Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) User Reviews

Dazzling atmosphere, Washington make this a winner

[dfranzen70 · 8/10 · 20 February 2000]

Denzel Washington plays Easy Rawlins, a down-on-his-luck sometime machinist, sometime detective in late-1940's L.A. Seems someone wants him to find a mysterious white lady in a blue dress (Jennifer Beals)who's thought to have been seen in a blacks-only club. Enter Easy, who with his connections can get into the club and find the girl. But, of course, there's more to this plot than just that, or else it'd be a mighty short film.

The atmosphere is a major asset here; director Carl Franklin has done a magnificent job not only of recreating the Los Angeles of the late forties but also of showing the story from the black perspective, a rarity in film. All the sights and sounds are there, and if you concentrate real hard you can even detect the smells, too. Washington's aces, of course, as usual; makes you wonder if he'll do any more adaptations of Walter Mosley books starring Easy Rawlins. He's aided by a very good supporting cast, including Beals and Tom Sizemore (playing a heavy, surprise surprise!). Fans of Washington should watch this, but really anyone who likes film noir will approve.

Everyone was peeing on my head and telling me it's raining.

[hitchcockthelegend · 8/10 · 19 November 2015]

Devil in a Blue Dress is written and directed by Carl Franklin, who adapts from the book written by Walter Mosley. It stars Denzel Washington, Tom Sizemore, Jennifer Beals, Don Cheadle and Maury Chaykin. Music is by Elmer Bernstein and cinematography by Tak Fujimoto.

Carl Franklin had already laid down a considerable neo-noir marker with his searing 1992 thriller One False Move, here he goes more traditional but garners equally impressive results. Plot has Washington as a WW2 veteran who has lost his job and desperately needs money to keep hold of his pride and joy - his house. Taking on a job offered by shifty DeWitt Albright (Sizemore), to find a missing woman, Rawlings quickly finds himself in up to his neck in murder and deception, he must turn ace detective to save his skin.

Set in late 1940s Los Angeles, what instantly stands out is the period detail. The clothes, the cars and the establishments frequented by Easy and company. With voice over narration also provided by Washington, in dry and sardonic tones, it's every inch a loving ode to the film noir movies released at the time the pic is set. There's plenty of neon signs about the place, some bad ass cops, good sex, brandy and sharp suits, smoking and coolness and of course a psychopath in the classic mould (Cheadle excellent).

But of course noir dressage is only that if you haven't got a good pot boiling plot, thankfully this has one. The story takes unexpected turns, always remaining interesting, the distinctive characterisations breathing heavy, managing to off set the run of the mill stereotypes in the supporting ranks. It can be argued that Beals as the titular femme fatale of the title is under written, but the character comes with an air of mystery that serves Franklin's atmosphere very well. Tech credits are high, something of a given with Bernstein and Fujimoto on the list, while Washington turns in another classy show of subtlety and believability.

Lovers of film noir should get much rewards from Devil in a Blue Dress. 7.5/10

Heavy heat in the night.

[michaelRokeefe · 7/10 · 1 March 2003]

Murder, politics, sex and scandal; and it is all about a girl in a blue dress. An out of work WWII vet(Denzel Washington)is trapped in a web of lies, backstabbing and flying lead when he agrees to look for a politician's girlfriend(Jennifer Beals). Some real good movie music by the likes of Memphis Slim, Duke Ellington, Roy Brown and Jimmy Witherspoon. Very apt support from:Tom Sizemore, Don Cheadle and Lisa Nicole Carson. One steamy sex scene scorches and redeems.

Great detective story full of character, characters and plot

[bob the moo · 5 October 2003]

When Ezekiel `Easy' Rawlins loses his job he begins to worry how he'll make ends meet when DeWitt Albright offers him cash to help find Daphne Monet, the fiancée of politician Todd Carter. He takes the job as she is known to like Afro-Americans and will be easier for him to find. He gets information from a friend but is then framed for her murder. Stuck between the police and Albright's men, Easy has to uncover why Monet is so important to so many people and save himself from jail.

