The Pitch: In the North Atlantic during World War II exists a stretch of water known as the Black Pit. It’s there, beyond the reach of any air support, convoys of American supply ships heading toward a battered Britain are attacked by hunting wolfpacks of German U-Boats. Their only protection in this perilous span of water comes by way of accompanying destroyers. One such ship, the USS Keeling (call sign “Greyhound”), is helmed by Commander Ernest Krause (Tom Hanks), who must safeguard his convoy over the course of 50 hours in his first-ever wartime command. Adapted by Hanks from C. S. Forester’s novel The Good Shepherd, Greyhound’s subject matter should come as no surprise. The two-time Academy Award winning actor has explored other World War II stories as the star of Saving Private Ryan ...
The Pitch: Five bloods, four surviving soldiers, the fall of Saigon, a hunt for gold, and the ever-lasting damage and degradation of war. Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods is his take on Vietnam through the eyes of African American grunts, both past and present. Vietnam, 1971. Paul (Delroy Lindo), Eddie (Norm Lewis), Otis (Clark Peters), Melvin (Isaiah Whitlock Jr.), and Norman (Chadwick Boseman) are a battalion that finds a crate filled with Vietnamese gold. Knowing they can’t just grab it and go, the men bury the prize with the hope of coming back for it when the time is right. In the meantime, they’re fighting in a war they’re not sure they need to be a part of, questioning the dangers of this foreign land against the rioting, fires, and protests at home. Ho Chi Minh City. Today. Paul, Eddie, Oti...
Spike Lee is back with a new joint next month. The legendary filmmaker will premiere Da 5 Bloods, his highly anticipated follow-up to 2018’s BlacKkKlansman, on Netflix on Friday, June 12th. Today, he’s dropped its epic first trailer. Soundtracked by the Chamber Brothers’ excellent “Time Has Come Today”, the trailer gives a stylish first look at the post-war film that stars Chadwick Boseman, Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Paul Walter, and Jean Reno. Once again, the film follows four veterans who return to Vietnam searching for the remains of their fallen squad leader — and some treasure. Watch below. [embedded content] Lee directed and co-wrote the script with Danny Bilson, Paul DeMeo, Matt Billingsly, and Kevin Willmott, the latter of whom aided Lee and Charlie Wachtel on their Oscar-winni...