By Ms Jheri Worldwide
Staff Writer
Art, action, and a lot of emotion Highest to Lowest, the newest film by Spike Lee, was truly thrilling with outstanding music and visuals. The gorgeous shots of New York City were a backdrop to the captivating acting of Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, and others. The film begins with Denzel on his Dumbo balcony negotiating a deal. With cameos from musicians, athletes, commercial stars, and other familiar faces, every scene is truly a cinematic treat. Lee spared no expense on the fashion and art in the film. With pieces from Pharell’s Louis Vuitton Collection, Lebron’s Nike line, and many other notable fashion and jewelry houses, there is a lot to look at, many times with Spike Lee’s signature camera angles and framing.
The story was engaging, yet the art was a star of the show. Pieces from Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kehinde Wiley, and many others had their own moments to shine on the screen. One of the most poignant moments of the film featured an enormous Kamala Harris poster, which read “forward.” Subtle yet loud, Spike Lee and screenwriter Alan Fox communicated empowering messages employing different mediums throughout the film. This English-language film is a reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 Japanese film High and Low, which was itself loosely inspired by Ed McBain's (Evan Hunter) 1959 novel King's Ransom. The movie features Denzel Washington, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, ASAP Rocky, and marks Ice Spice's film debut. It also represents the first collaboration between Lee and Washington since their 2006 film, Inside Man. Coming to Apple TV September 5th, this is a must-see film!
