I’m not sure what Paul Schrader’s been smoking of late, but it’s clearly affecting his taste. Seriously, I just can’t imagine anyone else saying what he says here.
As you know, Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest” is a remake of Kurosawa’s “High and Low,” a stone-cold ‘60s classic. I found Lee’s version watchable, with a great 20-minute NYC subway set-piece in the middle, but there’s no comparison, Kurosawa’s original trounces it.
Not according to Schrader, he’s saying Lee’s reimagining “stands shoulder to shoulder with Kurosawa’s film.” A wild take, and one which I believe not too many critics would be in agreement with. “High and Low” is one of the best films of the ‘60s. “Highest 2 Lowest” isn’t even one of the best films of this year.
No disrespect to Lee, since I was mildly positive about his remake. There’s just too much indulgence, it’s overlong and the first half is sloppy. However, at its best, and especially during its middle section, “Highest 2 Lowest” is tense, and very high-stakes.