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Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds All The 'Mission: Impossible' Movies In Order - See Tom Cruise's 30-Year Journey As Ethan Hunt Denzel Washington's Career In Pictures: From 'Carbon Copy' To 'The Equalizer 3'
Black America Web
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Denzel Washington Has Heated Exchange With Cannes Film Festival Photographer, Social Media Salutes The Clapback
Source: Stephane Cardinale – Corbis / Getty Denzel Washington has been a leading man in Hollywood for decades, and the buzzing of overzealous photographers is still getting on his nerves. The actor was in France for the Cannes Film Festival to promote his latest Spike Lee-directed joint , Highest 2 Lowest . While walking the red carpet, he was sharing a laugh with Lee and his costar, A$AP Rocky, when a photographer interrupted the moment by grabbing his arm. Washington immediately points a finger in his face and appears to tell him to quit being so aggressive, as the photographer tries to laugh off the moment. 'If you ever put your hands on me again,' Washington appears to say. However, as he starts to walk away, the photographer wraps his arm around Washington's arm, and he responds by yanking away and repeatedly telling him to stop. Aside from the frustrating situation, Washington had a lot to celebrate that day. He was presented with an honorary Palme d'Or, the highest Cannes Film Festival honor given to those with impressive film resumes who had never received the award. When presented with the award, Washington was shocked, as the ceremony was a complete surprise, so it hit a little harder. 'This is a total surprise for me, so I'm a little emotional, but from the bottom of my heart, I thank you all,' he began, according to E! News . 'It was a great opportunity to collaborate with my brother once again — brother from another mother, Spike.' This marks the fifth time the legendary film stars and New York natives have collaborated, starting with musical comedy Mo' Better Blues in 1990. They quickly continued with 1992 's Malcolm X , He Got Game in 1998, and most recently in 2006 in the Jodie Foster-assisted Inside Man . Continuing on in his acceptance, he recognized how grateful everyone at the film festival should be for their successful careers in the film industry. 'We're a very privileged group in this room that we get to make movies and wear tuxedos and nice clothes and dress up and get paid for it as well,' Washington continued. 'You know, we're just blessed beyond measure, I'm blessed beyond measure, and from the bottom of my heart, I thank you all. Thank you.' See how social media reacted to Washington's heated moment with a photographer below. Denzel Washington Has Heated Exchange With Cannes Film Festival Photographer, Social Media Salutes The Clapback was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Denzel Washington's Rep Speaks Out After Heated Exchange at Cannes
Originally appeared on E! Online didn't let one bad moment steal his glory. Following a heated exchange with a photographer on the red carpet during the premiere of his latest film Highest 2 Lowest at the Cannes Film Festival May 19, the Oscar winner's rep confirmed that the moment didn't ruin his night. In fact, his rep told E! News in a statement May 20, 'It was a great evening.' Denzel, 70, was joined by director Spike Lee and costar as they walked the red carpet ahead of the film's premiere. Denzel began a conversation with A$AP before he was seen walking in the direction of a photographer who was trying to get his attention. The photographer appeared to grab Denzel's arm, prompting him to point directly in his face while saying, 'Stop it, stop it.' At one point, the Training Day star yanked his arm away from the photographer, who continued to smile, before walking back towards his cast members. More from E! Online Denzel Washington Gets Into Confrontation After Being Grabbed by Photographer at Cannes Hailey Bieber Details 'Scary' Bleeding Amid Baby Jack Bieber's Birth Dawn Richard Testifies Usher Witnessed Sean "Diddy" Combs Punch Cassie Ventura in Stomach Inside the theater, Denzel was celebrated for his role in the film—which reunited him with Spike for the first time in 20 years—and his storied career. Denzel was overcome with emotion as Spike—who previously worked with him on the films Mo' Better Blues, Malcolm X, He Got Game and Inside Man—presented him with an honorary Palme d'Or. 