Denzel Washington stood clueless about the impending surprise, while the audience at Cannes was fully aware. The iconic actor, now at the twilight of his seventh decade, was met with an endearing and overwhelming shock at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival when he was bestowed with an honorary Palme d'Or by his long-standing collaborator and cinematic compatriot, Spike Lee. The duo had gathered at the festival for the grand unveiling of their latest endeavor, "Highest 2 Lowest," but the evening swiftly transformed into a deeply personal celebration.
Visibly taken aback, Washington, with a tearful smile etched across his face, accepted the accolade. "Please, have a seat," he urged the applauding throng, attempting to soothe the tempest of praise that enveloped him. "This is an utter surprise for me, and I'm rather emotional. But from the depths of my heart, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you. It has been an invaluable opportunity to collaborate once again with my brother from another mother, Spike." The audience chuckled collectively as Washington added, "To find ourselves here once more in Cannes, well, we're a fortunate lot, indeed. We get to make movies, don tuxedos, adorn ourselves in fine attire, and get paid for it—what a privilege! We're incredibly blessed, and I, personally, am overwhelmed with gratitude. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you."
Each year, Cannes shines the spotlight on cinematic giants through the honorary Palme d'Or, and Washington's moment this year was nothing short of resplendent. Just a few days prior, Leonardo DiCaprio ascended the stage to present Robert De Niro with his own honorary Palme, reminiscing about how meeting De Niro in the '90s had "forever altered the course of my life."
Washington and Lee's return to the silver screen with "Highest 2 Lowest" marks their first collaboration since "Inside Man" in 2006, their fifth film together as a formidable duo. Their latest venture reimagines Akira Kurosawa's 1963 masterpiece "High and Low," transposing the streets of Japan to the harsh, unpredictable rhythm of contemporary New York City.
As for the plot? A colossal figure in the music industry—renowned for possessing the "finest ears in the business"—finds himself ensnared in a ransom scheme that escalates into a harrowing moral dilemma. It's the quintessential Spike-Denzel collaboration—stylish, incisive, and steeped in tension. "Highest 2 Lowest" will grace select theaters on August 22 and make its streaming debut on Apple TV+ starting September 5.
