Jonathan Willmott

Kevin Willmott collaborated with Spike Lee on the 2020 American war drama film 'Da 5 Bloods.' The movie, which Lee also directed and produced, tells the story of four aging Vietnam War veterans who return to Vietnam to find the remains of their fallen squad leader and a buried treasure. The script was initially written by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo in 2013, but Lee and Willmott re-worked it after their previous collaboration on 'BlacKkKlansman.' Filming took place in Southeast Asia in 2019, with the film being released by Netflix in June 2020. Critics generally praised the film for its direction, themes, and performances, with some considering it among Lee's best works. The film garnered several award nominations and was recognized by the National Board of Review as the Best Film of 2020.

The screenplay for 'Da 5 Bloods' originated in 2013 as a spec script titled 'The Last Tour,' penned by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo. Initially, Oliver Stone was slated to direct. In 2017, producer Lloyd Levin brought the script to Spike Lee, who then undertook a significant re-write with Kevin Willmott. Their collaboration shifted the narrative perspective to focus on an African-American experience and incorporated flashback sequences, while also expanding the character of 'Stormin' Norman.' Lee drew inspiration from Wallace Terry's 1984 book 'Bloods: An Oral History of the Vietnam War by Black Veterans,' which he also assigned to the film's actors for their research. Initial casting considerations included prominent actors such as Samuel L. Jackson and Denzel Washington, but scheduling conflicts led to their departures.

Principal photography for 'Da 5 Bloods' commenced in March 2019 and spanned three months, primarily in Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai. A notable aspect of the production was Spike Lee's decision to have the main cast, many of whom were in their sixties, portray their characters' younger, 20-year-old selves in flashback scenes without employing de-aging technology or extensive makeup. Lee viewed this as a deliberate artistic choice to emphasize how the characters remain psychologically tethered to their wartime experiences. The film employs distinct aspect ratios to differentiate between time periods and locations: 1960s flashbacks were shot in 1.33:1 on 16 mm film to evoke the look of newsreel footage, while modern city scenes utilized a widescreen 2.39:1 ratio, and jungle scenes were framed in 1.85:1 to convey the environment's immensity.

'Da 5 Bloods' delves into themes of trauma, memory, brotherhood, and the lingering impact of the Vietnam War on its Black veterans. The narrative explores the psychological burdens carried by the characters, particularly Paul's struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder. The film's score was composed by Terence Blanchard and incorporates several songs from the early 1970s, most notably six tracks from Marvin Gaye's 1971 album 'What's Going On.' This musical selection was integral to conveying the film's emotional and social context. Additionally, the first names of the six main characters mirror those of The Temptations and their producer Norman Whitfield, adding another layer of cultural resonance.