Highest 2 Lowest might not be the best work in Spike Lee’s career, but there’s no denying the distinctive strengths.
Spike Lee’s latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, arrives with all the promise of a modern reimagining of the 1963 film High and Low from director Akira Kurosawa. And, on the surface, the elements are there. The film looks gorgeous, with sweeping cityscapes and intimate, shadow-drenched interiors that highlight the tension between wealth and struggle. Its cast is stacked with heavyweight talent, and Denzel Washington commands the screen every time he appears. Yet, for all of its impressive visual style and powerhouse acting, the film stumbles where it matters most: in the story.
From the opening frame, Lee and cinematographer Matthew Libatique establish a visual language that feels alive. Every shot seems purposeful, whether it’s a looming wide of the New York skyline or a claustrophobic close-up that traps its characters in emotional turmoil. It’s the kind of cinematography that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll—lush, precise, and expressive without ever feeling indulgent. The look and feel of Highest 2 Lowest is arguably among Lee’s best in recent years.
Of course, no Spike Lee joint is complete without top-tier performances, and Highest 2 Lowest delivers. Washington once again proves why he’s in a class of his own. His portrayal of David King, a music mogul forced to confront an unthinkable moral dilemma, is magnetic. He imbues the role with equal parts authority and fragility, making every decision feel heavy with consequence. Even when the script falters, Washington’s performance grounds the film.
Denzel’s Commanding Lead, Wright’s Steady Brilliance.
Jeffrey Wright, as King’s loyal driver and confidant Paul Christopher, is predictably excellent. Wright has built a career out of quiet intensity, and here he adds much-needed texture and humanity. He’s an actor who never disappoints, and in many ways, his steadiness keeps the film from veering completely off-course. The chemistry between Wright and Washington is strong enough that one wishes the narrative leaned even harder into their dynamic.
On the other side of the moral equation stands A$AP Rocky, whose turn as the kidnapper injects energy but also recalls earlier roles. His performance is slick and watchable, but it gave me flashbacks to 2015’s Dope—that same mix of youthful charisma and streetwise unpredictability.
While he carries the menace the story demands, the writing undercuts his character, offering little in the way of real complexity. It’s another example of how the film’s narrative setup holds back performances that could have soared.
When the story falters.
This is where Highest 2 Lowest struggles most. Kurosawa’s original story hinges on stark moral choices rooted in class division, but Lee’s adaptation muddies those stakes. By reshaping relationships and softening the central dilemma, the script undercuts the tension that made the source material so devastating. What should feel like a crushing ethical quandary instead plays like a foregone conclusion. The narrative gestures toward weighty themes—wealth, power, loyalty—but rarely digs deep enough to resonate.
That’s not to say the film is without redeeming qualities. Beyond the acting and visuals, there are moments of genuine suspense, and Lee’s fingerprints are all over the film in its energy, style, and cultural references. But the film never quite coalesces into the sharp, impactful statement it clearly wants to be. Instead, it ends up as a curious mix of brilliance and missed opportunity.
The bottom line.
Highest 2 Lowest is a film of contradictions: visually dazzling but narratively thin, stacked with great performances but lacking in emotional punch. Washington and Wright elevate the material with ease, and the cinematography is worth the price of admission alone. A$AP Rocky brings flavor, even if it feels familiar, and Lee’s direction still crackles with ambition. But when the credits roll, it’s hard to shake the feeling that this could have been so much more.
Ultimately, Highest 2 Lowest is a showcase of masterful performances and stunning visuals weighed down by a story that never finds its footing. Spike Lee has delivered something watchable, at times even thrilling, but far from his best.
Highest 2 Lowest is in theaters now and will be available on Apple TV this Friday. Watch the trailer here.
Images courtesy of A24 and Apple TV+.
REVIEW RATING
-
Highest 2 Lowest - 7/10
7/10
Alyshia is the Interviews Editor for InBetweenDrafts. A self-proclaimed pop culture enthusiast, she watches B-movies in her spare time and hopes to make one some day. Apart from writing, she is a publicist fully immersed in the world of entertainment.
No Comments