When discussing the iconic pairs of actor/director throughout cinema history, numerous names surface. Quentin Tarantino alongside Samuel L. Jackson. Paul Thomas Anderson with Philip Seymour Hoffman. Indeed, Martin Scorsese boasts two such partnerships with Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio. Another duo that unequivocally deserves to be mentioned in this elite group is Spike Lee and Denzel Washington. Even though this pair has collaborated on just five films over the past 35 years, they have consistently managed to elevate each other’s talents.

With the release of their fifth joint effort, the remarkable *Highest 2 Lowest*, I took the opportunity to reflect on how each of their collaborations compares to the others. It’s crucial to emphasize that, regardless of their ranking, all five of these films are absolutely worth watching.

**5. He Got Game**

In the 1998 film *He Got Game*, which hasn’t received the recognition it deserves, Washington portrays Jake Shuttlesworth, an inmate who is temporarily released from prison to persuade his estranged son, basketball prodigy Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen), to play for the governor’s former college, Big State. It serves as a heartfelt homage to Lee’s beloved sport while simultaneously critiquing the complexities that come with pursuing it professionally. Its position at the bottom of this list stems from it being arguably the most chaotic of their collaborations. Certain plot elements, like Jake’s emerging romance with his neighbor Dakota (Milla Jovovich), feel more awkward than nuanced.

Nevertheless, the film truly excels when it centers on the intricate bond between Jesus and Jake. The film’s controversial shift into “magical realism” towards the end feels justified due to this depth. Washington delivers an exceptional performance, while Ray Allen impressively holds his own, especially for a first-time acting role as a real-life athlete. The film’s soundtrack by Public Enemy, especially the standout title track, is perhaps even more underrated than the film itself.

**4. Inside Man**

*Inside Man,* which debuted in 2006, remains Lee’s top-grossing film to date, and it’s easy to understand why: it’s an exhilarating thriller. Set primarily in and around a Manhattan bank, the story features Washington as hostage negotiator Keith Frazier during a high-stakes standoff against bank robber Dalton Russell (Clive Owen) and his crew. The real excitement lies in the tense exchanges between Owen and Washington, as they each vie for control of the situation.

Moreover, the supporting cast is exceptionally impressive even by Lee’s standards, including Jodie Foster, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Willem Dafoe, and the late Christopher Plummer, who has more at stake in the heist than just monetary loss. Additionally, it contains one of my favorite plot twists in recent cinema.

**3. Mo’ Better Blues**

Debuting in 1990, *Mo’ Better Blues* marked the first collaboration between Spike Lee and Denzel Washington. Washington takes on the role of jazz trumpeter Bleek Gilliam, whose ascent to fame is at risk due to his faltering friendships and relationships. The film is as lively and stylish as the jazz tunes that define it, bolstered by a fantastic supporting cast, including Wesley Snipes, Bill Nunn, and Giancarlo Esposito as Bleek’s bandmates, with Cynda Williams and Spike’s sister Zoie Lee as Bleek’s love interests. Lee himself delivers a memorable performance as Bleek’s gambling-addicted manager, Giant.

It’s a splendid film that unfortunately got lost in the shadow of its predecessor: the groundbreaking *Do The Right Thing*. An interesting tidbit: this movie marks the only occasion that Washington and Samuel L. Jackson (another frequent collaborator of Lee’s) ever appeared on screen together, and regrettably, it’s for just a brief moment.

**2. Highest 2 Lowest**

Interestingly, one of Spike and Denzel’s finest collaborations pays homage to another legendary actor/director duo, Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune. This contemporary adaptation of Kurosawa’s 1963 thriller *High and Low* finds Washington redefining Mifune’s shoe salesman Kingo Gondo as record executive David King, who becomes embroiled in a $17.5 million ransom scheme just as he’s about to avert a company takeover. Washington’s portrayal here is arguably the most classically theatrical of the five, as he grapples with his moral dilemmas in a manner reminiscent of Shakespeare in the first half. However, it also showcases his most dynamic performance in years, particularly during the heightened confrontations with the kidnapper played by A$AP Rocky.

Addressing themes such as class disparity,