Highest 2 Lowest’s Ilfenesh Hadera on A$AP Rocky’s Performance in Film

Starring as Denzel Washington’s spouse in a Spike Lee‘s “Highest 2 Lowest” was a dream come true for Ilfenesh Hadera. However she admits she was skeptical when she heard A$AP Rocky was additionally solid in a starring position within the movie.

“I imply, like whole transparency, I requested Spike who was solid because the kidnapper. He mentioned [A$AP] Rocky and I used to be like, ‘oh…’ I’d by no means seen him act earlier than,” Hadera instructed Selection on Monday on the film’s New York Metropolis premiere.

In “Highest 2 Lowest,” a contemporary reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 traditional “Excessive and Low,” Rocky takes on his most substantial position but because the movie’s central antagonist. 

This isn’t Rocky’s first time on the massive display screen. He made his function movie debut as a drug supplier in “Dope,” but it surely was his supporting position within the 2018 authorized drama “Monster” that caught Lee’s consideration. 

Rocky performs Yung Felon, a wannabe rapper obsessive about music mogul David King (Washington) who levels an elaborate kidnapping to get his consideration. On the climax of the movie, Rocky and Washington go head-to-head in a rap battle fueled by laborious truths and timeless knowledge. At one level, Yung Felon even mentions feeding his girl and new child child (Rocky’s spouse, Rihanna, is anticipating their third little one).

“I like him as a rapper, he’s my Harlem brethren,” Hadera defined. “However, you understand, you might have these musicians who resolve they need to act, and since they’ve relationships, begin to do it. And on this movie, if that’s not a stable efficiency, every part form of falls aside.”

After seeing the ultimate minimize of “Highest 2 Lowest” on the movie’s world premiere at Cannes in Could, Hadera mentioned any doubts she had about Rocky’s casting disappeared.

“After I noticed that man act at Cannes, he had this charisma and God-given expertise that blew me away,” she mentioned. “I can’t think about that his calendar just isn’t full with pre-production plans for years to come back after this film comes out. He’s so nice in it.”

Rocky, arriving fashionably late to the New York premiere on Monday, trotted down the carpet line on the BAM Harvey Theater with infectious enthusiasm. When requested if he sees a prolific film profession forward of him, he responded with three easy phrases: “I hope so.”

Throughout his Could cowl story with Selection’s Angelique Jackson, Rocky’s conviction was clear after being requested whether or not he was nervous going up in opposition to Washington.

“Nah, I used to be born for this,” he mentioned. “I’m not gonna waste no person’s time. That is what I do — this is identical method you’ll take to creating an album or to directing or designing something: You’ve obtained to provide it your all… If any individual don’t obtained integrity, and so they’re simply doing it for the test or the look or the following alternative, it by no means works out for them.”

Rocky’s artistic ambitions left an enduring impression on his youthful castmate Elijah Wright, son of Jeffrey Wright, each on-and-off the decision sheet. 

“A$AP is the very best,” Elijah mentioned. “I grew up along with his music, so it’s actually cool and provoking to see that he’s tackling music and appearing and doing every part. That’s one thing that I aspire to do too.”

Later this yr, Rocky will hit the circuit once more to advertise his flip within the Sundance hit “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.” Whether or not his subsequent transfer retains him in entrance of the digicam or takes him into one other artistic lane, Spike Lee has little doubt concerning the end result.

“He’s multi-talented,” Lee instructed Selection. “He’s going to excel in no matter he does.”

“Highest 2 Lowest” opens in choose theaters Aug. 15 earlier than streaming on Apple TV+ on Sept. 5.