Denzel Washington Returns in Spike Lee’s Crime Film Highest 2 Lowest
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Info in Movie News | Denzel Washington is back in action with director Spike Lee in the new crime thriller Highest 2 Lowest, a modern retelling of a classic story of morality and power. The movie will debut at the Cannes Film Festival before hitting theaters on August 22, followed by a streaming release on Apple TV+ starting September 5.
According to Variety, Highest 2 Lowest is loosely adapted from Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, itself based on Ed McBain’s crime novel The King’s Ransom. The story centers around David King, a powerful music industry executive, who finds himself entangled in a kidnapping scheme that tests his moral compass. Washington is at the head of the table playing King, a character that is in between caring for his empire and saving a life.
The movie was shot in New York City in order to put Kurosawa's themes of justice and ethical conflict in a contemporary urban context. Spike Lee then added his narrative rhythm and visual style making it the stress with poetic voice-overs and kinetic editing. The teaser begins with a striking shot of the Brooklyn Bridge, which is complemented by Washington's reflective narration and at the same time it is seen as the moody, stylish tone establishment.
The teaser doesn't immediately reveal the plot, instead, it serves as an homage to the previous movies of Lee and Washington. The characters' and the directors' partnership counts over three decades until now, and it strengthens the expectation for this new one.
The casting features a handful of the Hollywood industry's renaissance and several new talents, including Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, Dean Winters, Michael Potts, and music stars A$AP Rock and Ice Spice. The case portrays the world of music and fame, where public and private values interact, and which has a considerable effect on public relations.
In an interview at the Red Sea Film Festival, Spike Lee talked about his creative influences and how Akira Kurosawa was a person of great importance to him.
“One of the best things about film school is getting exposed to world cinema,” Lee said. He recalled how Rashomon inspired the multi-perspective narrative style of his debut movie, She’s Gotta Have It. That influence continues in Highest 2 Lowest, which promises a layered, character-driven story rather than a typical action-driven thriller.
Cinematographer Matthew Libatique, best known for his work on Black Swan and A Star is Born, was in charge of creating the visuals for this project and the outcome was a representation of a dynamic and multi-textured world which was a mix of both real and stylized scenes that were deeply emotion-packed and character-driven.
This is Spike Lee's first feature movie since Da 5 Bloods in 2020. The movie, with star power, a high-profile premiere, and a strong cultural background, has the potential to become a game-changer and more than just a return for the cineas. It’s a movie with something to say, anchored by a lead performance that could be one of Washington’s most compelling in years.
If you’re tracking major releases for 2025, this one deserves a spot at the top of your list.
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