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Spike Lee and Denzel Washington Reunite in New Teaser for ‘Highest 2 Lowest’

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Highest 2 Lowest

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, a duo synonymous with cinematic excellence, have reunited for ‘Highest 2 Lowest,’ a modern reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 masterpiece ‘High and Low.’ The first teaser trailer offers a glimpse into this A24 and Apple TV+ thriller, set to premiere in theaters August 22 and on Apple TV+ September 5.

The trailer introduces Washington as a music industry titan, a man whose “ears are the best in the business,” navigating a moral quagmire triggered by a botched kidnapping plot. His voiceover breaks down the film’s central tension: “There’s more to life than just making money. There’s integrity, there’s what you stand for.” Flashes of New York City—electric-blue skylines, frenetic subway chases, and courthouse standoffs—pulse with Lee’s signature visual flair, courtesy of cinematographer Matthew Libatique. The teaser’s animated Brooklyn Bridge shots and rapid cuts hint at a story teetering between opulence and chaos, with Washington’s character caught in a high-stakes ransom scheme that tests his principles.

Highest 2 Lowest
Denzel Washington, Spike Lee and ASAP Rocky on the set of ‘Highest 2 Lowest’

Adapted from Kurosawa’s High and Low—itself based on Ed McBain’s King’s Ransom— ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ trades the original’s corporate shoe empire for the cutthroat world of music. Filmed in New York City last year, the film, scripted by William Alan Fox and reworked by Lee, channels the city’s raw energy.

The cast is stacked with talent, including Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, Dean Winters, and John Douglas Thompson. Adding a contemporary edge, A$AP Rocky plays Washington’s onscreen son, Yung Felon, while Ice Spice makes her acting debut. Lee, speaking on Carmelo Anthony’s ‘7pm in Brooklyn’ podcast, praised Rocky’s fearless performance, noting scenes where he holds his own against Washington’s towering presence.

This marks Lee and Washington’s fifth collaboration, following iconic films like ‘Malcolm X’ and ‘Inside Man.’ Watch the new trailer below.

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Film & TV

Spike Lee’s ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ Trailer Drops: Denzel Washington and ASAP Rocky Shine in Thrilling Crime Drama

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Highest to Lowest

The highly anticipated trailer for Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest, starring Denzel Washington, dropped today. This marks the duo’s fifth collaboration, a reunion nearly two decades in the making since their last joint project, Inside Man (2006).

The trailer, released by A24 and Apple Original Films, offers a gripping glimpse into a modern reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low, set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City’s music industry. Here’s everything you need to know about the trailer, cast, and what to expect from this electrifying crime thriller.

The Highest 2 Lowest trailer features Denzel Washington as David King, a charismatic music mogul renowned for having the “best ears in the business.” When a ransom plot threatens his empire, King confronts a life-or-death moral dilemma that challenges his values and legacy.

Highest 2 lowest

This neo-noir crime thriller also stars A$AP Rocky as Yung Felon, the antagonist who goes “toe-to-toe” with Washington, delivering a performance that Lee has praised as “fire.” The cast is rounded out by Jeffrey Wright as King’s chauffeur, Ilfenesh Hadera as his wife Pam, and Ice Spice in her feature film debut, alongside Dean Winters, LaChanze, and John Douglas Thompson. The trailer also teases original music from A$AP Rocky.

Highest 2 Lowest is a bold reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, itself based on Ed McBain’s 1959 novel King’s Ransom. While Kurosawa’s original centered on a shoe company executive facing an extortion plot, Lee’s version transplants the story to modern-day New York City, weaving in themes of wealth, power, and moral complexity. The trailer emphasizes Lee’s vibrant, theatrical direction, with vivid visuals captured by cinematographer Matthew Libatique.

Highest 2 Lowest is set for a limited theatrical release on August 15, 2025, through A24, followed by streaming on Apple TV+ starting September 5, 2025.

Watch the official trailer below.