'This is a total surprise for me, so I'm emotional. It's a great opportunity to collaborate with my brother once again, brother from another mother, and to be here once again in Cannes,' the Equalizer star told the crowd as he fought back tears. 'We're a very privileged group in this room that we get to make movies and wear tuxedos and nice clothes and dress up and get paid for it as well.' 'We're just blessed beyond measure,' he added. 'I'm blessed beyond measure. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.' Keep reading to see all the star sightings from the 2025 Cannes Film Festival… Angelina JolieRobert De Niro & Tiffany ChenEva LongoriaAlessandra AmbrosioJulia GarnerJuliette BinocheHeidi Klum & Tom KaulitzBella HadidJeremy StrongHalle BerryIrina ShaykAndie MacDowell
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Highest 2 Lowest' Teaser: Spike Lee And Denzel Reunite For Fifth 'Joint' Of Their Careers
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways After over a year of updates, Spike Lee has dropped the first teaser for his upcoming film Highest 2 Lowest, starring Denzel Washington. The teaser stresses the epic reunion between Lee and Washington, as the pair have worked on classics Mo'Better Blues, Malcolm X, He Got Game, and Inside Man. 'I Know U Have Been Waiting 'HELLA LONG' And Here Is DA TEASER TRAILER (Finally) For Da 5th Return Of D And LEE- HIGHEST 2 LOWEST,' Lee, 68, captioned his Instagram post of the clip. 'And Dat's Da WASHINGTONS/LEES FAMILY TRUTH,RUTH. YA-DIG? SHO-NUFF. STRAIGHT UP!' Denzel Washington and Spike Lee in publicity portrait for the film 'Mo' Better Blues', 1990. (Photo) Highest 2 Lowest finds Washington, 70, playing a record executive with the 'best ears in the business' who is then targeted in a ransom plot. While many questioned the casting of rappers A$AP Rocky and Ice Spice, Washington's role reveal makes sense of the casting choices. Additional co-stars include Jeffrey Wright and Ilfenesh Hadera. The upcoming film is an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 crime thriller, High and Low, which was based on Evan Hunter's (Ed McBain) 1959 novel, King's Ransom. The film is set to debut at this month's Cannes Film Festival before being released in select theaters by A24 on Aug. 22. It will then stream exclusively on Apple TV+ beginning Sept. 5. Check out the teaser above. Denzel Washington, Spike Lee at The Entertainment Community Fund Gala at Marriott Marquis on April 21, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images) More from Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Digital Trends
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Denzel Washington & Spike Lee reunite in first look at Highest 2 Lowest
Longtime collaborators Denzel Washington and Spike Lee have teamed up once again for Highest 2 Lowest, a new movie from A24 and Apple Original Films. In the official teaser trailer, Washington's music mogul character says in a voiceover, 'There's more to life than just making money.' The teaser then cuts to scenes from the New York City-based film, including a wide shot of the Brooklyn Bridge. There is a high-speed pursuit, gunshots, and a lot of money. Washington's character ends the teaser by saying, 'That's the question I have for you: Can you handle it? All money ain't good money.' Highest 2 Lowest is a modern reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's crime thriller, High and Low, set in modern-day New York City. When Washington's music mogul is targeted with a ransom plot, he faces a life-or-death moral dilemma. Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice, and ASAP Rocky also star. Lee directs Highest 2 Lowest from a screenplay by William Alan Fox. Lee's and Kurosawa's films are inspired by King's Ransom, a novel by Ed McBain (real name: Evan Hunter). Highest 2 Lowest is the fifth collaboration between Washington and Lee and their first in nearly 20 years. Washington and Lee previously worked together on 1990's Mo' Better Blues, 1992's Malcolm X, 1998's He Got Game, and 2006's Inside Man. With their proven track record, the proof is in the pudding — Washington and Lee only make good movies. Before it hits theaters later this summer, Highest 2 Lowest will have its world premiere out of competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 19. A24 will release Highest 2 Lowest in theaters on August 22. The crime thriller will then stream on Apple TV+ on September 5. Please enable Javascript to view this content
