This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Early reactions to Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest are in, with critics highlighting Denzel Washington’s performance. Premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 19, the neo-noir crime thriller is an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film High and Low, loosely based on Ed McBain’s novel, King’s Ransom. Washington stars as a musical mogul entangled in a ransom plot.
The early reviews for Lee’s new thriller are in, with many praising the director’s unique approach and modern reinterpretation of an otherwise bleak film. Washington’s David King has been hailed by many as one of the actor’s best works. Check out some of the responses below:
Barry Hertz at The Globe and Mail teased the upcoming movie as “a fantastic mess” and a “thunderous confrontation” between Washington and rapper $AP Rocky.
David Ehrlich of IndieWire praises Lee’s delivery as a “jarringly fun” reinterpretation, praising the movie as having Washington’s “most commanding screen performance” in his review.
Deadline is impressed by Washington’s new role, but voices louder praise for A$AP Rocky.
More to come…
Sources: Deadline, IndieWire, Barry Hertz, The Playlist/X
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
