Highest 2 Lowest

Spike Lee pays affectionate tribute to legendary Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa in the credits of Highest 2 Lowest, but this suspenseful and evocative thriller is given a provocative freshening through a distinct vision all his own.

Beneath the procedural surface, this contemporary reworking of Kurosawa’s classic High and Low is an incisive probe of cultural identity, generation gaps, socioeconomic mobility, artistic ethics, entrepreneurial legacy, and personal responsibility.

Bolstered by a ferocious performance by Denzel Washington — partnering with Lee for the fifth time — It’s also another compassionate Lee portrait of New York, where the glistening skyline conceals a darker side of humanity.

Washington plays David, a successful music producer able to ostentatiously negotiate deals from his Brooklyn high-rise balcony whenever he chooses.

There are cracks beneath the façade, however, as the company David built from scratch a quarter-century ago is now on the verge of a corporate takeover. He remains defiant while scrambling to secure enough funds to buy it himself.

“There’s more to life than making money,” he explains. “There’s integrity and what you believe and what you stand for.”

Amid this uncertainty, David receives word about an abduction at a Long Island basketball camp. Apparently instead of his teenage son, Trey (Aubrey Joseph), the perpetrators instead kidnapped — perhaps by accident — Trey’s best friend (Elijah Wright), the son of David’s longtime personal assistant (Jeffrey Wright).

With both scandals swirling simultaneously, detectives zero in on a suspect (rapper A$AP Rocky) and David must contemplate sacrificing his own future for those around him.

Washington’s portrayal captures both David’s steely-eyed sense of pride and accomplishment, as well as his apprehension and vulnerability when he loses control and is forced to reprioritize.

The final act stretches credibility even if it showcases some wonderful verbal dexterity from Washington, whose character’s moral complexity is layered with anguish and desperation. The extended sequence involving the intended ransom exchange crackles with chaotic energy.

Subtlety has never been Lee’s strong suit, of course, and some of the more contemplative moments feel heavy-handed. However, rookie screenwriter Alan Fox keeps the character-driven material grounded, which deepens the emotional impact. Plus, his sharp dialogue effectively sprinkles in humor to break up the tension.

Accented by meticulous visual flourishes and an eclectic soundtrack, Highest 2 Lowest is not an improvement on the original, but it makes a worthy and fascinating companion piece.

Rated R, 133 minutes.