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MOVIE REVIEW
“ HIGHEST 2 LOWEST”
Forest Whitaker in The Godfather of Harlem. I couldn’ t get past this as she played a very similar character with mentions of Harlem, donations to black artist / galleries, which all may have been too reminiscent of her role in The Godfather of Harlem. Casting a different actor may have made it a bit more believable. She did a great job, true to her past roles as a trophy wife.
By LANI SUTTON JOHNSON
In“ Highest 2 Lowest” the dynamic duo of Denzel Washington and Spike Lee strikes again.
One of the most notable actor and director partnerships in modern cinema, they reprise their cinematic kinship in Lee’ s latest film, which is their fifth collaboration. In the opening credits, Lee sets the stage for this movie with a culture conscious visual ode to The Big Apple. From captivating scenic views of the Brooklyn bridge and aerial shots of Manhattan that dare to slow down, allowing viewers to take in the moment and the scenery that authentically showcases New York and its many recognizable landmarks, Lee makes the film’ s location a central part of the story.
As David King, an over-the-hill record company mogul who is drawn into a series of life-altering events when his son is kidnapped, Washington once again delivers a believable character. His portrayal is so authentic that one can’ t help but know when he’ s adlibbing a scene,“ The brutalizer, the Buddha sizer, the accelerator in the elevator,” he’ s more than at home with making a movie with Lee.
Casting actress Ilfenesh Hadera as Denzel’ s wife, Pam King, was a very close comparison to her role opposite
A $ AP Rocky, who plays an aspiring rapper obsessed with King, describes working with Washington and Lee as a dream, which is ironic once you see the film. Rocky, who also has a film with Washington’ s son, John David Washington, entitled“ Monster,” describes meeting Denzel for the first time through John David at a family Christmas dinner, as meeting his idol. There’ s something authentic that A $ AP brings to this film, which he apparently draws from his New York background and real-life career in rap. Whatever the motivation, he owns his character in his scenes with Washington.
King’ s driver, Paul Christopher, played by Jeffrey Wright, has a quick wit and moral clarity that serves as a humble helpmate that keeps King grounded when ambition meets desperation. This film is profound and demanded attention outside of what was being said or done in the scene. It was clear, David King was a man with old school values who had a strong moral compass while balancing his drive for achievement with a sense of responsibility and care for those he loves.
This film has a lot of soul in it. It includes Lee’ s love for basketball, New York, HBCU’ s, adding references to Spelman, his mother’ s alma mater, and Washington’ s greatness as a“ man of faith, God loving, family loving, incredible talent that he describes as“ Great is great no one can give it to you, and no one can take it away”.
Highest 2 Lowest is a must-see film filled with suspense delivered by a powerful cast, whether you’ re a fan of high-risk thrills, moral dilemmas or a die-hard fan of a Lee and Washington combo I think you’ ll appreciate this movie. •
Lani Sutton Johnson, a North Carolina-based writer, is the author of“ Mindful Marley,” a 2022 children’ s book.
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