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The Print
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Print
Sholay is 50. What scholars have written about it
Set in Thakur's (played by a sombre, greying Sanjeev Kumar) house, it shows his daughter-in-law Radha (Jaya Bachchan) slowly turning down the lamps in the balcony, bringing the day to a close. Jai (Amitabh Bachchan) plays a soulful melody on harmonica as he watches her. One scene in the Ramesh Sippy movie even inspired an academic paper in the 1990s. New Delhi: The blockbuster Bollywood movie Sholay has been referenced in a thousand memes over the years. Its dialogues, songs, dances, and trademark moves are all part of Indian vocabulary. It is also a movie that university scholars love to sink their teeth into. University of Delhi professor Nellickal Jacob called it 'dialectics of desire and its repression'. Sholay is 50 today. But the movie is a gift that keeps teaching. Between memes and research papers, it has seen it all. Jacob's paper is one of the many academic reflections on Ramesh Sippy's film. The fascination with the so-called 'curry western' has even crossed borders, drawing interest from international scholars. The moniker was bestowed on the film for its desi avatar, inspired by the cowboy movies, and Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (1954). 'The film was on the radar of every cinema studies scholar and a popular text to research and write books and scholarly pieces,' said Professor Karen Gabriel, whose research areas include sexuality, visual cultures, and social theory. When he presented his paper in the 1990s, Jacob focused on the lamp-and-the-balcony scene as an interplay between desire and social taboos around a widow's silence. 'Hers is a muted and unspeakable desire that, for the most part, is revealed through minimal gestures and facial expressions,' said Nellickal Jacob about Radha 'Her encounter with Jai clearly awakens in her a desire that Sippy realises can only be obliquely referenced. Hers is a muted and unspeakable desire that, for the most part, is revealed through minimal gestures and facial expressions,' said Jacob. He argues that it is one of the best scenes in the entire film. Radha's slow, laboured movement shows how her repression is a reiterated ritual, and how Jai's gaze is not voyeuristic but a mix of melancholy and longing. He doesn't articulate his desire with words, but plays the harmonica. Emergency and Sholay 'The audience derived vicarious pleasure from playing the avenging angel, playing out their fantasies of securing justice against evil moneylenders, corrupt policemen, and rapist,' said Meenakshi Shedde. Released in a few months after the Emergency was imposed by Indira Gandhi, Sholay has been read in context with the making of the nation, and its political preoccupations. It was a time when the young democracy was gripped with all kinds of existential questions. In her paper 'Bollywood Cinema: Making Elephants Fly', Meenakshi Shedde explains that the 1970s were a watershed moment, as cinema became the 'conscience keeper' of the nation, both mainstream and parallel. 'In the mainstream, it definitely shaped the early success of Bollywood's superstar Amitabh Bachchan, now in his sixties. His protagonists broke the law to deliver justice and equity. The audience derived vicarious pleasure from playing the avenging angel, playing out their fantasies of securing justice against evil moneylenders, corrupt policemen, and rapists,' writes Shedde. Outside, political opponents of Indira Gandhi were being jailed, and underground protest movements were being mapped. Sholay marks the subaltern hero—a figure that was also synonymous with the growth of Bachchan's career. Such a hero was either an orphan or of ambiguous lineage, an affiliation with the masses, and capable of mobilising them. As film scholar M Madhava Prasad puts it, he offers 'a pleasurable 'subversion' without undermining the supremacy of the law'. 'The 'villainy' of Gabbar Singh is established through the gaze he casts on women too,' said Karen Gabriel Thakur is the only character who is referred to by his upper caste surname and class status in the village. He represents the feudal system, a status quo that the film establishes.'Thakur's plight elicits sympathy and by sharing in his desire for vengeance, we are also seduced into participating in a reaffirmation of the feudal order,' writes Prasad in his book Ideology of the Hindi film: A historical construction. Even Thakur's dismemberment serves a dual purpose. On the one hand, it represents the disabling of the apparatus of law and order, especially through its confrontation with criminality, represented by Gabbar (Amjad Khan). On the other hand, it also signifies a temporary breach of the coalition between the rural rich and the state. The film is also a nod to restoring the feudal system, which is equated with law, and the removal of all peripheral elements, represented by Gabbar. Though Jai and Veeru are petty criminals, they are employed by the state, rendering them 'infra-legal' but not irredeemably criminal, unlike Gabbar. 