Highest 2 Lowest (dir. Spike Lee)
By: Nick Zednik
A nearly 20 year reunion in the making sees Denzel Washington and Spike Lee together again for the first time since Lee’s New York bank heist mystery, Inside Man (2006). Like a rock band putting out a new album after a long hiatus, Highest 2 Lowest, a remake of Akira Kurosawa's High and Low (1963). Washington (Malcom X, Training Day) and Lee’s reunion is worth the price of admission alone, and the two pros fall back into an electric rhythm, with Washington exceptionally commanding the screen as he’s typically known to do, by portraying a morally complex music mogul who wonders if his time is up or if he’s just getting started again.
While the Washington/Lee duo works, Highest 2 Lowest is not a home run. The first half is a bumpy ride with an overly distracting piano-backed score by Howard Drossin that cuts into key moments of dialogue and scenes looking to provide emotional connection. Director Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing, Blackkklansman) follows the basic premise of Kurosawa's classic, telling the story of a kidnapping gone wrong and the tough decisions that follow. Washington is David King, who runs Stackin' Hits Records. We're told (repeatedly) that David has the best ears in the business, but Stackin' Hits hasn't “stacked” any hits since 2004, and the company is on borrowed time. The plot runs on a slippery slope with balancing and ultimately, rushing through the kidnapping portion to transition into a commentary on today’s music industry and society’s over-reliance to use social media platforms as a means to gain attention and get ahead.
Despite the many conveniences, such as the simplicity within the ransom - “I took the wrong kid, but I still want my money,” Lee’s showcase of the wealthy’s unwillingness to hand out money for reasons based on integrity instead of politically-based was a bold choice. Another highlight is the excellent Jeffery Wright (American Fiction), who plays a friend of the family and desperate father in need of getting his son back. Very few directors can make New York City feel like its own character the way Spike Lee does, albeit people frantically chanting profanity towards the Boston Red Sox on a subway train as they make way towards Yankee Stadium or the hustle of the everyday person going into work as they maneuver around getting an uber on a busy street.
Despite the inconsistencies in Highest 2 Lowest, it eventually finds its footing when A$AP Rocky hits the screen and exudes extreme confidence as he goes up against Hollywood legend, Denzel Washington. The pair's hilarious, rapid-fire banter regarding the music business and what defines a great artist today really shines. The original song “Highest 2 Lowest” performed by British singer, Aiyana-Lee is also sure to be memorable. Washington and Lee’s reunion may not have been a home run, but it’s a very satisfying double that’s worthy of being seen.
Nick’s Pick: 7.5/10 Despite flaws that can easily be overlooked, Highest 2 Lowest marks an entertaining collaboration between iconic personalities Denzel Washington and Spike Lee. Featuring a runtime that moves with breakneck pace, Lee’s latest employs his trademark thrilling style in addition to a brand of humor that both hardcore cinephiles and casual moviegoers will appreciate.