Highest to Lowest Film is all about the Hunger for Validation

Ann Arbor, Michigan, was a busy yet eventual weekend. My work schedule had me running nonstop—early mornings, late nights, balancing calls, events, and everything in between. It was one of those weekends where you’re grateful for the opportunities but your body is begging you for rest. By Sunday night, I knew I needed to pour back into myself. So, I did to head to the movies.

No entourage, no distractions—just me, a ticket, and a chance to breathe. That’s when I decided on Spike Lee’s latest film, Highest to Lowest. And let me tell you, it ended up being exactly what my spirit needed.

The moment the film started, I felt that familiar Spike Lee touch. The cuts. The angles. The close-ups that take you right inside a character’s head. If you’ve ever seen Do the Right Thing or Crooklyn, you know that signature Spike flavor I’m talking about. And while those films are eternal classics, this one… this one hit different.

A$AP ROCKY, Spike Lee and Denzel Washington

Highest to Lowest Film is all about the hunger for validation. Simply showing how far people will go to be seen, to be celebrated, to be remembered. Working in the music and entertainment business myself, that theme hit close to home. I’ve watched people chase clout at all costs, only to discover it never delivers the happiness they thought it would. Spike captured that truth with a rawness that felt a little too real. And then he flipped the whole story with a plot twist that had the theater gasping—including me.

But let’s get into the magic of the cast. Denzel Washington. A walking masterclass. If this truly ends up being his last film, as he’s hinted, he left us a gift. He gave us that smooth, witty, unbothered energy that only Denzel can. Effortless yet powerful. Spike may be right, though—something in me believes Denzel still has more left in the tank, because greatness like his doesn’t just retire.

And the biggest surprise? A$AP Rocky. Listen, I’ll be honest: I walked into that theater not expecting him to stand toe-to-toe with Denzel. But he did more than stand—he delivered. He showed a new layer to himself beyond the music, beyond the fashion icon, beyond the persona. Seeing Rocky bring that vulnerability and rawness to the screen, I found myself respecting him differently. I walked out not only seeing him as an artist, but as a storyteller. And now? Yeah, I’ll probably be revisiting his music catalog with fresh ears.

By the end of the film, I found myself reflecting—not just on the story but on the moment itself. Sitting there, alone, with my popcorn and my thoughts after a whirlwind work weekend…I realized how important it is to pause. To give yourself space to process, to feel, to connect with art that challenges and heals at the same time.

Highest to Lowest wasn’t just a film. It was a reminder. A reminder of the cost of seeking fame without substance. A reminder to check the motives behind our grind. And most of all, a reminder of the power of great Black storytelling. Spike Lee did it again.

For me, that Sunday night in Ann Arbor was more than just downtime. It was communion—with cinema, with culture, with myself. And that’s something I’ll carry with me long after the theater lights came back on.