Franklin's greatest achievement here is the way he brings the period to life, albeit with a certain amount of nostalgic love for the idea. The film has a great jazz soundtrack and a real sense of place and atmosphere to it. This supports the plot well and makes the film feel stronger and richer for it. The plot is a solid mystery that sees Easy pulled into a wider plot with the inevitable twists and turns. It is layered well without being too complex or difficult to follow, but neither does it allow itself to become too simplistic or easy. The film doesn't really play on racism or the race of Easy but it does make race an equal influence (with money, power and influence) on the plot and the characters.

Washington plays Easy well, reacting well to things and being a good character. I don't know if it was ever planned that Easy would be a character than would allow for further adaptations, but I know I would like to have seen Washington take Easy further into his PI role. Sizemore is good in support, as are Kinney, Carson, Beals and Chaykin. The strongest support is given by Cheadle. His character may be extreme but he brings an energy to the film that it benefits from (although it didn't need it). The cast all ad to the rich feel of the plot and direction.

Overall this is a solidly enjoyable detective story with all the twists and turns that you could expect from that genre. However it also benefits from a great sense of place and time that is all though the film – not merely painted on with sets or soundtrack. A class act from Washington and others just adds to the feeling of quality.

Modern Noir with some problems, but still worth watching

[blott2319-1 · 6/10 · 2 February 2022]

I enjoyed the entire tone and style of Devil in a Blue Dress. This is a movie that embraces the time period it is set in wholeheartedly, and it reeks of noir all over. Hearing Denzel Washington open the film in voiceover, there's simply no denying they were aiming to make something exactly like a classic noir. I was eating it up, and because of the clear intentions of the filmmakers I was willing to forgive the fact that our protagonist isn't exactly the most virtuous and likable guy when the film starts. I also appreciated that there was a bit of mystery about what is happening and who is working for whom. However, there is one big "twist" that did not impact me in any way. Through a slight fumble in casting of the title character I think they tipped their hand way too much, to the point that I thought I missed something because this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone in the film. Of course, one misstep in casting is made up for in the fact that they got Denzel in the lead role. He seems surprisingly perfect for this type of gumshoe, because you can see how he'd charm people for answers or intimidate them if necessary.

While I was enjoying the puzzle and could not guess what this mysterious letter might contain, I did have one big problem with Devil in a Blue Dress. Don Cheadle's character does not fit the tone of the rest of the film. He feels like this strange wacky guy whose head is not screwed on quite right. I appreciate that our protagonist had the intelligence to call in assistance, but this friend is so odd I struggled to understand his role in the narrative. There's also this strange alteration of the tone whenever he is around as if dead bodies piling up around our hero is no longer a problem. Which leads me to my other complaint, because this movie hit on one of my big film pet peeves. I don't like when it feels as though there is a magic wand waved in the final scenes because the hero beat the bad guys, so there are going to be zero consequences from the law. It's kind of a trope of film noir, so I guess I should go with it here, but they had already made such a big deal about him getting in trouble for being connected with murder. I still found many elements in Devil in a Blue Dress that I enjoyed, even if I felt it stumbled a lot in the 3rd act.

overlooked gem (minor spoiler included)

[Dfredsparks · 7/10 · 25 January 2003]

I really enjoyed this screen adaption of the prolific Walter Moseley's first novel. Generally, it was nice to see a piece on this historic period focusing on blacks on the West Coast, as opposed to the usual settings of the South and NYC. Also, the racial issues were handled with enough restraint that I could watch it (i am generally too angered and upset by period pieces with racial issues to enjoy them). Denzel gives a great performance in a much better vehicle than the one for which he finally won a Best Actor Oscar. Jennifer Beals is also convincing, thought my knowledge of her real life biracial heritage sort of ruined her character's surprise revelation in the movie for me. Lisa Nicole Carson gives an effective albeit brief performance, but the show is definitely stolen by Don Cheadle as Mouse. ("if you didnt want him killed why'd you leave him with me?"). I had the pleasure of seeing him off Broadway in Top Dog Underdog, and i think that this film was his breakout role. Overall very enjoyable.

Great noir style, some interesting racial stuff, but the story is confusing

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 7 June 2014]

It's Summer 1948 Los Angeles. War vet Easy Rawlins (Denzel Washington) from Texas needs a new job with few options. His bartender friend introduces him to DeWitt Albright (Tom Sizemore) who is looking for missing Daphne Monet (Jennifer Beals). Daphne is the girlfriend of powerful Todd Carter (Terry Kinney) and known to hang out at black clubs. He knows this is trouble but he takes the job anyways.

