Fresh Air Spike Lee On Dynamic Duos & Reimagining Kurosawa
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Aug 19, 2025 Spike Lee, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind classics like 'Do the Right Thing', dives into his latest film 'Highest 2 Lowest', featuring Denzel Washington in a moral quandary over the wrong child. He reflects on his enduring partnership with Denzel, a fresh take on Kurosawa’s work infused with hip-hop culture, and the ever-relevant themes of personal sacrifice. Lee also explores the role cinema plays in cultural narratives, touching on the legacy of iconic films and the need for artistic storytelling in today’s turbulent times.
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Reinterpreting A Morality Tale
- Spike Lee reframes Kurosawa's High and Low as a morality tale that forces audiences to ask what they would do in a crisis.
- He credits Denzel Washington's star power for pulling viewers through the character's moral trial.
Vulnerability Appears As Decline
- Spike Lee intentionally makes Denzel's character appear off-kilter to show a man who has fallen from the top.
- The vulnerability signals a deeper crisis when success and identity no longer align.
Denzel's Simple Pitch
- Denzel sent Spike the script and simply asked him to read it before explaining anything else.
- Spike says he knew immediately he wanted to do the film from that moment.
