Highest 2 Lowest (Blu-ray Review)
Director
Spike LeeRelease Date(s)
2025 (April 28, 2026)Studio(s)
Apple Original Films (A24)- Film/Program Grade: A
- Video Grade: A
- Audio Grade: A
- Extras Grade: F
Review
Spike Lee is always a good time. He’s an auteur—a filmmaker who makes decisions in his films that no one would make but that’s what makes them his. For example, during the first quarter of the film, acts of endearment (hugs, hand slaps, etc.) are repeated from different angles quickly. It’s subtle, odd, but it’s there and only Spike would throw those moments in. If any other filmmaker tried that, it wouldn’t play, but for him it’s endearing.
Highest 2 Lowest is absolutely Spike’s take on Kurosawa’s masterpiece High and Low. It’s a remake, sure—but it’s something else. Whereas Kurosawa was playing out a modern (for the time) morality play, Spike is ruminating on more—the media industry, legacy, fathers and sons, it’s severely watchable and one of the better Joints in a long time.
A24’s Blu-ray presentation of the Apple+ streaming film is pretty barebones, considering the film, filmmaker and the fact that A24 usually packs some stuff in. The film itself is presented in 2:39:1. It looks great on the straight Blu-ray (a 4K only edition is available exclusively through the A24 store with Dolby Vision) with bright colors, solid blacks and realistic tones throughout. Audio is Dolby Atmos and couldn’t sound better. There are English, Spanish and English descriptive subs and the extras are just fine but light and airy. The King’s Ransom: Making Highest 2 Lowest featurette is exactly what you’d expect—a throwback to the old school HBO behind the scenes specials. I don’t have Apple+, but I assume this is a supportive piece for their version of the film. It runs about seventeen minutes. Legends Only: Discussion with Spike Lee and Denzel Washington is a quarter-hour sit-down with Spike and Denzel where they gush about each other. Finally, there is a music video for Aiyana-Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest song that closes out the film. This video is directed by Spike Lee, looks great and utilizes multiple film sources in its production. Inside the packaging (which is the standard A24 slipcase style) are six collectible postcards.
If you’ve given up on Spike, he seems to have found some of his old school vibrancy with this project and it’s worth tracking Highest 2 Lowest down and giving it a spin. Denzel is in top form, ASAP Rocky holds his own as a wannabe superstar, current Spike Lee Player Ilfenesh Hadera is good as always as Denzel’s partner in all things—but the real standout is Jeffrey Wright as Denzel’s driver and sounding board who is always the standout.
- Todd Doogan