HIGHEST 2 LOWEST 'APPLE TV ALL UP IN MY POCKET' WATCH/QUIP:WATCH ON: APPLE TV OR THEM THEATRES 

GENRE: Drama-Suspense

SUMMINATION: When a powerful music mogul is targeted by a ransom plot, he is forced to fight for his family and legacy while jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma.

MUSING: So! It's been a while, and I'm back, thanks to that Spike X Denzel joint in our ears, after so many decades of naught! It would take these two...(and Megan Thee Stallion with her own project) to get me to break off some recession coin just to sign up for the fruit plus and watch this, and watch this as I lay up sick, I did. 

I will start out by saying, I went in with no expectation for what the story was about. I knew and still know nothing about the original IP this was inspired by, but because it was a cineophile classic, of course, I'm going to add it to my watch list. With H2L I was here just for my all-time favorite Blaque Hollywood icon of a male lead, Mr. Denzel Washington, and to support director icon, Spike Lee. To keep my quip a quip, I will say this: many of the comments out there with this film about the jarring colorism in the casting of the women woven into this story about the music industry with a mix of a kidnapping, are accurate in my opinion. For those familiar with the style of Spike Lee, this choice becomes dominant, in almost being its own commentary and storyline in and of itself with Black men and their connection to wealth and women. 👀👀*looks at the screen* As annoying as that is. 

Moving on, I'm still mulling over this movie, but my out-of-the-gate impression is that, it wasn't bad for his current return about the music biz (and the loss of culture/essence in music) and the hold social everything has with it; it also wasn't a fave in my collection of his. I'm one of those who enjoy his eye for art and using his style of cinematography to highlight that (used to want to study with him and Ava). It makes me look for the black cultural easter eggs that he 'doesn't' always just slam in your face (which, we know that he did throughout, it's what he does). Scriptwise, with his style, that pacing was etchy at times, but I will say, Spike gave me two favorite moments in film. I won't go into details, but I will drop a note. It's a particular the OG thug bit, and a moment with Rocky in the studio: the smile, that I smiled!!

Denzel gave a brilliant performance as expected. We get a lot of 'Spike's faves' cameos, which were cute and enjoyable quips and jokes peppered throughout the film's dialogue. Outside of my other fave, co-star Jeffery Wright, there was another who appeared for a bit, he and Jeff were underused in my opinion, and that's saying a lot in Jeffery's case. One major con in casting was also the chemistry between Denzel and his wife. The acting with her just...was...off. Outside of that, the teens that were cast did their big one, and I hope they move on in the acting world to bigger, amazing projects.

Although everything is shiny and attempting to feel like presenting Spike for a new generation, it still remained just that...a Spike Lee Joint. I give a big applause to Rocky as well, he truly stepped into the film righteously and held his own.

P.S. As a older millennial...seeing my fave ML age is messing with my spirit. We all getting old. 😭

RATING: 3.5 out of 5 music notes 🎶🎶🎶🎶