90
Metascore
16 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100The New York TimesA.O. ScottThe New York TimesA.O. ScottA sizzling, artistic crackerjack and a model of its genre, pegged on a harassed man's moral decision, laced with firm characterizations and tingling detail and finally attaining an incredibly colorful crescendo of microscopic police sleuthing.
- 100The A.V. ClubScott TobiasThe A.V. ClubScott TobiasMiraculously, High And Low turns the mundane follow-through of police work into the stuff of white-knuckle suspense.
- 100Chicago TribuneMichael WilmingtonChicago TribuneMichael WilmingtonSuperb crime thriller. [07 Sep 1998, p.1N]
- 90The DissolveMike D'AngeloThe DissolveMike D'AngeloFew movies have ever been as subtly, methodically composed as High And Low, in which every shot reflects, to some degree, the dichotomy presented by its title.
- 90Paste MagazineOktay Ege KozakPaste MagazineOktay Ege KozakThe most tension-filled ransom exchange sequence ever filmed works perfectly as the midpoint break between the two halves, which eventually begin to converge as a potent study on the psychological effects of income inequality disguised as a straight genre piece.
- 88Slant MagazineGlenn Heath Jr.Slant MagazineGlenn Heath Jr.High and Low is a masterful cinematic elevator connecting two warring social perspectives, finding a common ground between them in the pressurized corners of the classic crime drama.
- 83The A.V. ClubKeith PhippsThe A.V. ClubKeith PhippsWhile not a masterpiece on par with Kurosawa's best work, High And Low is a fine example of his craft, and further proof that it's not a few masterpieces but the overall scope of a career that defines a great director.
- 80EmpireDavid ParkinsonEmpireDavid ParkinsonThis lesser known Kurosawa feature is worth a look, with outstanding performances and stunning cinematography.
- 80Washington PostPaul AttanasioWashington PostPaul AttanasioIt's not one of his masterpieces, but High and Low fully illustrates why Kurosawa is regarded as Japan's foremost director.
- 80Los Angeles TimesKevin ThomasLos Angeles TimesKevin ThomasStructurally, High and Low, which is remarkable in many ways--the camera work alone could serve as a primer in film technique--is quite a departure for Kurosawa.