"Highest 2 Lowest" is another triumph for Denzel and Spike

Academy Award-winning Black Hollywood icons Denzel Washington and Spike Lee reunite for their fifth collaboration in “Highest 2 Lowest,” produced by A24 and Apple Original Films. Alan Fox writes the screenplay and serves as 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 (Evan Hunter).

Washington portrays music mogul David King, the head of Stackin’ Hits Records. Once hailed for having the best ears in the music industry, King finds himself in jeopardy as his board aims to force him out. Despite this, he believes the label still has a shot at reclaiming its glory days. King is supported by his loving wife Pam (Ilfenesh Hadera), his loyal son Trey (Aubrey Joseph), and his devoted driver and best friend Paul (Jeffrey Wright). However, their lives take a dramatic turn when Trey and Paul’s son Kyle (Elijah Wright) is kidnapped by Yung Felony (A$AP Rocky), who demands a ransom of $14 million.

At its core, Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest” is a film divided into two distinct movements. The first act begins as a measured character study, gradually evolving into a kinetic street-level thriller. In the first act, we are flies on the wall in David King’s (Denzel Washington) immaculate high-rise, where the narrative meticulously unfolds his life circumstances, the kidnapping of another man’s son, and his moral struggle over whether to pay the ransom.

Then, Spike Lee opens the door and lets the city in. Once the story leaves King’s apartment, Lee shifts his filmmaking style dramatically. Dynamic, restless camerawork replaces the static framing, and the streets of New York become a living, breathing co-star. The subway serves as the film’s vibrant backbone, with the first ransom exchange taking place during the Puerto Rican Pride parade—a scene that blends elements of a heist movie, a street concert, and an urban ballet. In this section, Lee feels unbound, expertly weaving together movement, music, and misdirection with infectious energy.

From that point onward, the film never looks back. Washington embraces his action sequences, delivering them with Shakespearean gravitas, while Wright—whose role has been expanded from Kurosawa’s original—offers sly intelligence and emotional depth. The ensemble cast provides solid support, including the police assisting David, as well as those portraying his family members caught in the chaos. Notably, A$AP Rocky impresses with a sharp, layered performance, and Ice Spice makes the most of her screen time, delivering a natural, scene-stealing presence.

Cheeky, propulsive, and gripping from start to finish, “Highest 2 Lowest” is a late-career experiment from Spike Lee that pays off. The film shines brightest when it’s both playful and electrifying.

Final Grade : A

"Highest 2 Lowest" opens in limited theaters tomorrow and will be on Apple TV+ on September 5.