Spike Lee’s “High & Low” remake, currently titled “Highest 2 Lowest,” is shooting in New York City, but it’s added another key actor to its cast, and he’s a great addition.
Recent Oscar-nominee Jeffrey Wright has joined Lee’s film, produced by A24 and Apple, which already includes Denzel Washington and, possibly, Halle Berry (as reported by Daniel Richtman and Roger Friedman).
Wright has been one of the most underrated actors in the industry for more than three decades now — he even stole the show as the villain in the otherwise misbegotten remake of “Shaft” (2000). Some of my favorite Wright performances include his work in “Ali,” “Broken Flowers,” “Angels in America” and “Basquiat.”
Back to Lee’s film. Kurosawa’s1963 classic follows an executive at a Yokohama shoe company who becomes a victim of extortion when his chauffeur’s son is kidnapped by mistake and held for ransom. We don’t really know if Lee will be following the Kurosawa plot to a tee, but it is definitely going to be inspired by it.
I’m also hearing that Matthew Libatique is the cinematographer here. Now, this is also welcome news. Libatique is best known for being Darren Aronofsky’s long-standing DP. They have collaborated together on seven films, including “Requiem For A Dream,” “Black Swan,” and “mother!” Libatique previously collaborated with Lee on four films, including 2006’s “Inside Man.”
Lee hasn’t directed since 2020’s “Da 5 Bloods.” His very best films include “Do the Right Thing,” “Malcolm X,” “The 25th Hour,” and “Summer of Sam.”