Written by: Alan Fox
Starring: Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, ASAP Rocky
Rating: [4/5]
It takes some gumption and gall to try and try to adapt the same work as Akira Kurosawa, one of the greatest filmmakers in the history of cinema. Especially one of the very best films the Japanese filmmaker has ever crafted. Leave it to Spike Lee to attempt something so daring as all doubt subsides as he creates his very own interaction of this story through a very New York City lens that more than carries its own value.
Music mogul David King (Denzel Washington) seeks to maintain control of his record label to avoid acquisition by buying out one of his managing partners. While on the cusp of securing the deal he seeks, he receives a call from a man claiming to have kidnapped King’s son and demanding a ransom. King must now decide how to navigate this hostage situation, as it appears this kidnapper also has a personal vendetta.
Without a doubt one of the finest kidnapping/ransom films ever made, High and Low delivers a tense and charged tale of how a rich man chooses to navigate losing power at the hands of kidnappers. One would assume that a man would pay the ransom to save his own flesh and blood, but an added wrinkle truly tests the morality and honor of these characters. Spike Lee’s adaptation follows the same story points but goes about it through a very specific lens, thus very much justifying its existence. As expected, Spike Lee manages to make New York, the city, a character in all of this, thus adding another flavor of how we can expound upon this story.
This tale navigates through the music scene in the Big Apple as David King operates at the higher end of the spectrum where multimillion-dollar deals transpire. Leveraging of assets becomes the name of the game, while the kidnapper and his motives lie in a completely different stratosphere on a socioeconomic level. Very much in line with the title of the film and the general theme of this story. The high and low come crashing together by the kidnapping and ensuing ransom, but the twist in the story makes it all the messier. Adding this music component also brings its own element because of the path many believe could lead them to stardom within this line of work. Musical talent exists all over that never receives the discovery it deserves, and someone who feels disrespected or ignored despite their talent drives much of the anger flowing throughout this film. In addition we see this divide between the older and younger generations within the music realm. King operated in a different era of how discovery occurred for the artists he promoted. He must remain fresh in the way he can find talent while also not falling for the aggressive ways some try to grab his attention.
Enough cannot be said about how important the casting of Denzel Washington played into the success of this film. Denzel has an effortlessly cool demeanor we have seen play out in many of his roles over the years. He is a master at his craft, and he dazzles once again as David King. You can feel the anguish and mental battles he faces in trying to make the right decisions not only monetarily but also ethically. With the decision he must make, none of it comes easy, and it begs the question of what anyone would do in this circumstance.
A surprising cast member who knocked it out of the park was ASAP Rocky. He steps into the role of the rapper Yung Felon and puts on such a menacing performance. There are scenes where he goes head to head with Denzel and more than holds his own. Quite the compliment to give someone, but he undoubtedly impressed. Add that to the original music, and we have ourselves a very valuable piece to the puzzle within this film. I had “Trunks” on repeat partly because it’s catchy but also because of the importance it carries in the film. It plays several times throughout, and Spike Lee ensures he attaches a specific style to whatever scene this specific song underscores. ASAP Rocky’s continued foray into feature films has been a welcomed surprise, and I look forward to what other projects draw him in.
Taking on quite the challenging path, Spike Lee steps up to the plate and does not reach the level of Kurosawa’s work, but no one could have aspired to reach that level. Instead, Lee crafts something of his own, and in this story we get the story of a rich man needing to fend off this kidnapper with a New York sensibility that carries its own merit. Entertaining, compelling, and stylish, Highest 2 Lowest provides so much for audiences to enjoy and appreciate. We receive great performances from reliable veterans like Denzel and Jeffrey Wright while also displaying ASAP Rocky has a place in the world of film.
Films with Josh 
