Spike Lee Says ‘Highest 2 Lowest' Is Potentially His Last Collaboration With Denzel Washington: 'This Is It—Five'
'The last time I was in this room, I was apologizing for the f*ck-up,' filmmaker Spike Lee joked this morning as he walked into the press conference room in Cannes.
The legendary New York filmmaker was referring to 2021, when he served as the Cannes jury president and prematurely announced Titane as the Palme d'Or winner during the closing-night ceremony.
More from Deadline
Denzel Washington Appears To Have Altercation With Photographer On Cannes Red Carpet
Breaking Baz @Cannes: Spike Lee Croons Rodgers & Hammerstein On The Beach But Tunes Out As Talk Turns To Him Making A Movie Musical His Next Project
Lynne Ramsay On How Critics Are Misreading Her Buzzy Cannes Title 'Die My Love': "This Postpartum Thing Is Bulls***t"
Lee is back here in Cannes with his latest feature, Highest 2 Lowest, a modern 'reinterpretation' of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 classic High and Low, which was itself based on the novel King's Ransom by Ed McBain. While the original follows a shoe company exec who becomes a victim of extortion when his chauffeur's son is kidnapped by mistake and held for ransom, the new film, set in contemporary New York City, sees a music mogul played by Denzel Washington contend with a similar plot.
From Apple and A24, the film reunites Lee and Washington for the first time since Inside Man back in 2006. The duo has worked together five times, their credits are including Mo' Better Blues, Malcolm X, and He Got Game.
'Denzel and I didn't know that our previous film, Inside Man, was 18 years ago. We were surprised because it felt like yesterday. But we didn't miss a step,' Lee said of working with Washington, who received an honorary Palme d'Or before last night's premiere screening of Highest 2 Lowest.
RELATED:
'I think this is it — five,' Lee added of his collaboration with Washington. 'He's been talking about retirement, even though he's just done another deal. Five films together, they stand up.'
This is Lee's sixth time in the Cannes Official Selection, and Monday's premiere marked 36 years to the day since his first appearance with Do the Right Thing. During the presser, Lee was asked about the critical response to that film back in 1989, particularly around critics who said it would cause riots.
'I've had a great experience with this festival, and the people who had their various opinions about Do The Right Thing had nothing to do with the festival. It was just the press,' Lee said.
RELATED:
'They said Do the Right Thing would cause riots and Black people would lose their minds,' he added. 'They were telling people to hope to God this film didn't open in their neighborhood. It was pure blatant racism to suggest Black people couldn't make the distinction between what's on the screen. They all misread it, and none of them admitted that they f*cked up.'
Highest 2 Lowest was shot across New York, with elaborate action scenes in the Bronx, set against the backdrop of Yankee Stadium. During the presser, Lee was asked about shooting in New York and how he thinks the recent drop in production in the city could be resolved.
'People are hurting, people whose lives are dependent on working in the film industry,' he said. 'The guy [Donald Trump] just said he wants to put a tariff on films made outside the United States. I don't know how that's gonna work. But I don't have the answer for that.'
The filmmaker said he simply feels lucky to have been able to shoot several films in New York, adding that he often has pushed back on attempts to make him shoot his New York-based films outside the city.
RELATED: Full List Of Cannes Palme d'Or Winners Through The Years: Photo Gallery
'For Do the Right Thing, they wanted us to shoot that film in Baltimore,' Lee said. 'Get the f*ck outta here. We were never doing that.'
Slated to hit select theaters August 22 before arriving on Apple TV+ on September 5, Highest 2 Lowest is written by Alan Fox and Lee. Todd Black produced for Escape Artists, alongside Jason Michael Berman for Mandalay Pictures. Exec producers included Lee for 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, and Mandalay's Peter Guber, as well as Juniper Productions' Matthew Lindner, Chris Brigham, and Katia Washington. Mandalay's Jordan Moldo served as co-producer.
