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11h ago

Spike Lee’s ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ Opens to Praise, Technical Critique

Critics praise Washington’s lead performance yet fault the film’s intrusive score, sluggish pacing and its revised moral ending.

Denzel Washington in “Highest 2 Lowest”
‘Highest 2 Lowest’ Review: Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s Opulent Reunion
Denzel Washington in “Highest 2 Lowest”
Denzel Washington, left, and Ilfenesh Hadera in a scene from “Highest 2 Lowest.” 

Overview

  • Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s modern reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low opened in U.S. theaters Aug. 15 ahead of an Apple TV+ release on Sept. 5.
  • Early reviews report a 92% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, with Washington’s performance singled out for widespread acclaim.
  • Howard Drossin’s orchestral score and a sluggish or confusing first act are frequently cited as the film’s main technical drawbacks.
  • Significant changes to the original’s third act and moral resolution have divided critics over the film’s thematic handling of class and responsibility.
  • Supporting cast members—including Jeffrey Wright, A$AP Rocky and Ice Spice—and the film’s kinetic later set pieces receive consistent praise for vitality and energy.