“Highest 2 Lowest” modernizes the original

I had heard that Spike Lee was directing a remake of Akira Kurosawa's "High and Low." Then I heard nothing. Last week, I was looking to see what movies were out and saw that a theater near me was showing that movie, "Highest 2 Lowest," and that it was a limited run (one week only) and would be on AppleTV+ in September. Being someone who values the theatrical experience, I had to see it after watching the original, of course. 

David King (Denzel Washington) is a successful music producer who faces a moral dilemma when his chauffeur's son is mistakenly kidnapped. 

There is a lot to like about "Highest 2 Lowest," and while I don't think it surpassed the original, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. There are very few actors like Denzel Washington anymore, and his work as David King is impressive. We see a man forced to make a choice. King is about to lose his company, so he has leveraged everything he has to keep it. The ransom puts him in a difficult position. Initially, the choice is his company or his son, but when it is revealed that the kidnapper took his chauffeur's son, the choice is not so clear. Washington 

While I enjoyed this one, the original was better. In the original, the movie is basically split into two halves: the kidnapping and then the police work to find the kidnapper. The remake maintains the focus on King, and he is the one we see doing the work to find the kidnapper, which becomes less interesting as a result. I get that if you cast Denzel, you use Denzel. I think it just makes the second half weaker because finding the kidnapper becomes too easy/convenient. 

In "High and Low," Gondo (Toshirô Mifune) fades into the background as the police take over, but we see him defeated. In one scene, the police arrive at the house to speak with his chauffeur, and Gondo is mowing the lawn. There is nothing similar in "Highest 2 Lowest", and that is a detriment to the movie. Past paying the ransom, King doesn't really struggle with anything in the movie. 

I would recommend watching "High and Low" before seeing "Highest 2 Lowest." Both are great movies with incredible performances, but "High and Low" is a more complete movie. 

"Highest 2 Lowest" will be on AppleTV+ on September 5th

8/10

Rated R for language throughout and brief drug use.

2h 13m