Denzel Washington plays a music mogul who has a luxurious life with a beautiful wife, a great son and a magnificent Brooklyn penthouse overlooking Manhattan. A ransom call after a kidnapping upends his life and presents a moral dilemma. This is the 5th time that he and director Spike Lee have worked together and this is some of the best work from both of them. Washington’s performance is enthralling with subtle peculiarities and grand gestures. As his best friend, Jeffrey Wright is equally impressive. Lee launches the story with dynamic energy and polished visuals, while creating dramatic encounters and a bit of action. The film’s only real flaw is that it runs too long and could have trimmed some of the extraneous, even self-indulgent scenes. Even so, this is a slick, stylish, well-crafted drama centered around Washington’s Oscar-worthy achievement. The performance of the title song by Aiyana-Lee Anderson makes a moving final moment. BTW, this story is based on the great filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller “High and Low.”
NOTE: Fun Easter egg: Look for the apartment number that’s a shoutout to distributor A24. 
(4.5 / 5)