'They are figures with whom the new proletarian and other disaffected audiences could identify. One of the truly astonishing features of the developing cinema culture of this period is the success with which criminality could be deployed as a metaphor for all forms of rebellion and disidentification,' writes Prasad. It is also what separates them from the dacoit Gabbar, another subaltern figure, who challenges the feudal system. Thakur, who used to be a cop, temporarily sets aside legal protocols to deploy justice that the law cannot bring about. ' There is, of course, also the commentary that the legal and due processes in India are slow, by making the police arrive late in the movie, and the jailer, played by Asrani, a comical figure,' said Gabriel. In Sippy's film, there is a restoration of order rather than rebellion, through the figures of Jai and Veeru. Since Jai and Radha's love story is impossible in the society they live in, Jai is eliminated while Radha also goes back to her spectre-like existence. Veeru assimilates himself into the society by ending up with Basanti (Hema Malini), and most likely, marrying her. 'The 'villainy' of Gabbar Singh is established through the gaze he casts on women too—how he makes Basanti dance or how he looks while Helen is performing in front of his men,' said Gabriel. Sholay's 'ideal' men are shown as homosocial and transformed by the women into being pillars of the state. Veeru and Jai want to be better human beings, even refusing Thakur's money, to avenge Gabbar. They start caring about the people in the village and their plight due to the dacoits. The next few years, however, took a different route in scholarly ruminations over the movie. Homoeroticism in Sholay 'If Amitabh Bachchan can express undying love for other men on the screen, all in the name of yaari, why can't they too indulge in a little mischief?' asked R. Raj Rao. In the late 2000s, a wave of queer readings of Sholay began. Prominent Indian scholars focused on the camaraderie between Jay and Veeru, locating their interactions as one laden with sexual innuendo. Scholars R. Raj Rao and Ashok Raw Kavi, in particular, focused on the lyrics of the song 'Yeh Dosti', celebrated as one of the best songs of friendship in Hindi cinema. They interpret the text as a declaration of homoerotic desire. 'One verse, openly sexual, says: 'I will take anything from you'— 'Tere Liye Lelenge.' 'Lelenge' is Hindi street slang for the phrase, getting fu****', writes Kavi. In a similar vein, Rao calls the 350cc motorbike a phallic symbol in his essay, 'Memories Pierce The Heart.' According to Rao, Bachchan's popularity as a male brooding hero created a homoerotic bond with his young audience. 'The bond that Amitabh Bachchan formed with other male actors on the screen, complemented by the presence of an all-male audience that had gathered to watch him, engendered a sort of homoeroticism in the dark of the movie hall,' writes Rao. He does acknowledge that men in India are open about physical proximity, and even show affection among themselves through physical contact. But when an actor like Bachchan sings the song with lyrics ' People see us as two, but actually we are one, o God, bless us, so we never separate, never wound one another,' it opens up possibilities. 'If Amitabh Bachchan can express undying love for other men on the screen, all in the name of yaari, why can't they too indulge in a little mischief?' asked Rao. However, these readings have also been challenged as limited and inadequate and as a bit of academic retrofitting. Mausumi Bhattacharya, in her paper 'Bromance in Bollywood: Is it dismantling homohysteria and homophobia?', interprets the friendship between the two as bromance with a homosocial subtext instead of homosexual or homoerotic. She uses Kavi and Rao's works to highlight that reading the song as a homoerotic text dilutes the essence of 'bromance' that exists in the social fabric of India. 