Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s New Film Debuts at 90% Rotten Tomatoes

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This director, highly regarded for his work, collaborated with a two-time Oscar winner on numerous hit movies. Their most recent production had its debut at the prestigious 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but express my excitement over this long-awaited collaboration of theirs. This movie is a refreshing modern take on the 1959 novel “King’s Ransom” by Ed McBain. The world premiere at Cannes was met with a resounding six-minute standing ovation, as reported. Incredibly, Highest 2 Lowest made an impressive debut with a near-perfect 90% score, which happens to be their highest yet.

In the film, Lee was at the helm, with the screenplay penned by William Alan Fox. Alongside Washington, the cast includes Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice making her cinematic debut, and ASAP Rocky. The plot revolves around a prominent music executive, portrayed by Washington, based in modern-day New York City. This character becomes ensnared in extortion when his chauffeur’s son is mistakenly kidnapped instead of his own child, leading to a ransom demand.

As a movie enthusiast, I must say that so far, the response to Highest 2 Lowest has been overwhelmingly positive, with nine out of ten initial reviews being favorable. While it’s true that the score could change as more critiques come rolling in, the early buzz is certainly promising. This neo-noir crime thriller is slated for a theater release in August, and it’s distributed by A24. Mark your calendars because Apple TV+ will be streaming this film starting September!

The movie is boldly grand, humorously daring, and undeniably Black. It might seem as if “Highest 2 Lowest” originated from a Japanese director, but its essence is undoubtedly rooted in Lee. This latest production stands out as Lee’s most vibrant work since “Inside Man.” The critic notes that “Highest 2 Lowest” shines brightest when it strays from its original storyline, praising it as Denzel Washington‘s strongest screen presence in a long time.

Highlights that their recent collaboration is an engaging crime thriller, however, it appears somewhat shallow when compared to some of their past collaborations, particularly 1992’s Malcolm X.

Expresses that Lee has elevated High and Low to unprecedented heights, producing a thought-provoking genre film that provides entertainment while simultaneously raising concerns about potential cultural developments.

The article additionally points out that Washington and Wright are nearly perfect for these parts, having a history of collaboration that adds to their long-standing artistic accomplishments. However, it’s worth noting that so far, the only negative critique has emerged, claiming that the narrative tends to be fragmented and that the well-crafted scenes are lost amidst an overly complex storyline.

Lee and Washington’s Previous Collaborations

On numerous occasions, notable duos such as Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, and Michael Caine and Christopher Nolan collaborated to produce massive successes. In a similar fashion, Lee and Washington had a history of working together on four films, all of which garnered positive responses from critics and audiences alike.

In 1990, they gained prominence following their debut film “Mo’ Better Blues,” which garnered a 71% positive rating from critics and 75% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes. Remarkably, in 1992, they collaborated once more for the biographical epic Malcolm X, a movie that was nominated for two Academy Awards. As of now, it holds their second-best rating on Rotten Tomatoes, boasting a Certified Fresh score of 89% and an impressive 91% approval from viewers.

In 1998, the trio’s third joint venture materialized in the form of the drama “He Got Game.” This production earned an impressive rating from both critics and audiences – 80% and 83%, respectively. However, their most triumphant effort didn’t occur until eight years later. Titled [TBC], this project garnered a remarkable 86% approval from critics and 85% from viewers. Moreover, it became Lee’s highest-grossing film to date, generating an impressive $185.7 million against a production cost of just $50 million. (Source: [TBC])

As a die-hard cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that the intriguing film titled “Highest 2 Lowest” is all set to hit the big screen on August 22. For those who can’t wait to catch it from home, mark your calendars for September 5 as it will be streaming exclusively on Apple TV+.

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2025-05-20 15:11