Our second CLASH Film column features a reunion of two cinematic icons, a sapphic crime narrative from one of the Coen Brothers, and a gritty boxing thriller with Orlando Bloom.
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HIGHEST 2 LOWEST
On Apple TV+ starting September 5.
Denzel Washington teams up with Spike Lee for their fifth collaboration, reimagining Akira Kurosawa’s classic High And Low, but this time set within the New York music scene. Washington portrays David King, a music mogul poised to reclaim ownership of his label. This risky transaction is thrown into jeopardy when his son is kidnapped, compelling the career-focused King to decide between family and his legacy.
Part police procedural and part fable about the corrupting nature of power, it's delightful to witness the ease with which Lee collaborates with Washington. The actor is both charismatic and ruthless, equally at home in a penthouse suite and in a spontaneous rap battle with co-star A$AP Rocky (one of the film’s standout moments). The suspense builds as you wonder if David will prioritize money over a life, and the superb support from Jeffrey Wright as his best friend enhances the tension. Lee’s interest in his hometown causes the pace to slow at times, featuring cameos from past collaborators and numerous sports references. Nonetheless, it’s hard to resent two masters of their art showcasing their ability to tell a compelling story.
8/10
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HONEY DON’T!
In theaters from September 5.
Ethan Coen’s second film after separating from his brother Joel is also the second installment of his so-called “lesbian B-movie trilogy,” following last year's Drive-Away Dolls. Margaret Qualley, the star of that film, returns as small-town private investigator Honey O’Donahue, who looks into a series of strange deaths linked to an evangelical church and its leader (Chris Evans).
Similar to Drive-Away Dolls, Coen struggles to find meaning within the stylized narrative. Fortunately, this time there is enough charm in the movie to keep viewers engaged. Qualley, who gained fame in last year’s horror The Substance, shines in a role typically reserved for male leads, displaying deadpan humor. Her toughness is softened by Coen and Tricia Cooke’s clever and humorous dialogue, which introduces intriguing characters like Aubrey Plaza’s butch cop love interest and Evans' comically sleazy priest. Do they venture into anything exceptionally original? Not really, but spending time with them is enjoyable nonetheless.
This Noir story type would have been common when The Coens first made their mark in the '90s; while Honey Don’t! might not recapture the old magic, it simmers enough to satisfy fans of quirky indie films.
7/10
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THE CUT
In theaters from September 5.
Orlando Bloom adopts a fairly convincing Irish accent in this tense thriller, portraying a former champion offered one final major fight in Vegas, as long as he meets the weight limit. With limited time before the weigh-in, he resorts to extreme measures to lose weight, which start to disconnect him from reality.
Director Sean Ellis deserves credit for crafting a boxing film premise that avoids clichéd twists on Rocky. However, the praise mostly ends there, as what could have been a tense, gut-wrenching experience devolves into melodrama, with hints of horror sprinkled throughout. Bloom’s character confronts his trauma through flashbacks, leaving him with little to do in the present apart from appearing sweaty and gaunt. Notable performances come from John Turturro as a shady fixer willing to bend the law and Catriona Balfe as the concerned trainer Caitlin.
For the most part, however, The Cut follows familiar narrative paths leading to a conclusion that feels aimed at shock value rather than something meaningful.
4/10
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Words: Victoria Luxford
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In our second CLASH Film column, we witness the reunion of two legendary figures in cinema, a sapphic crime narrative from one of the Coen Brothers, and a raw boxing thriller.