Highest 2 Lowest by Director Spike Lee (Inside Man) premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025. The crime thriller’s screenplay is written by William Alan Fox, an adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low (1963). I have not seen the classic film prior to the screening of Lee’s film, so it is hard to say how close to the original film it is. I enjoyed this film on its own without viewing the 1963 film, as it is set in New York City in recent years. There are many scenes of the city that general U. S. audiences will identify with, including baseball games, mass transit and the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade on 5th Avenue. It is notable that the film begins on the top floor of a high rise with beautiful penthouse views of the city, and those scenes of opulence change as the story evolves and takes the audience to the other less wealthy residences, businesses and areas of public transportation. This collaboration of friends Lee and Washington is a must see. Denzel does not disappoint in his role of a businessman with keen abilities to discover musicians and hit making music.
David King (Denzel Washington) is a record producer and CEO of Stackin’ Hits records. He is about to make a financial transaction for his company, but a call comes through to make him take a couple steps back. A kidnapping has occurred from the school sports camp that involves his son Trey (Aubrey Joseph) and his best friend Kyle (Elijah Wright), the son of his friend and chauffeur Paul Christopher (Jeffrey Wright). After a bit of drama on how to proceed, King and his wife Pam (Ilfenesh Hadera) give into the ransom demands.
Leaving the wealthy penthouse, King decides to take the required dollars to go get Kyle, taking public transit to the streets, demanded by the kidnapper. And said kidnapper most likely does not know or remember where King started his business back in the day. King’s journey is what kicks the Spike Lee film into full action mode shot by cinematographer Matthew Libatique. Before long, music on repeat and hints give way to identifying the kidnapper, an aspiring rapper Yung Felon (ASAP Rocky) who yearns to make it big. My favorite scenes are between Denzel and ASAP Rocky when they come face to face. I won’t say more to not spoil how great the two stars shine in their performance.
Of course, I cannot leave out Jeffery Wright and his great performance, considering he plays a character that is quite different from David King, at least in wealth and status. In other ways, they can be similar and those will be left for the audience to view.
It is great that the choice is made to include the Puerto Rican Day Parade as part of the film when there is action in the streets. Rosie Perez and Anthony Ramos are seen on stage presenting the legendary musician Eddie Palmieri and the Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra. It is heartwarming to see the New York City born Grammy winning composer/musician on the big screen since he passed away on August 6, days before the release of the film.
Cast: Denzel Washington as David King, Jeffrey Wright as Paul Christopher, Ilfenesh Hadera as Pam King, A$AP Rocky as Yung Felon, Dean Winters as Det. Higgins, Michael Potts as Patrick Bethea, among others.
The film is rated R and will be available in theaters on August 15 and streaming on Apple TV+ Sept. 5
Source: A24, Apple TV+
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