In this non-spoiler episode we discuss both Spike Lee's latest joint Highest 2 Lowest which sees the famed director reteaming with Denzel Washington in a reinterpretation of the classic Akira Kurosawa film from 1963: High and Low. We discuss the first half of both films, their differences and similarities in focus and execution of the same premise (taken from the novel King's Ransom: An 87th Precinct Mystery is a novel by Evan Hunter).
Tomorrow (Friday, August 29) we will premiere the spoiler section of our show and announce the next film we will be watching.
Works Cited
- "Akira Kurosawa: Composing Movement" (Every Frame a Painting, 2015)
- At the Movies (Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert, 1986-2010)
- Collateral (Michael Mann, 2004)
- Collateral Letterboxd review (esther, 2015)
- Django (Sergio Corbucci, 1966)
- Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee, 1989)
- A Fistful of Dollars (Sergio Leone, 1964)
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Rockstar North, 2004)
- Heat (Michael Mann, 1995)
- High and Low (Akira Kurosawa, 1963)
- "High and Low (1963) - Modern trailer" (TheBurningArchive, 2024)
- "Highest 2 Lowest" (Aiyana-Lee, 2025)
- Highest 2 Lowest (Spike Lee, 2025)
- "Ice Spice's Highest 2 Lowest Cameo, Explained" (Brandon Zachary, 2025)
- Ichi the Killer (Takashi Miike, 2001)
- Inside Man (Spike Lee, 2006)
- Kill Bill (Quentin Tarantino, 2003, 2004)
- "Meet Aiyana-Lee, the Breakout Singer From Highest 2 Lowest" (Barry Levitt, 2025)
- Miami Vice (Michael Mann, 2006)
- Oldboy (Park Chan-Wook, 2003)
- Oldboy (Spike Lee, 2013)
- Once Upon a Time in Mexico (Robert Rodriguez, 2003)
- Public Enemies (Michael Mann, 2009)
- "Prisencolinensinainciusol" (Adriano Celentano, 1973)
- "Prisencolin (Americano Joint)" (Aiyana-Lee, 2025)
- "The reasons behind Adriano Celentano's songs in Highest 2 Lowest" (OnePress TV, 2025)
- "Spike Lee Made an Ad for Cryptocurrency ATMs and It's Bizarre" (Edward Ongweso, Jr., 2021)
- Stray Dog (Akira Kurosawa, 1949)
- Sukiyaki Western Django (Takashi Miike, 2007)
- Thief (Michael Mann, 1981)
- Throne of Blood (Akira Kurosawa, 1957)
- "Trunks" (A$AP Rocky, 2025)
- Tokyo Story (Yasujirō Ozu, 1953)
- Yojimbo (Akira Kurosawa, 1961)
Find us elsewhere!
Ben Verschoor
Steven Santana
Opening music is Root Beer Rag by Billy Joel
Closing music is G-Spot Tornado by Frank Zappa