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Film & TV

Smoke Review: A Slow-Burn Thriller with Standout Performances

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Each of the episodes of Smoke — a nine-episode crime drama that debuted on Apple TV+ on June 27, 2025 — is a gripping exploration of arson, trauma, and moral ambiguity. Developed by Dennis Lehane and adapted from the Firebug podcast, the series follows arson investigator Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton) and detective Michelle Calderon (Jurnee Smollett) as they search for two serial arsonists through the fictional Pacific Northwest town of Umberland. Featuring a terrific array of characters and a generally cool smoky look, Smoke generates a good deal of interest but does not quite seem to achieve full narrative traction.

Set against a chilling and atmospheric backdrop, the series is a riveting, twisting, and insidious mystery that will have readers on the edge of their seats until the finale. The show explores themes such as guilt, narcissism, and self-deception through the use of fire as a metaphor for moral and emotional decay. It begins as a typical cop show, but evolves into a twisty narrative that challenges expectations, though some plot turns sometimes feel abrupt or underdeveloped.

Smoke
Taron Egerton as Dave Gudsen and Jurnee Smollett as Michelle Calderon in SMOKE / source: Apple TV+

The ensemble is a highlight. Taron Egerton is excellent as the former firefighter-turned-investigator Dave Gudsen, a man of entangled desires and weaknesses. Jurnee Smollett is right there with him as Michelle Calderon, channeling steely resolve and emotional complexity into a detective wrestling with her own history. Supporting players like Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, who portrays the enigmatic Freddy Fasano, and Greg Kinnear, as the fire chief, are also doing a brilliant job. As a lonely soul in agony, Mwine gives us something frighteningly real.

Smoke is a worthy binge for those who enjoy character-driven crime dramas, tinged by Egerton and Smollett’s riveting performances. Although its sleek execution and psychological richness keep it compelling, the show doesn’t always fulfill the promise of its early episodes, stumbling into an overly repetitive, overly ambitious storytelling scope. Yet, it’s a strong addition to Apple TV+’s expanding roster of prestige dramas, ideal for those who like their mysteries slow-burning and a bit dark.

Smoke is available on Apple TV+. New episodes drop weekly through August 15, 2025.

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Film & TV

Keke Palmer Is A Criminal Mastermind in ‘The Pickup’ Starring Eddie Murphy & Pete Davidson (Trailer)

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The Pickup

Amazon MGM Studios has released the official trailer for The Pickup, an upcoming action-comedy film starring Keke Palmer, Eddie Murphy, and Pete Davidson. The trailer offers a glimpse into a high-stakes heist story. Directed by Tim Story, the film will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on August 6, 2025.

The trailer introduces a fast-paced narrative centered on a routine cash delivery gone awry. Murphy plays Russell, a seasoned armored truck driver, and Davidson portrays Travis, his less-experienced colleague. Their ordinary workday takes a dramatic turn when they are ambushed by a group of criminals led by Zoe, played by Palmer, who is described as a savvy mastermind with plans extending beyond the cash cargo. The clip reveals that Zoe’s scheme involves a $60 million casino heist, and she leverages personal connections—Travis’s recent one-night stand with her and a threat to Russell’s wife, played by Eva Longoria—to force the duo’s cooperation.

The Pickup poster

Helmed by Story, known for Barbershop, Ride Along, and The Blackening, The Pickup is produced by Story’s The Story Company, alongside John Davis and John Fox of Davis Entertainment, and Eddie Murphy and Charisse Hewitt-Webster via Eddie Murphy Productions. The screenplay is written by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider (The Package). Executive producers include Vicky Mara Story, Jeremy Stein, Kevin Burrows, Ross Fanger, and Matt Mider.

Principal photography took place in Atlanta beginning in April 2024, though an on-set accident during second-unit filming of an action scene resulted in injuries to crew members, as previously reported.

Watch the trailer for The Pickup below.

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