going to lie, during the parts where Chadwick Boseman’s character was talking about giving the money back to the people I thought, “Look at Black Panther over here taking some of the Killmonger beliefs!”

It was even cool seeing how the #BlackLivesMatter organization received some the money to help their cause…much like they are doing now after the lost lives of innocent Black people.

DA 5 BLOODS (L to R) ISIAH WHITLOCK JR. as MELVIN, NORM LEWIS as EDDIE, DELROY LINDO as PAUL, CLARKE PETERS as OTIS and JONATHAN MAJORS as DAVID in DA 5 BLOODS Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2020

Da Relationships

The relationship between Paul (Delroy Lino) and David (Jonathan Majors) I found intriguing because of the exploration of mental health and display of masculinity. Although I did want a slightly better ending to the characters, it was still good. Paul suffered severely from mental issues and internal struggles, which is later discovered. I still think it’s funny they had him supporting Trump.

Eddie (Clark Peters) and Tien was another interesting relationship, having an interracial relationship and child during the 1960s in Vietnam. Talk about a challenging time and tough situation? It was a twist I did not expect.

Da Blackness

Spike Lee always represents Blackness in his films, it’s the little things that other executives, writers, and directors don’t show. Take for instance the Moorehouse paraphernalia the character David wears or the mention of Black Lives Matter, these are things Black people need to see. How things are organic, not token, not stereotypical but the effortless display of Black culture. Hollywood should do a better job with all representations, otherwise, it diminishes the integrity of the film.

I found the use of video clips from historical events and people to be satisfying. It really gave me a reason to have a connection to the characters and to feel their pain.

Da 5 Bloods will be released June 12th on Netflix and is definitely worth watching. It does have a lot of gore during the gunfights but that is all overshadowed by the storytelling, character relationships, and conflicts within the film. Spike Lee has definitely provided the viewers with a film we will be talking about for the upcoming months.