This is dripping with noir style. The most interesting aspect is the racial tension which is a little different than the old Hollywood genre. Denzel Washington is a great actor in the lead. Something is missing from this story. It's like a series of random things happening to him. Everybody is playing a genre character. I'm not sure if any of the story makes sense. This movie is mostly style over substance. The style is all there. The substance is an uncompelling mess. It's a full time job trying to keep the story and the motivations straight.

Deserves more attention.

[OllieZ · 8/10 · 2 June 2006]

I am glad I caught this film on TV; it was great entertainment and executed well.

I don't want to ramble on too much, so here goes. The acting is great - Washington giving another good performance. His narration was suitably dry too. Cheadle just chewed on the scenery. He was hardly in the film, but when he was, his impact as Mouse was powerful. Elsewhere, Beals was good as the titular devil in the blue dress. Sizemore was good as the sleaze ball who hires Washington - yet he seems to good at playing these types in all his films.

The aesthetic of the film was enticing. The smooth camera-work was mesmerising. The first shot that tracks through the busy streets and then cranes up through the window to Easy is so Hitchcock - or any director of film noir for that matter. The colours are beautiful too, from the orange skies in the day, to the hazy blues at night.

The story is gripping, if a tad predictable. If you like your Sam Spade and your Marlowes this film will be fine for you. The ending where Washington closes in on a house in the hills is very 'Big Sleep'.

Devil In A Blue Dress is unique in terms of perspective. The story is told from a black males view point and this makes the film very interesting to watch. No more all-white worlds of the 40's generation. This film shows both sides of the coin, and doesn't end up with a chip on both shoulders.

The film may be a tad predictable, but this should not deter you. This film is underrated and deserves your attention. Very entertaining.

"Are you on top of that trouble or not?"

[PredragReviews · 7/10 · 20 April 2016]

A voluptuously seedy tale of blackmail, murder and double-cross, "Devil in a Blue Dress" captures splendidly the mood of the forties, and is a worthy modern equivalent to old gems such as "Double Indemnity", "The Blue Dahlia" and "The Big Sleep".

It's summer in Los Angeles, 1948. Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins (Denzel Washington) returned from World War II a few years ago to a land of opportunity. He got a job, a mortgage and a home of his own. But now he has lost his job and is determined not to lose his house. A friend introduces Easy to a sleazy character named DeWitt Albright (Tom Sizemore) who ostensibly is trying to locate the former girlfriend of mayoral candidate Tom Carter (Terry Kinney) so that the couple may be reunited. Desperate to keep making his mortgage payments, Easy accepts the job of finding the girlfriend, a woman named Daphne Monet (Jennifer Beals). His search causes him to be suspect in several murders and arouses the interest of the rival candidate for mayor, Matthew Teran (Maury Chaykin). Easy finds that he is not the only person looking for Daphne Monet and that no one is exactly who he, or she, appears to be.

There's strong acting by all the members of the cast. Washington brings his typical integrity and likability to Easy, and Don Cheadle almost steals the show. Mouse is quick to kill, basically a psycho, but a great friend to have. Also noteworthy is Tom Sizemore as a ruthless, cold-blooded bad guy and Jennifer Beals is alluring as the mysterious "Daphne Monet." Regardless, this is a fascinating movie that just oozes with the 1940's atmosphere. Great narration in there, a la film noir, great automobiles and great sets. It puts you right into the late 40's in Los Angeles, a little bit like the film Chinatown.

Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

Why review a nine year old film?

[Andy44 · 8/10 · 18 February 2004]

Because Walter Mosley's stories are great and I was surprised that none of the other Easy Rawlins books have been filmed. A rich lode of ore , waiting to be mined.

AND, Don Cheadle. His acting as "Mouse" is stunning. In the 3 or 4 Easy Rawlins books that I've read, the character constructions of Easy, Mouse, and their relationship, is fascinating. I read Devil in a Blue Dress before I saw the movie and when I saw Mouse brought to life, I could barely wait for the credits to roll--"Who WAS that guy?"

Washington brings Easy to life too, and the recreation of Watts and L.A. in the late 40's/ early 50's is excellent (I was there).

