Highest 2 Lowest (2025)

“Highest 2 Lowest” stars Denzel Washington, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, ASAP Rocky, and Ice Spice.  Released on August 15, 2025, the film follows a music mogul who becomes embroiled in a life-or-death moral dilemma.

The film was directed by Spike Lee, who also directed films such as “Do the Right Thing”, “Malcolm X”, “Inside Man”, and “Da 5 Bloods”.  It is an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 Japanese film “High and Low”, which is loosely based on the 1959 novel King’s Ransom by Ed McBain (also known as Evan Hunter).  When you’re at the top of the game in the media empire, be it music or another field, it often feels like nobody can hinder your success.  However, there have been instances that challenge this notion, particularly when someone schemes to take your money by any means necessary.  As we approach the tail end of the summer, theaters are showcasing several less captivating films that might fare better on streaming platforms than on the big screen.  Yet, one particular movie just happened to catch my attention, mainly due to the much-anticipated collaboration between Spike Lee and Denzel Washington.  Five years after his work on “Da 5 Bloods”, Spike Lee, a prominent voice in black cinema, aims to provide some early awards competition with an American adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s police procedural classic…set for streaming, of course.  Luckily, it has secured a theatrical release ahead of its debut on Apple TV+ next month, much to the excitement of the director’s fans.  Does this film deliver a harmoniously thrilling piece of music worth listening to, or should we consider skipping this track?  Let’s find out.

The story centers on David King (Washington), a titan of the music industry, renowned for his astute examination of the music business, which has made him one of the most prosperous businessmen in New York City.  As David strives to gain complete control of his music empire, he receives the alarming news that an unidentified kidnapper has taken his son, Trey (Aubrey Joseph), hostage, intending to ransom him for a hefty sum.  However, David soon discovers that the kidnapper has mistakenly abducted Kyle (Elijah Wright), the son of Paul Christopher (Wright), yet continues to demand the ransom.  David now faces a crucial decision: should he pay the ransom to rescue Kyle or use the money he has to pursue his own ambitions?

Initially, I was considering reviewing either “Americana” or “Witchboard” after “Nobody 2”.  However, upon discovering that “Highest 2 Lowest” is also playing at my local cinema, I opted to see it instead.  My decision was influenced by two reasons: Spike Lee and Denzel Washington.  Spike Lee has consistently demonstrated his prowess as an inspiring and masterful filmmaker, particularly within the African-American community, through his influential and thought-provoking classics.  But it wasn’t until I watched “BlacKkKlansman” and “Da 5 Bloods” that I started to fully understand his craft.  As for Denzel Washington…I’ll let you guess why.  It’s also worth noting that this was the first time I had heard of Akira Kurosawa’s “High and Low”, as I have yet to watch the original. As a result, this review marks my introduction to its narrative reimagined for American audiences.

For those familiar with “High and Low”, “Highest 2 Lowest” serves as a fresh reimagining of that movie, infusing the storyline with the vibrant energy of New York City and its modern music scene.  It mirrors the original’s narrative tension, centering around a wealthy man faced with a pivotal decision during a ransom crisis.  However, at its core, it also served as an inspiring tribute to the bustling streets of New York City and the current landscape of the music industry.  Whenever a remake attempts to be more modern for the current generation, notably American renditions of international films, it often risks losing much of the appeal that catapulted the original to success.  Fortunately, “Highest 2 Lowest” managed to avoid this common pitfall by not just retaining the beats of Kurosawa’s original film but also carving out its own distinct identity.  The result is another masterful and dynamically invigorating cinematic joint that reflects Spike Lee’s genuine portrayal of life’s highs and lows within specific communities and media, especially those involving African Americans.  Whether viewers are familiar with Kurosawa’s 1963 adaptation of “King’s Ransom” or not, they are likely to find “Highest 2 Lowest” both entertaining and thought-provoking, sparking meaningful discussions through its insightful social commentaries.

