Denzel Washington Talks Faith, Turning Down Roles, and His New Film 'Highest 2 Lowest'
Denzel Washington and Spike Lee are back together, and whenever these two connect, it is an event. “Highest 2 Lowest” marks their fifth time working side by side, and their creative chemistry is as sharp as ever.
Washington plays a titan of the music industry with “the best ears in the business,” whose life is thrown into chaos when he becomes the target of a ransom plot. Inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s classic “High and Low”, Lee reimagines the story on the streets of present-day New York City, capturing the grit, the pulse, and the high stakes of a city where power and danger move in the same circles.
This reunion also brings Jeffrey Wright into the fold, an actor known for disappearing into every role he takes on. His presence adds another layer to a project already stacked with talent.
For Washington and Lee, the film is the latest chapter in a partnership that has produced some of the most memorable moments in modern cinema. With Lee’s vision, Washington’s presence, and Wright’s versatility, the film promises to be more than a crime thriller.
At one point in the film, Washington’s character delivers the line, “You don’t tell God no, you take it and make it work.”
When asked if he’s ever spiritually wrestled with a role and almost said no, Washington admits, “Increasingly now because I’m in a position where I don’t have to, but more importantly, I don’t want to.”
The story also carries a lesson in leadership, with the line, “In order to have followers, you need to be leading.” For Wright, that sentiment comes with nuance.
“We’re all following people who have come before us, but if the choices that we make are based on what someone else did, then we may be in a bit of trouble,” he says.
“One of the things I enjoy most when it comes to working with Denzel [Washington] was the freedom that he brings to the way he works and his performance. Now, that doesn’t come from following anyone, but that comes from one being his own and following oneself.”
Washington nods to his own inspirations, saying, “You can be inspired by someone and examples are set, too. A way of navigating I would say, too. I’m thinking about Sidney Poitier and the things he had to deal with, which are things I didn’t have to deal with.”
The conversation even veers into music, fitting for a film built around a mogul with golden ears.
When asked who’s on his playlist these days, Washington doesn’t hesitate. “Samara Cyn. I love her records ‘Brand New Teeth’ and ‘Bad Brain.’”
“Highest 2 Lowest” opens in theaters nationwide on August 15 and will be streaming on AppleTV+ on September 5.