'Being brothers-in-crime underlines the aspect of shared interest, a key criterion of bromance. Though much is not revealed about the background and upbringing that they belong to, the identical socio-economic condition can be presumed. They partake in crime together, get arrested together, and serve jail sentences together is all too evident from the film's narrative,' writes Bhattacharya. Homoerotic or not, the song and the film established a definite career trajectory for Amitabh Bachchan. Also read: Feroze Khan's Dharmatma released the same year as Sholay and Deewar. It still stood out The Bachchan phenomenon 'As an actor, Amitabh's anger was never ugly. Other actors mix anger with arrogance. Amitabh's anger was mixed with hurt and tears,' said Javed Akhtar When the film was released in 1975, it was promoted as a significant multi-starrer, and the first poster had passport-size images of the entire cast. They were placed in a line at the bottom with the wild brushstrokes of smouldering orange flames and the title occupying the rest of the frame. 'The first week was difficult for Sholay, creating a minor stir among the producers and distributors. Subsequently, another set of posters with Bachchan and Dharmendra prominently in the frame, along with Amjad Khan (as Gabbar Singh), were printed,' writes Ranjani Mazumdar, who teaches cinema studies at Jawaharlal University. A few weeks later, Sholay was declared a success at the box office and Gabbar Singh its most popular character. A new set of posters was made with Amjad Khan as the dominant icon of the poster, clearly indicating the film industry's perception that Gabbar's persona had been successful with audiences. Khan, while continuing to do many hit films, was nowhere close to creating the brand of films that Bachchan eventually did. From the occasional drunk and gentleman of Hrishikesh Mukherjee films, he developed his brooding persona in a full-fledged brand with the Salim-Javed movies, especially with Zanjeer (1973), Sholay and Deewar releasing in quick succession. 'Amitabh doesn't tower over his strapping co-star Dharmendra in Ramesh Sippy's Sholay, the groundbreaking 'curry Western' that confirmed his arrival as a new kind of superstar, a disaffected Angry Young Man who takes the law into his own hands. But with his short-waisted, long-legged physique, he can look downright gangly, and when strategically photographed, he becomes an honorary giant,' writes David Chute in his 2005 essay, 'The BIG B: The Rise and Fall and Rebirth of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan'. Javed Akhtar, one half of the writing duo Salim-Javed, gave his take on why Bachchan's portrayal of proletariat or subaltern characters became popular with the audiences. 'As an actor, Amitabh's anger was never ugly. Other actors mix anger with arrogance. Amitabh's anger was mixed with hurt and tears,' said the screenwriter and lyricist in Talking Films: Conversations on Hindi Cinema with Javed Akhtar. He does, however, note that the later Bachchan developed arrogance. But in the 1970s, he was very much the guy who won because he did not let the more privileged determine his worth. Scholars have continued to read Sholay through multiple lenses to understand its undying appeal. As Sholay enters its 50th year, its charm is far from over. Naman Kumar, a law student at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, was fascinated by the movie. His term paper for the contract law course looks at the 'promise' made by Jai and Veeru to Thakur to get him Gabbar, under the ambit of the then prevailing definition of contracts in Indian law. Jai dies, but Veeru fulfills the promise. That, however, is not enough, under the laws of the times. 'In the contract scene between Thakur and Jai and Veeru, while Veeru completes the promise on behalf of Jai as well as himself after his death, due to the lack of consideration, it will only be a promise. Additionally, it can't be considered a contract because the object of the promise/contract is illegal, and renders it void,' writes Kumar. (Edited by Ratan Priya)
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I just saw one of my favorite movies in theaters for its 40th anniversary — but you can stream it for free right now
