Highest 2 Lowest
Directed by: Spike Lee
Written by: Alan Fox
Starring: Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, A$AP Rocky
Release Date: August 15, 2025
Streaming on: Apple TV+
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)
Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest transforms Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low into a sharp, modern thriller about power, morality, and music. Denzel Washington delivers one of his most commanding performances in years.
Spike Lee Meets Akira Kurosawa
Spike Lee reimagining a film by Akira Kurosawa? Someone pinch me. Highest 2 Lowest sounds like a dream collaboration — a fusion of two filmmakers known for their moral complexity and visual boldness. Based loosely on Kurosawa’s High and Low, Lee’s film reshapes the classic into a contemporary story about art, money, and moral compromise.
The result is one of Lee’s most contained, focused, and emotionally resonant dramas in years — a grown-up story with real weight, rare in modern Hollywood.
A Music Mogul on the Edge
Denzel Washington stars as David King, the head of a once-dominant hip-hop label now losing its grip. As David evolved from discovering talent to managing an empire, the creative spark that made him powerful began to dim. With his company facing a corporate takeover, David prepares a bold move: using his fortune to buy out his partners and reclaim his independence.
But just as the deal is about to close, tragedy strikes — his son is kidnapped. A ransom demand puts him in an impossible position: save his child, or save his company. What begins as a business thriller soon becomes a test of loyalty, morality, and identity.
Lee’s Direction: Controlled Chaos with a Pulse
Working from a script by Alan Fox, Spike Lee delivers one of his sharpest, most controlled films in years. He brings a sense of playfulness and tension to every scene, especially in a breathtaking subway chase sequence that recalls the energy of Inside Man.
Lee balances the slick, corporate world with moments of raw emotion and humor, blending social commentary with cinematic flair. His fingerprints are all over the film — from the rhythmic pacing to the bold use of music and color.
Denzel Washington at His Most Relaxed and Magnetic
Denzel Washington hasn’t felt this natural on screen in years. As David King, he radiates confidence and quiet power. His eyes — always his most expressive tool — carry the story’s emotional weight, communicating pride, fear, and heartbreak with remarkable subtlety.
Jeffrey Wright provides an intense counterbalance as a desperate ally, while Ilfenesh Hadera shines as David’s poised and perceptive wife. The real surprise, however, is A$AP Rocky, whose key scene with Washington showcases unexpected chemistry and depth. Rather than overshadowing his young co-star, Denzel lifts him up — a testament to both his skill and generosity as an actor.
Apple TV’s Strange Release Strategy
Highest 2 Lowest had an oddly muted rollout. After earning praise at Cannes, the film received a limited theatrical release before quietly landing on Apple TV+ — with almost no marketing. It’s a baffling move that likely kept many viewers, myself included, from discovering it sooner.
Now that it’s streaming, Highest 2 Lowest is exactly the kind of film worth catching up on: bold, adult, and beautifully made. For Spike Lee, it’s a return to form — and for Denzel Washington, it’s another reminder of why he remains one of cinema’s greatest living actors.
Final Thoughts
Highest 2 Lowest is more than a remake — it’s a reawakening. Lee and Washington turn Kurosawa’s moral puzzle into a modern parable about power and conscience, grounded in music, family, and business. It’s an unmissable entry in both men’s legacies — and a highlight of 2025 cinema that too few people have seen.
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