‘Highest 2 Lowest’ is a fun ride, even if old-school opulence tempers the bite

['Aisha Harris', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Vertical-Align Middle .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar Is .Alignleft .Alignright'] TPR: The Public's Radio 2025-08-15 12:00:00

Denzel Washington plays music mogul David King in Highest 2 Lowest. Lee’s latest joint, Highest 2 Lowest, isn’t near-perfect, nor does it reach the creative heights of his best work in four-plus decades of filmmaking. Washington is one-percenter David King, a music mogul who lives like a king of New York City. David’s label Stackin’ Hits Records is at risk of being swallowed up in a merger by a huge conglomerate. It seems strange to be critiquing a Spike Lee joint for not being hard-hitting enough, but there are worse sins.