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. When looking at the top movies to stream for free on Tubi last month, I noticed that the free streaming service had added "Ran" to its library, and it immediately caught my attention. For those who aren't familiar with this movie, it's the final epic from Akira Kurosawa, who, among other things, is notable for being a significant inspiration behind George Lucas' "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope." But the late, great Japanese filmmaker is famous in his own right, having written and directed acclaimed films such as "Seven Samurai," "The Hidden Fortress" (that's the one that inspired "Star Wars") and "Yojimbo." Go through the Wikipedia article for any of those movies (and "Ran") and you'll see words like "significant influence" and "greatest and most influential films in cinema history." "Ran" remains my favorite Kurosawa film, though, even 40 years after its original theatrical release. I first watched it when I was a kid — it was probably the first foreign-language movie I ever watched — and when I saw it was on Tubi for free, I got ready to hit play again. But then I got an email telling me that "Ran" was being restored in 4K for its 40th anniversary. Even better, it was coming to my local independent theater. So, of course, I bought a ticket. "Ran" is a visual masterpiece, expertly creating vivid battle scenes of epic proportions, loaded with color. I wasn't going to miss a chance to see it in theaters — and having now seen the 4K restoration for myself, you shouldn't either. "Ran" is loosely an adaptation of William Shakespeare's "King Lear." In that play, the elderly King Lear divides his country between his three daughters, a decision that leads to him disowning one daughter before being outcast by his remaining daughters and wandering the country as a madman as his daughters fight over his lands. Kurosawa's adaptation holds pretty true to that general plotline. But he chooses to set it in a fictional version of Japan, based on 16th-century Sengoku period Japan. If that sounds familiar to you, that's also when "Shogun" is set, and you can feel shades of FX's hit period drama when watching "Ran." I'd be shocked if the show didn't draw some inspiration from this movie, even though it's directly based on an existing miniseries that predates "Ran" by five years. The historical drama epic stars Tatsuya Nakadai as the aged warlord Hidetora Ichimonji, who, like Lear, divides his lands between his three sons: Taro (Akira Terao), Jiro (Jinpachi Nezu) and Saburo (Daisuke Ryu). Like in the Shakespeare play, the third child refuses to accept this gift with the appropriate level of flattery, and Hidetora disowns him. Based on what I've already told you about "King Lear," you can guess how it goes from there. Now, I don't want to spoil much beyond that, because I want you to go see the original version on Tubi or the 4K restoration in theaters once you're done reading this article. But I will mention that, while the story is compelling enough to hold you're attention, it's the visuals of this movie that make it one of the greatest films ever made. Specifically, there are a few battle sequences sprinkled throughout the movie that are spectacular in every sense of the word. The first such battle sequence takes place at one of Hidetora's many castles, and has two of the brothers' armies assembled outside trying to breach it. At the beginning of the film, when we meet Hidetora and his sons, the sons are each wearing a primary color for their outfit: yellow (Taro), red (Jiro) and blue (Saburo). When they fight, their armies also follow this color scheme, and so in this first battle, we get a sea of yellow and a sea of red meeting in front of this imposing castle. The castle, surrounding lands and even skies are all dreary hues, and it makes the soldiers and their armor pop visually in a truly stunning way. Especially in the 4K restoration. The good news is that this visual experience still comes through in the original version of the film on Tubi. The only thing that doesn't quite hit in the same way is the sound of the film, which is immense at times in the theater. You'd want a decent sound setup to get a similar experience at home. I use a Sonos Arc Ultra, which is our top-rated pick for the best soundbars you can buy right now, and it's plenty satisfying. But the Sonos Beam (Gen 1) I use in my office is also plenty good. So, whether you see it in all its glory on the big screen or opt to watch it at home on Tubi, make sure to check out "Ran" now for its 40th anniversary. There's never been a better time to experience one of the greatest movies ever made. Stream the original version of 'Ran' free on Tubi now or check out the 4K restoration at your local theater Tom Hardy's 'MobLand' just wrapped up with a stunning finale — and I can't wait for a season 2 'Hacks' shocking season 4 finale has me hopeful season 5 could be the show's best yet — here's why 'The Last of Us' season 2 finale live — reactions, who survived, recap and more
Tom's Guide
