Based on the recent reviews of the movie "Highest 2 Lowest" (2025), here is a summary from highest to lowest review ratings:
- One of the highest positive sentiments rated the film as a 9/10 noting Spike Lee's mastery and cinematic knowledge with references to Kurosawa and New York soul music.
- Strong ratings also featured a 4/5 praising Denzel Washington's charisma and a 3.5/5 describing the film as a worthwhile riff on a classic story.
- An overall positive score of 6/10 acknowledged the film as gripping and necessary despite being uneven and ambitious.
- Mid-level reviews highlighted solid performances from Denzel Washington and Jeffrey Wright but criticized the movie for being awkward, far-fetched, and having pacing issues around 5-6/10.
- Lower and critical reviews gave scores around 2/5 to C grades, pointing out problems like a lack of rhythm, a confusing script, elongation of scenes, and the director not leaving a strong personal mark on the film.
- The soundtrack and some secondary acting received negative remarks, suggesting it detracted from the overall watchability.
Overall, reviews range from a high of 9/10 for cinematic approach to lows around 2/5 to C marks for execution and storytelling issues, reflecting a mixed but richly discussed reception. The film is described as uneven but has noteworthy performances and ambitious elements.