One of the most commendable aspects of Spike Lee’s works is his remarkable ability to seamlessly balance an ostensibly conventional genre narrative with timely and often metaphorical reflections on Black history and contemporary media trends.  This type of blend revitalizes the tropes we’ve seen a million times before, infusing them with a vibrant and dynamic flair, while skillfully weaving in the melodic chorus of current events.  He delivers entertaining and uniquely atmospheric harmonies that speak from the soul about the world we inhabit today.  “Highest 2 Lowest” is unsurprisingly no exception, as Lee masterfully channeled his visually captivating energy and storytelling expertise from previous films into the lively streets of New York City and the music industry, highlighting the essence and spirit of these two elements.  Despite its two-hour-and-thirteen-minute runtime, the film didn’t feel like it overstayed its welcome.  Lee’s nuanced vision, combined with brisk editing, ensured that its seemingly slow dramatic scenes maintained the intrigue and excitement of the characters’ conversations and production designs, making its thriller aspects all the more rewarding.  The film exemplified what Spike Lee does best: providing a dynamically crafted and ambitiously appealing perspective on life.  This was particularly evident through Matthew Libatique’s superb cinematography, which employed old-school filters to great effect.

In addition to the direction, Alan Fox’s screenplay had the task of balancing traditional crime thriller elements with layered social commentary.  It aimed to provide audiences with a classic sense of suspense derived from a ransom plot while avoiding overt preachiness on contemporary issues.  Regarding the film’s dialogue and nuanced themes, I’d say that it did the job perfectly.  As previously mentioned, “Highest 2 Lowest” not only reflects on New York City but also delves into the music industry, especially concerning Black musicians.  While some achieve success, whether in the media or otherwise, it often comes with the risk of that fame being exploited, particularly through social media or ransom situations.  For the latter, it underscores the theme of greed, encapsulated in the quote, “all money ain’t good money”, highlighting that true success requires more than wealth.  With a deft blend of wit and slickness in its narrative beats, Alan Fox utilized his script’s tropes to produce a consistently thrilling and insightful music track worthy of topping the charts.  Howard Drossin’s musical score also adeptly captured the lively atmosphere of the film’s settings, as well as its thrilling sequences, particularly the subway train scene.  It could’ve incorporated some more hip-hop music to further emphasize the music industry’s specific facets, but the music offered just enough in its originality to reflect the film’s upbeat vibe.

It bears repeating that Denzel Washington remains one of my favorite actors working in the industry.  Whether he’s taking on roles in drama, action, or thriller genres, Washington never fails to impress his fans with his charismatic presence and acting style.  Unsurprisingly, his exceptional performance in “Highest 2 Lowest” is another testament to his enduring prowess, showcasing once again why he’s still the best in the business.  He was absolutely phenomenal as David King, infusing his character’s charm and resilience with the inner complexities that challenge his morality.  I would even argue that his performance is more worthy of awards attention than his performance in “Gladiator II”.  Jeffrey Wright also deserves recognition for his outstanding portrayal of Paul Christopher, highlighting the actor’s impressive track record through his dynamic and brotherly chemistry with Washington.  A noteworthy scene involving Paul’s relieving reaction could very well position Wright as a strong contender in this year’s awards season, in my opinion.  I would also like to commend ASAP Rocky for his surprisingly impressive performance as the rapper Yung Felon.  Unfortunately, I can’t give too much away about his character in case you want to go in blind.  However, I will say that ASAP Rocky successfully rapped his way into the cinematic realm with his performance, especially in his interactions with Washington’s David King.  Additionally, Ice Spice made her film debut with a single scene that, despite her short screen time, was admirable enough to leave a good impression on her fans.

Overall, “Highest 2 Lowest” expertly aligns with the rhythm of its lively and insightfully thrilling melody, further highlighting Spike Lee’s visionary prowess and narrative depth.  The film is another testament to the filmmaker’s storytelling abilities and distinct cinematic voice, delivering a well-acted and consistently engaging crime thriller that explores the highs and lows of the music industry.  Fans of the filmmaker may debate the film’s position within Lee’s filmography, depending on their expectations.  Based on my current perspective on his work, I think some of his previous films, like “Da 5 Bloods”, resonate more profoundly regarding their timely themes.  Nevertheless, I still find this piece of cinematic music astounding to listen to, greatly enhanced by its exceptional cast, Lee’s energetic direction, sharply balanced screenplay, and riveting score.  Although it is set to release on Apple TV+ next month, I recommend catching it on the big screen if it’s showing at your local theater, especially for those who appreciate Lee’s other films.

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