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I just saw one of my favorite movies in theaters for its 40th anniversary — but you can stream it for free right now
When looking at the top movies to stream for free on Tubi last month, I noticed that the free streaming service had added "Ran" to its library, and it immediately caught my attention. For those who aren't familiar with this movie, it's the final epic from Akira Kurosawa, who, among other things, is notable for being a significant inspiration behind George Lucas' "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope." But the late, great Japanese filmmaker is famous in his own right, having written and directed acclaimed films such as "Seven Samurai," "The Hidden Fortress" (that's the one that inspired "Star Wars") and "Yojimbo." Go through the Wikipedia article for any of those movies (and "Ran") and you'll see words like "significant influence" and "greatest and most influential films in cinema history." "Ran" remains my favorite Kurosawa film, though, even 40 years after its original theatrical release. I first watched it when I was a kid — it was probably the first foreign-language movie I ever watched — and when I saw it was on Tubi for free, I got ready to hit play again. But then I got an email telling me that "Ran" was being restored in 4K for its 40th anniversary. Even better, it was coming to my local independent theater. So, of course, I bought a ticket. "Ran" is a visual masterpiece, expertly creating vivid battle scenes of epic proportions, loaded with color. I wasn't going to miss a chance to see it in theaters — and having now seen the 4K restoration for myself, you shouldn't either. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. "Ran" is loosely an adaptation of William Shakespeare's "King Lear." In that play, the elderly King Lear divides his country between his three daughters, a decision that leads to him disowning one daughter before being outcast by his remaining daughters and wandering the country as a madman as his daughters fight over his lands. Kurosawa's adaptation holds pretty true to that general plotline. But he chooses to set it in a fictional version of Japan, based on 16th-century Sengoku period Japan. If that sounds familiar to you, that's also when "Shogun" is set, and you can feel shades of FX's hit period drama when watching "Ran." I'd be shocked if the show didn't draw some inspiration from this movie, even though it's directly based on an existing miniseries that predates "Ran" by five years. The historical drama epic stars Tatsuya Nakadai as the aged warlord Hidetora Ichimonji, who, like Lear, divides his lands between his three sons: Taro (Akira Terao), Jiro (Jinpachi Nezu) and Saburo (Daisuke Ryu). Like in the Shakespeare play, the third child refuses to accept this gift with the appropriate level of flattery, and Hidetora disowns him. Based on what I've already told you about "King Lear," you can guess how it goes from there. Now, I don't want to spoil much beyond that, because I want you to go see the original version on Tubi or the 4K restoration in theaters once you're done reading this article. But I will mention that, while the story is compelling enough to hold you're attention, it's the visuals of this movie that make it one of the greatest films ever made. Specifically, there are a few battle sequences sprinkled throughout the movie that are spectacular in every sense of the word. The first such battle sequence takes place at one of Hidetora's many castles, and has two of the brothers' armies assembled outside trying to breach it. At the beginning of the film, when we meet Hidetora and his sons, the sons are each wearing a primary color for their outfit: yellow (Taro), red (Jiro) and blue (Saburo). When they fight, their armies also follow this color scheme, and so in this first battle, we get a sea of yellow and a sea of red meeting in front of this imposing castle. The castle, surrounding lands and even skies are all dreary hues, and it makes the soldiers and their armor pop visually in a truly stunning way. Especially in the 4K restoration. The good news is that this visual experience still comes through in the original version of the film on Tubi. The only thing that doesn't quite hit in the same way is the sound of the film, which is immense at times in the theater. You'd want a decent sound setup to get a similar experience at home. I use a Sonos Arc Ultra, which is our top-rated pick for the best soundbars you can buy right now, and it's plenty satisfying. But the Sonos Beam (Gen 1) I use in my office is also plenty good. So, whether you see it in all its glory on the big screen or opt to watch it at home on Tubi, make sure to check out "Ran" now for its 40th anniversary. There's never been a better time to experience one of the greatest movies ever made. Stream the original version of 'Ran' free on Tubi now or check out the 4K restoration at your local theater Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made. Here's what he's been watching lately:
Daily Record
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'Best film ever made' with 100% Rotten Tomatoes score now streaming on Amazon Prime
Over 100 professional critics have hailed the 'masterpiece' as 'one of the best films ever made' and Amazon Prime subscribers can now watch it from home. A "glorious" 1956 film that boasts a flawless 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes is now streaming on Amazon Prime and Apple TV. The 208-minute epic has been praised unanimously by 102 professional critics with a near-impossible 100% rating, coupled with an audience approval of 97% based on over 50,000 reviews. Crafted by the legendary director Akira Kurosawa and unfolding within 16th-century Japan, Seven Samurai tells the tale of a destitute farming village that opts to employ seven ronin, masterless samurai, for protection against impending bandit raids after their next harvest. Kurosawa's direction is sublime, meticulously developing the story with themes of duty, sacrifice, and human connection taking centre stage, the Express reports. One critic on Rotten Tomatoes applauded the film, stating: "The glorious vigour and strength of this film is presented with such theatrical relish and flair: its energy flashes out of the screen like a sword." Another impressed reviewer praised: "Seven Samurai is one of the crown jewels of cinema, a movie that could be screened for visiting aliens in order to show what the art form can achieve." Yet another fan remarked: "Kurosawa's epic adventure masterpiece is one of the best films ever made." A fourth branded it as "among the best of the best action films". Somebody else acknowledged: "Although Kurosawa blends the styles of Japanese cinema with Western sensibilities, the buildup of suspense is approached in near complete contrast to that of modern movies." Guided by the experienced and wise Kambei, the film follows the village as the samurai readies them for combat by strengthening the village and training them in warfare. Despite initial frictions, an unexpected alliance starts to take shape and as the bandits reappear, a series of tactical and fiercely contested battles unfold. Seven Samurai is not the only title to recently be added to Amazon Prime with an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score. The streaming platform has also finally added what's been dubbed by viewers as the 'best horror movie of 2024' and described as a 'masterclass in suspense'. Heretic, which boasts a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, appeared on the platform's coming soon list over a month ago and it's finally here. The plot follows two young missionaries who become trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they knock on the door of the diabolical Mr. Reed, played by British actor Hugh Grant. Stuck in his home, they must turn to their faith if they want to make it out alive. The movie caused quite a stir when it was released in cinemas last year, as it stars Hugh Grant in a very different role to his usual on screen portrayals. Grant's impressive performance earned him a BAFTA 2025 nomination for Best Leading Actor.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Highest 2 Lowest' Review: Denzel Washington Finds A Great Role And A$AP Rocky Finds A New Career In Spike Lee's Entertaining Kidnap Drama
Yet again a filmmaker has gone to the throne of Japanese giant Akira Kurosawa for inspiration. Among the lauded director's films Hollywood has turned into English-language adaptations are Seven Samurai, which became The Magnificent Seven twice (including once with Denzel Washington); Rashomon, which became Paul Newman's The Outrage; Ikiru, remade a few years ago as Living; Yojimbo, which led to an uncredited inspiration for A Fistful of Dollars; and 1958's Hidden Fortress, unquestionably an inspiration for George Lucas and Star Wars. Now chalk up another one with Spike Lee's new take on Kurosawa's 1963 drama High and Low, in which Toshiro Mifune played a shoemaker executive who is torn between paying the ransom to his chauffeur's son's kidnapper after the criminal nabbed him by mistake instead of the executive's son, who was safe. It becomes a moral dilemma, especially as the exec really