Best of Deadline
Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds
All The 'Mission: Impossible' Movies In Order - See Tom Cruise's 30-Year Journey As Ethan Hunt
Denzel Washington's Career In Pictures: From 'Carbon Copy' To 'The Equalizer 3'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ex-Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams survived mass shooting years before he's killed in plane crash
The heavy metal drummer among those killed when a private jet crashed into homes in San Diego this week had survived a deadly mass shooting six years earlier. Daniel Williams, a founding member of The Devil Wears Prada, posted photos of himself sitting in the cockpit of the doomed Cessna 550 plane just hours before it crashed in a fireball early Thursday, killing all six people on board, including music industry big shot David Shapiro. The tragedy came after he once cheated death when trapped in the Ned Peppers bar in Dayton, Ohio, in 2019 when gunman Connor Betts opened fire, killing nine people and wounding 27 others. 'I was in Ned Peppers. I'm still not sure exactly what happened,' the drummer had posted online at the time. 'People were piling on top of each other to get out. It's all a blur. F–king awful.' The 39-year-old musician was also celebrating a new job, which he announced online exactly a week before catching the doomed flight from Teterboro in New Jersey late Wednesday. 'I'm very excited to share that I've accepted a software engineering role at Apple,' he wrote in celebration on May 14.. 'It's been really tough to say goodbye to my friends and colleagues of nearly 8 years at GoPro, but it's time for my next chapter. It's time to help build the future,' he wrote. Hours before the crash, Williams shared haunting photos from the private plane, including some inside the cockpit as he said he was flying back with Shapiro, 42, the co-founder of Sound Talent Group (STG). 'Hey. Hey… you… look at me… I'm the (co)pilot now,' the drummer wrote with a view of the aircraft controls and windshield. 'Here we goooooo,' the second post reads, with the yoke between his legs. Williams and Shapiro were killed when the jet smacked into a power line in foggy conditions and crashed in Murphy Canyon, a San Diego neighborhood housing military families, around 3:45 a.m. Thursday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Officials have yet to ID all on board, but confirmed there were no survivors. Remarkably, nobody on the ground was killed when the plane exploded on impact and caused massive fires, caused by the jet fuel. More than a dozen homes were damaged. Williams' former Devil Wears Prada band members confirmed the founding member's death in social media posts Thursday. 'No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever,' the band wrote in an Instagram post. Williams joined The Devil Wears Prada during its inception in 2005, a year before the blockbuster movie with the same name. He left in 2016. Shapiro, 42, co-founded Sound Talent Group (STG), whose clients include bands Sum 41, Story of the Year and Parkway Drive. His talent agency confirmed his death. 'We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends … Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time,' the agency said in a statement shared with Billboard. The two men were lovingly remembered by music industry insiders across social media. 'Rest in Peace Dave Shapiro, Daniel Williams, and everyone on that flight. Some of my very first shows were booked through Dave. I had a handful of shows with Daniel, always a pleasure to see him play. Gone way too soon,' music executive Terrance Coughlin wrote on X.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Juneteenth events and Black-owned businesses in Albuquerque
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19, is a U.S. federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery and the American Civil War. While the city of Albuquerque already celebrated the holiday at Civic Plaza, there are other events still to come. Here are some upcoming Juneteenth events happening around Albuquerque, as well as some local Black-owned businesses to support. Juneteenth celebrated at Civic Plaza Thursday, June 19 Sunset Acequia Stroll Celebrate liberation and Juneteenth with a little bit of nature. This free offering to the community consists of a slow, guided walk involving mindfulness exercises and playful nature explorations. This event is from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Candelaria Nature Preserve. Third Thursday: Juneteenth Join the Albuquerque Museum for an evening of food, music, and celebration, featuring special performances and goods and services. End the free evening with a walk through the sculpture garden and Tiguex Park. This event is from 5 p.m. to 8:30 Community Gospel Concert Empower and celebrate the community with a night of encouraging and uplifting contemporary gospel music. This free event is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at North Domingo Baca Park. Juneteenth Freedom Block Party United We Dance Studios hosts a freedom and community event, a vibrant evening full of music, dancing, food, and fun for all ages. Shop through local vendors, participate in raffles and giveaways, and play dominoes and spades from 5 p.m. to People's Juneteenth Visit Roosevelt Park from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. to celebrate resistance. Attendees can expect dynamic political education on Black history, beautiful cultural performances, family- and kid-friendly activities, free food, and more. The beginner's guide to celebrating Juneteenth Albuquerque has an abundance of Black-owned businesses, from restaurants to retail. Whether patrons are visiting from out of state or shopping around their hometown, their money and support can go a long way. This compilation is limited to select leisure activities, food, shopping, entertainment, and attractions. For a more comprehensive list, visit Coffee House & Pub Big Boss Hot Links Food Truck Biscuit Boy Bobbi's Homestyle Catering Frank's Famous Chicken & Waffles Nexus Restaurant & Brewery Q's Cakes and Sweets Boutique Rude Boy Cookies Yummy's Mini Donuts & Ice CreamLotus Sound Bath Tour ABQBaskets of Africa Bert and Jess Clothiers Biggers Farm FlowerLoop High Desert FlameworksAfrican American Performing Arts Center and Exhibit Hall Beyond Poetry Mothership Alumni NB Artistry New Mexico Black Leadership Council New Mexico Entertainment Magazine Pride and Equality Magazine The Syndicate A guide to what the Juneteenth holiday is and how to celebrate it Childhood Development Centers Most City Offices Community Centers Health & Social Service Centers KiMo Theatre Libraries Open Space Visitors Center Senior, Multigenerational & 50+ Sports & Fitness Centers Senior Meal Sites Jerry Cline Tennis Facility 311 Community Contact Center Albuquerque Museum Balloon Museum Animal & Adoption Shelters ABQ RIDE & Sun Van Albuquerque International Sunport Aquarium, Botanic Garden, Tingley Beach & Zoo Golf Courses Shooting Range Park Swimming Pools Sierra Vista Tennis Facility Trash & Recycling Learn more about the Juneteenth holiday as well as Black history at the Albuquerque Public Library. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Tom's Guide
