Denzel Washington, Spike Lee off key with ‘Highest 2 Lowest’; Jude Law, Jason Bateman soar

If “Highest 2 Lowest,” as has been reported, is the cinematic coda for Denzel Washington and director Spike Lee, it goes out on a discordant note.

Any Lee-Washington collaboration has generally yielded entertaining (“Inside Man”) to classic (“Malcolm X”) films. “Highest,” which is currently streaming exclusively on Apple TV+,” is inconsistent, featuring several great scenes looking for some semblance of tempo and rhythm. It rarely comes close to finding either.

Based on and adapted from the film “High and Low” directed by Akiro Kurosawa, it tells the story of record executive David King, a man with the best ears in the business with the ability to pick out music talent.

He’s living the high life and is in the midst of making a deal to control 100 percent of his record company. But just when things are looking sunny for him, clouds appear on the horizon.

Denzel Washington stars as music executive David King in the Spike Lee film “Highest 2 Lowest” on Apple TV+.

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King is a wealthy man and folks know it. Additionally, in his line of work he’s made more than a few enemies. The latter reveals itself when his son Trey (Aubrey Joseph) is kidnapped – except he isn’t. The bungling kidnappers snatch up Trey’s best friend, Kyle (Elijah Wright) and the son of his father’s best friend Paul (Jeffrey Wright).

It brings a conundrum to David. He was perfectly willing to pony up $17.5 million to get his son back and, in the process, scuttle the business deal he had in the works, but people are pulling at him to do the same for Kyle. He ponders, debates himself and others and eventually agrees — with assurances from the FBI that they will protect his cash.

From there, things go completely off the rails with respect to narrative. While during the span where David makes the initial money drop possesses a certain thrill, it goes mostly downhill from there.

That’s unfortunate because no director should ever waste the talents of actors such as Washington and Wright, who attempt to spin gold from Alan Cox’s scattershot script. Additionally, rapper A$AP Rocky gives an angry, charismatic performance that falls into the same category as the topliners.

Lee has shown that he’s more than capable of directing from scripts he’s not written, “Inside Man” being a prime example. But he doesn’t seem to know how to put his stamp on this one.

Prepare for a different Jason Bateman in ‘Black Rabbit’

“Black Rabbit,” the limited series starring Jude Law and Jason Bateman that premieres Thursday (Sept. 18) on Netflix is a study in addictions and the repercussions that come from not confronting and controlling them.

They star as brothers Jake and Vince Friedken, respectively.

Jake runs a Manhattan hotspot – a bar and dining concept originally conceived by Vince, prior him being forced out. The brothers’ loyalty to one another is unquestioned, except for when it comes to the business. It’s then that the fractures reveal themselves in some areas. Jake reluctantly agreed that Vince had to go after a tragedy that affected a Black Rabbit (the restaurant’s name) staffer.

Left to right: Jason Bateman as Vince, Jude Law as Jake "Black Rabbit" on Netflix. — Left to right: Jason Bateman as Vince, Jude Law as Jake “Black Rabbit” on Netflix.

That tragedy came as a direct consequence of drug and alcohol abuse by Vince. Couple that with a heaping dose of gambling issues and Vinnie-boy has an addiction trifecta going.

What are Jake’s addictions? Well, there is the allure of wealth and prestige for one as he works to grease the skids so that the Rabbit evolves into the No. 1 haven for Manhattan’s movers and shakers. He’s also got his ambitions focused on going downtown and he has to ensure everything is financially pristine at the Black Rabbit to comfort potential investors.

The other addiction? Vince. As one of his staff members so bluntly puts it: Vince. Despite the litany of screwups that his older brother leaves in his destructive wake, Jake cannot help but remain loyal and dutiful in ensuring his brother remains above ground – literally.

All of these things combine to take the siblings down a dark, dangerous path where a lot of people close to them potentially get torched in their wake.

“Black Rabbit,” created by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, is a fascinating character study with two actors up to the task. Bateman is grungy and manipulative and while audiences are used to seeing the latter in characters he portrays, the former is a revelation.

Law is charming and seductive as a man struggling to hold his life together, including paying the costly tuition for his son’s elite music school.

The first episode proves to be a bit of a slog, but from the second on, it becomes a tense character study where the audience is invested in what happens to the duo. It is a must-see.

Coming soon: We’ve been too long without ‘A Knives Out Mystery’

Curious as what comes next in the life of Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) from “Knives Out?” You’re welcome (trailer has mild language issue):

Everyone likes ‘Wednesday’ on Netflix

Based on the most recent streaming ratings for the week ending Aug. 17, everyone – at least a lot of folks – likes the Tim Burton Netflix series “Wednesday,” which led the Top 10 for the week. Here’s a complete rundown: