What do you get when you combine a 1960s classic noir film with the hustle and bustle of the New York music scene?
You get a new classic, Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest.
Making American versions of international films is hard to do, and it’s even harder to do it correctly. But Lee seemed to learn his lesson from his critically panned Oldboy remake.
Highest 2 Lowest follows David King (Denzel Washington), a music executive with the “best ears in the business.” The day King is attempting to buy back his company, “Stackin’ Hits Records,” is also the day tragedy strikes: someone kidnaps his son, Trey, and is holding him for ransom. But here’s the twist: Trey hasn’t been kidnapped. The boy that’s being held for ransom is actually Kyle, Trey’s best friend and the son of King’s chauffeur and close friend, Paul Christopher (Jeffrey Wright).
King is faced with the choice to lose his life’s work or be responsible for the death of Kyle. But this isn’t his only conflict. Highest 2 Lowest is about culture, and the “grind” to become successful, which eventually leads to unhappiness and obsession.
Denzel Washington takes us through King’s journey, from his highest points to his lowest. Though he starts the film high up in his penthouse apartment, he is a shallow man who sacrifices his family’s stability for a taste of his former glory, instead of the man he claims to be–someone who cares about the music and the culture behind it.
The supporting cast, made up of Jeffrey Wright as Paul, Ilfenesh Hadera as King’s wife Pam, and Aubrey Joseph as Trey King, round out Washington’s performance, serving as a council that challenges King’s morals.
A$AP Rocky steals the show as Yung Fellon, the main antagonist of the film. Without spoiling too much, Yung Fellon is the perfect foil to King and just serves as a reminder of the lengths people are willing to go to be successful.
Beyond the performances, the film itself is stunning. Lee paints a beautiful picture of New York City, taking the time to linger on shots of buildings— but more importantly, taking the time to linger on the people.
The ransom exchange is set during the Puerto Rican Day Parade, which also falls on the day of a Yankees game. Instead of just passing them by, Lee chooses to celebrate them, holding on shots of Eddie Palmieri’s music and the community of Yankees fans. Lee uses real film to depict real people.
If you love New York, music, and good movies, Highest 2 Lowest is a must-see film. Highest 2 Lowest will be streaming on Apple TV+ on September 5.
(Feature photo courtesy of A24)