12 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
This mind-bending sci-fi thriller movie you missed in theaters is now streaming — and it's a dark cosmic nightmare
Sci-fi horror is the ultimate combo and no one can convince me otherwise. In fact, if you asked me to name my all-time favorite franchise, 'Alien' would be right at the top, no question. It set the gold standard for space terror and nothing will ever take its place. So when I first saw the trailer for the sci-fi flick called 'Ash,' I couldn't help but be curious given my intense passion for the genre. 'Ash,' in a few simple words, is a neon-soaked thrill ride that made me feel a little delirious once it finished. It centers around an astronaut who wakes up alone on a deserted space station with no memory of what happened to her crew. From there, she must try to piece together the mystery. It's a simple premise, really. But this is one to go in with zero expectations, because once you think you've got a grasp on where 'Ash' is headed, it completely derails those thoughts. While its experimental nature may be divisive to some (just look at its Rotten Tomatoes score), I think it's a solid watch, and one worth adding to your watchlist now that it's on Shudder and PVOD platforms like Amazon and Apple. If you're a fan of horror-thrillers set in space or just looking for a wild experience on Shudder, 'Ash' is a perfect pick. Here's why it deserves your time now that it's streaming. 'Ash' follows Riya (Eiza González), an astronaut who awakens alone on a remote space station orbiting a distant planet. She quickly discovers that her entire crew is dead under mysterious circumstances, and her own memory is fragmented, making it difficult to piece together what happened. As Riya explores the eerie, dimly lit station, she encounters Brion (Aaron Paul), a man who claims to have come to rescue her. Together, they attempt to unravel the cause behind the crew's demise. However, Riya's fragmented recollections and growing suspicion about Brion's intentions create a tense and uncertain dynamic between them. The space station itself is filled with malfunctioning systems and unexplained phenomena, increasing the danger at every turn. I'd easily buy the idea that 'Ash' began as a music video for Flying Lotus that was later expanded into a full-length movie. The movie's pacing and vibe have that loose, experimental feel you often see in music videos, as it drifts between moments, sometimes focusing on story, other times just soaking in striking, surreal imagery. Flying Lotus, who wrote and directed the movie, mixes a small-scale sci-fi drama with bursts of intense, sometimes unsettling scenes. The result is less a conventional story and more a mood piece that invites you to experience its world without the usual narrative rules holding it back. González pretty much carries this movie on her shoulders. From the opening moments of waking up on the floor to blaring red lights, then navigating the eerie space station and the brutalized corpses in her path, she holds your attention completely. She portrays fear and confusion so convincingly that you genuinely feel for her being trapped in such a horrific situation. 'Ash' is genuinely so impressive in terms of its mind-bending visuals and soundtrack. Flying Lotus creates a world that feels dreamlike and disorienting, soaked in neon reds, purples, and eerie shadows. It reminded me of 'Prometheus' meets 'Annihilation,' but run through a blender of fever-dream surrealism. There's also gnarly practical gore and textured effects that make the horror feel real. I guarantee that pausing the frame at any second will give you something visually pleasing. Aside from the look of this movie and a strong performance from González, the story is where 'Ash' loses a few points. It plays with some really familiar sci-fi horror ideas (like amnesia, mysterious deaths, and a stranger who may or may not be trustworthy), and doesn't really do much to push them in a new direction. The pacing is painfully slow in the middle section, and I wish González had a stronger script to work with, because it felt as though she was being held back. Basically, if you're going in for the visuals and atmosphere, you'll have a great time. But if you're hoping for a tightly written, emotionally rich story, this one might leave you cold. Either way, it's some intense stuff. 'Ash' had a pretty limited run in theaters, so there's a good chance it slipped under the radar for a lot of people. That makes its arrival on Shudder the perfect opportunity to finally check it out. What Flying Lotus does is take a familiar setup and twist it into something totally his own. The movie plays out like a brutal, cinematic version of a space survival game, where the tension builds alongside the strange, atmospheric score that never lets you get too comfortable. Watching it feels a bit like being pulled into a surreal void. 'Ash' has a respectable 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the site's critic consensus reading: 'Flying Lotus' Ash delivers the phantasmagorical goods with vivid visuals and a throbbing soundscape, elevating a predictable sci-fi story into a memorably stylish head-trip.' Audiences rated it lower at 55% for its pacing issues and weak plot, which are points I can't really disagree with. So, if you're in the mood for something that looks incredible, plays with your expectations, and isn't quite like anything else streaming right now, 'Ash' is worth the watch on Shudder. For more streaming recommendations, see the top new movies to stream this week.
