'40th anniversary of "Pee-wee's Big Adventure", along with this week's top films in Los Angeles'
Spike Lee's newest film, "Highest 2 Lowest," is set to hit theaters next week and will be available on Apple TV+ on September 5. This contemporary reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 film "High and Low" stars Denzel Washington and Clive Owen.
In "Highest 2 Lowest," Denzel Washington plays a record mogul, while Clive Owen portrays Theo, a former activist-turned-bureaucrat who shepherds a pregnant woman named Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) to safety. The film uses sound and music effectively, with politically pointed songs at the end.
Lee's adaptation brings Kurosawa’s moral and social themes into a modern American urban landscape through his unique cinematic lens. The film is a "love song" to New York City, capturing both its grandeur and grit, while maintaining a mix of intense action and humor.
The collaboration with Denzel Washington—who has worked with Lee on four previous films—cements this film as a respectful yet distinctive homage to the original. Spike Lee himself has compared the relationship between "High and Low" and "Highest 2 Lowest" to the renditions of the song "My Favorite Things" by Julie Andrews and John Coltrane.
Meanwhile, Tim Burton's "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" turns 40 and will be screened at the Academy Museum on Saturday. The original film, which stars Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman, received praise from critics, with Michael Wilmington comparing Reubens' character to Peter Lorre and Soupy Sales. A recent documentary, "Pee-wee as Himself," explores Paul Reubens' life and the explosive popularity of the Pee-wee character.
On a different note, "Children of Men" (2006), directed by Alfonso Cuarón, will screen at the Academy Museum on Wednesday. This film, set in 2027 Britain and presenting a frightening scenario where no child has been born for 18 years, received positive reviews, with Kenneth Turan writing it is a 'Blade Runner' for the 21st century.
For those interested in lesser-known films, "Another Day in Paradise" is a post-Tarantino riff on "Drugstore Cowboy" as a young drug-addicted couple fall under the tutelage of older drug-addicted characters. This film and "Bully" (2001), based on a true story of a group of South Florida teens who murdered someone in their circle, will be screened as a double bill at The New Beverly Cinema on Monday and Tuesday.
Finally, "The Heartbreak Kid" (1972) will be screened at the Eastwood Performing Arts Center on Friday and Saturday. Mark Olsen, a regular guide for Only Good Movies, will be present to introduce the Friday night show.
Don't miss out on these exciting film screenings and the premiere of Spike Lee's latest masterpiece, "Highest 2 Lowest."
- Spike Lee's newest movie, "Highest 2 Lowest," starring Denzel Washington and Clive Owen, is set to premiere in theaters next week and will be available on Apple TV+ on September 5, showcasing a modern American urban landscape.
- This contemporary take on Akira Kurosawa's 1963 film "High and Low" also features a pregnant woman named Kee, portrayed by Clare-Hope Ashitey, and uses music effectively, with politically pointed songs at the end.
- "Children of Men" (2006), directed by Alfonso Cuarón, will be screened at the Academy Museum on Wednesday, presenting a frightening scenario where no child has been born for 18 years.
- On a separate note, "Another Day in Paradise" and "Bully" (2001) will be screened as a double bill at The New Beverly Cinema on Monday and Tuesday, offering a look at lesser-known films.
- Tim Burton's "Pee-wee's Big Adventure," turning 40, will be screened at the Academy Museum on Saturday, along with a documentary, "Pee-wee as Himself," exploring Paul Reubens' life and the explosive popularity of the Pee-wee character.
- "The Heartbreak Kid" (1972) will be screened at the Eastwood Performing Arts Center on Friday and Saturday, with Mark Olsen, a regular guide for Only Good Movies, introducing the Friday night show.