needs the money himself to save his business. What would you do, it asks? More from Deadline Cannes Film Festival 2025 In Photos: Wes Anderson, Guillermo del Toro, 'The Phoenician Scheme' & 'The Richest Woman In The World'Premieres &More Cannes Film Festival 2025: Read All Of Deadline's Movie Reviews 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 And that is exactly the setup for Lee's thrilling and entertaining new drama Highest 2 Lowest, which has been reset to the contemporary music industry with Washington as David King aka 'King David,' a hugely successful music mogul who finds his Stackin' Hits Records is about to be taken over and now has plans to start a new label and return to the top of the charts. When his son Trey (Aubrey Joseph) and godson Kyle (Elijah Wright in a film debut) and son of his best friend and driver Paul (Jeffrey Wright) are mistaken for each other by the inept kidnapper, that criminal demands David pay the $17.5 million ransom anyway or Kyle dies. Again, what would you do? RELATED: The riveting answer to what David will do is played out in this tense cat-and-mouse game. Should he refuse, he is told social media will just destroy him anyway for the heartless act of turning his back on his friend Paul and his son who are definitely living on a wildly different class level than the Kings do. But David is torn. He is convinced that a return to the top of the heap is imminent and all he needs is the money. Why give it up for someone else's child? His wife Pam (IIfenesh Hadera) is distraught at first, thinking the guy had their son, but now has definite ideas of her own about how to proceed. There's also a trio of NYPD detectives on the case (Dean Winters, LaChanze, John Douglas Thompson). The tension mounts as they try to lure the kidnapper, who slyly barks his demands and tries to one-up David in some phone encounters. Will they be able to trace the calls? Can they find him? Who is he? RELATED: Well, it turns out to be a guy whose life's dream was to be discovered by King David and handed a contract for Stackin' Hits as the next great rapper. His name in Yung Felon, and he is played in a sensational supporting turn by A$AP Rocky, whose romantic partner Marisol (Isis 'Ice Spice' Gaston) might hold the key to finding him. RELATED: The first film shot in Lee's native NYC in more than a decade is one of his best. It has been in various forms of development over 30 years for the likes of David Mamet, Chris Rock and others, and now Washington helped get Lee on board with it for a new take from screenwriter Alan Fox, who adapts material from Ed McBain's book King's Ransom and the original Kurosawa movie. The premise fits like a glove with the music industry, and Washington is smooth as silk, delivering one of his best recent performances as a man caught in an impossible moral quandary. With his fifth collaboration with Lee (Malcolm X, He Got Game, Inside Man, Mo Better Blues), he really finds his groove on this one to be sure. His initial showdown in the recording studio through the music producer's glass window as Yung Felon is putting down a track is worth the price of admission, with Washington turning the encounter into a bravura rap that becomes one of the actor's finest screen moments. A$AP Rocky, who was seen in the film Monsters, proves he can go toe-to-toe with Washington and shows he has dramatic chops to shine here. Wright as always is superb, as is Hadera. RELATED: As is the case with most Lee joints, this one has a superb, soaring musical score from Howard Drossin that really feels NYC to its core. Matthew Libatique's sharp cinematography also shows off New York City to its full potential here. The film had its world premiere Monday night Out of Competition at the Cannes Film Festival, where Lee debuted his masterpiece Do the Right Thing 36 years ago today. Producers are Todd Black and Jason Michael Berman. Title: Highest 2 LowestFestival: Cannes (Out of Competition)Distributors: A24 Films and Apple Original FilmsRelease date: August 22, 2025Director: Spike LeeScreenwriter: Alan FoxCast: Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, IIfenesh Hadera, Aubrey Joseph, A$AP Rocky, Dean Winters, La Chanze, John Douglas Thompson, Isis 'Ice Spice' Gaston, Michael Potts, Rick Fox, Elijah WrightRating: RRunning time: 2 hr 14 min Best of Deadline Broadway's 2024-2025 Season: All Of Deadline's Reviews Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize Winners Through The Years Deadline Studio At Sundance Film Festival Photo Gallery: Dylan O'Brien, Ayo Edebiri, Jennifer Lopez, Lily Gladstone, Benedict Cumberbatch & More
