I\u2019ve been waiting for Highest 2 Lowest since it was announced.<\/p>\n
Reason one? I\u2019m a huge Denzel Washington<\/a> fan. Reason two? I\u2019m a huge fan of Washington\u2019s collaborations with legendary director Spike Lee<\/a>. The two have worked together on many classics throughout the years, such as Mo’ Better Blues (1990), Malcolm X (1996) and He Got Game<\/a> (1998). Their last collaboration, 2006\u2019s Inside Man, was nearly 20 years ago, so, needless to say, I was first in line at my local theater to catch an early showing of their new movie, Highest 2 Lowest. The film is a modern reinterpretation of the 1963 classic Japanese film, High and Low. Set in New York City, Highest 2 Lowest follows David King (Washington), an influential music mogul whose morality is tested when his son is kidnapped.<\/p>\n While the film is scheduled to be released via Apple TV on September 5, I had a feeling it needed to be seen in a theater to get the full effect, and I was right. The biggest reason the movie is a must-see is because of Washington. At 70-years-old, the iconic actor hasn\u2019t lost a step, delivering a powerful performance packed with layers. Washington plays an astute businessman, but also a loving father willing to do anything for his child. We\u2019ve seen Washington in a somewhat similar role (though the circumstances were very different) in 2002\u2019s John Q.<\/a>, which I personally believe should have been the first to get him his first leading man Academy Award.<\/p>\n In John Q., Washington stars as a man named John, whose nine-year-old son is in desperate need of a heart transplant that requires a $75,000 deposit. John and his wife (Kimberly Elise) only have $1,000 to their name, so what does John do? Well\u2026he holds the entire hospital hostage until he gets what he needs for his son. We\u2019ve also seen Washington in fighter\/agent mode on multiple occasions, including The Equalizer series that has been popular over the past decade or so.<\/p>\n A24<\/p>\n If I had to sum up Washington\u2019s performance in Highest 2 Lowest in a few short words, I would say it\u2019s John Q. meets The Equalizer with a twist. Jeffrey Wright delivers an incredibly emotional performance as well. I believe Wright is one of the most underrated actors in the business right now and is frequently overlooked in the best actor conversations. Sure, he\u2019s gotten an Oscar nomination, but that still doesn\u2019t feel like enough.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also the incorporation of what I call the \u201cSpike Lee details”: The stunning cinematography (the credit goes to Matthew Libatique, here), the love letters to New York, the powerful scenes and the musical score\u2026it\u2019s all brilliant, beautiful and adds to the engaging storyline. And in true Spike Lee fashion (especially when it comes to his collaborations with Washington), the film is packed with social commentary, and the second half takes a turn and leads to a dramatic finish.<\/p>\n A24<\/p>\n If I had one complaint, it would be that everything I mentioned above could have been amplified a bit more\u2014I mean, that\u2019s what you expect out of a Denzel Washington-Spike Lee film, right? Drama, action and pivotal moments to the max. They\u2019re present in Highest 2 Lowest, but more subtly compared to their previous work together. But perhaps that\u2019s the point…storytelling isn\u2019t always a straight line or what you come to expect out of somebody. Sometimes, it\u2019s evolving, changing and adapting with the times. Sometimes, it\u2019s not about what you would have done in 1996 or even 2006; it\u2019s about what you do in 2025.<\/p>\n But however you look at it, Highest 2 Lowest meets the mark (and then some) in that it still brings what we love the most out of a Washington-Lee collaboration, while taking a different direction.<\/p>\n Highest 2 Lowest is currently in theaters and will be available to stream on September 5.<\/p>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
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