Spike Lee and Denzel Washington don't miss a beat in Lee's new film Highest 2 Lowest, taking Kurosawa's original film of the same name and running it straight up into Noo Yawk City. With this film, which keeps the action flowing from start to finish, Lee is unabashedly unreserved about his adoration for the greatest city in the world. In ways both overt and subtle, Lee transports the audience into 'Spike's World', weaving his personal preferences in art, music and, of course, his loyalty to the NY Yankees, with engrossing, non-stop action and a dash of humor.
This is 1000% Lee's love song to New York City. From the dazzling beauty of the NYC skyline to the grit of a Bronx tenement, Lee puts his vision on the screen. Matthew Libatique, Lee's Director of Photography, gives us a melange of visual qualities within the film. From top-of-the-line digital to the graininess of 8MM, again, highest to lowest, the artistry here is unmistakeable. Highest 2 Lowest's basic premise, the kidnapping of a wealthy man's son, is Mr. Lee's fifth collaboration with Mr. Washington, and it hits every note perfectly.
Paintings and portraits from Spike's personal collection, including Kehinde Wiley's 'Investiture of Bishop Harold as the Duke of Franconia', the depiction of a black man wearing a Brooklyn Dodger's number 42 jersey, Jackie Robinson's number, find pride of place on the walls of music mogul David King's (Denzel Washington) multi-million dollar DUMBO duplex. DUMBO, in case you're wondering, is Down Under The Manhattan Bridge Overpass, and is currently the most affluent part of Brooklyn. You can take Spike out of Brooklyn, but you'll never take Brooklyn out of Spike. The two are forever intertwined in Lee's filmography.
Other works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Patrick Martinez, Radcliff Bailey, even a Brooklyn Dodger's scoreboard, pieces that have been exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum, some of which are certainly from Lee's own home, decorate the office and home of King, his wife Pam (Ilfenesh Hadera) and their son Trey (Aubrey Joseph).
King is in the middle of refinancing a multi-million dollar deal for his record company, Stackin' Hits. Pam is on the Board of various high-end charities that promote emerging Black artists. Trey believes himself to be an up and coming talent scout. Soon after dropping Trey off for summer basketball camp at LIU's downtown Brooklyn campus, and after successfully negotiating his business deal, King returns home in his Rolls Royce, chauffered by his oldest friend, Paul Christopher (Jeffrey Wright). Paul served time in prison, but King, believing strongly in second chances, which is a major theme in the film, has employed Christopher since his release. King is also godfather to Paul's son, Kyle (Elijah Wright). Kyle and Trey are as close as blood brothers, attending the LIU basketball camp together.
After arriving home, King receives a phonecall from a man telling him that his son, Kyle, has been kidnapped, and the 'king's ransom' is $17.5 million. The plot quickly thickens when we learn that godson Kyle is also missing and in great danger. King and some NYPD detectives attempt to follow their leads, taking us for a ride on the NYC subway systems Number 4 and 6 trains.
From the exuberance of cheering fans en route to a game at Yankee Stadium, through a Puerto Rican Day Festival featuring Brooklyn natives Rosie Perez, Anthony Ramos (yes, that's a holy crap moment right there) and Latin music legend, pianist, bandleader and Grammy winner Eddie Palmieri, the film is a celebration of the chaos, energy and diversity that make up this amazing city and all its boroughs. On a side note, Palmieri, a Harlem native, passed away just last week at the age of 88.
Lee even takes a moment to pay homage to A24, the distributor of Highest 2 Lowest. Lee and the crew must have had a blast making this film. As you watch Denzel seamlessly switch vernaculars from business mogul to street slang, depending on his audience and what he's trying to accomplish, you know you're watching a master at work. So many Kings brought to you in the county of Kings, from a man who is still a King of cinema.
