Spike Lee's new movie is much more than a Kurosawa remake

Decked out in a resplendent orange-and-blue-striped zoot suit symbolizing the colours of his beloved New York Knicks, Spike Lee hit the Cannes Film Festival's red carpet in May in full boogie mode. As Lee and his wife, producer Tonya Lewis Lee, huddled under an umbrella and made their way through a throng of photographers, he started dancing as speakers blasted "Trunks," a track from the soundtrack of his new film, "Highest 2 Lowest," by ASAP Rocky, who also acts in the movie. Accompanied by his superstar partner, Rihanna, exhibiting her sizable baby bump, the rapper locked eyes with Lee and the two broke out into a spontaneous shimmy.

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With the exception of the Knicks winning the NBA championship (they would be eliminated from the playoffs a few days later), it would be hard to imagine Lee in a more joyous spirit than the one he was in at that May 19 event. His film "Do The Right Thing" had premiered at Cannes on the same date in 1989. It was also the IOOth birthday of Malcolm X, who was portrayed by "Highest" actor Denzel Washington in their most successful partnership, 1992's "Malcolm X."

Though months have passed since that triumphant evening, Lee is extending his “Highest 2 Lowest” victory lap, delighted that he and Washington, whom he calls “America’s greatest living actor,” have joined forces for a fifth time.