The movie wasn't great, but way above ordinary, and I'd love to see a reprise with Washington and Cheadle.

Highly regarded, but it's filled with empty nostalgia and clichés galore

[secondtake · 6/10 · 2 July 2014]

Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)

I wanted to like this movie. A good friend pressed it forward as a belated view of the black noir experience, and there was such truth that the urban black world hadn't seen any attention in the classic noir days (post-War) I had to watch it.

But this is more belated than anything. It's loaded with clichés without really moving them anywhere new (and a stale cliché is really deadening). The director AND screenwriter, Carl Franklin, is relatively untested—he's done a bunch of t.v. stuff, an African-American with talent as an a actor but a little stretched here, I think. The star does his best to hold it together, none other than Denzel Washington, but in fact even he is following old patterns a bit listlessly. This is really clear when a truly brilliant actor arrives on the scene—Don Cheadle—and in his moments there is finally a rising up and synthesis of intentions.

The plot is almost a given—a detective on the outs faces a terrible crime, and a mysterious woman (call her a femme fatale if you want, but she's too plastic to work for me). He is hounded by a white man (or two) with truly dubious or evil intentions that he can't quite decipher. Until it really gets out of his control.

The book is here is by the much lauded author Walter Mosley, and I only discovered this today (I saw them movie innocently). And I've read one or two things by Mosley and actually found the same problem as the movie: lots of tropes and worn out problems approached in the same old way. Except with black characters.

Now this may be naive, but I think in fact the world of urban Blacks and their crime worlds in mid-Century America is really really ripe for some serious fictional writing. Something without myth making. There must be a black Bogart or Mitchum type out there for those inclined. There's another problem, though, looking back and wishing we had better movies about certain things than we did. Maybe that's just the way it was, and we need new movies about new things, not re-hashed themes that only half make up for what might have been. Or not. We weren't there, and we never can be.

So all good intentions aside, give this movie a skeptical look. It's well enough made and has some tightly made moments, but as a whole it flounders and lacks one of the basics—originality.

A terrific spin on classic Chandler

[NateWatchesCoolMovies · 8/10 · 22 July 2016]

Devil In A Blue Dress takes the classic Raymond Chandler mystery form and uproots it just a smidge, setting it in the African American community of 1948 Los Angeles, with terrific results. Noir takes on a double meaning (naughty pun) as WWII vet turned private eye Ezekial "Easy" Rawlins (Denzel Washington) finds himself mired in the quick sands of corruption, coersion and murder most foul after taking on a job that's led him straight to the dirtiest little secret in town. After he accepts a missing persons inquiry from mysterious DeWitt Allbright (Tom Sizemore, first shady and then downright scary when we see what he's really about), he finds himself searching for a girl named Daphne (Jennifer Beals) a runaway with ties to a very powerful politician (Maury Chaykin makes your skin creep and crawl) with some seriously disturbing extra curricular activities. Rawlins recognizes danger when he sees it and tries to back out, but by then he knows too much and it's way late in the game. Now he must navigate the scene like the pro he to escape not only with answers, but perhaps his life. Washington gives him the underdog treatment, a worn out gumshoe who still has some grit left, enough for one last ride in any case. There's an L.A. Confidential type feel to the plot in the sense that it ducks some conventions in order to service true surprise from its audience. Sizemore is a charming viper as the kind of dude you never want to trust (isn't he just the best at playing that?) and Beals subverts the damsel in distress archetype by injecting her performance with a jolt of poison. In terms of L.A. noir this baby is fairly overlooked, but holds its own to this day. Watch for Don Cheadle as well.

Atmospheric

[stills-6 · 7/10 · 10 June 2001]

A good, atmospheric crime story that benefits from a superb soundtrack and notable performances from most of its stars - a notable exception being Jennifer Beals. Washington, at times, is excellent as Ezekiel the guy down on his luck. Cheadle is terrific as the sociopathic Mouse, his scenes are the best in the movie and his twenty minutes or so of screen time make the entire thing worthwhile. Unfortunately, Beals is not up to the job as the enigmatic girlfriend of a mayoral candidate. She plays every scene as if she were reading lines and puttying her face.

I liked the odd touches, such as the weird gardener who keeps trying to cut down everyone's trees. But I didn't like the evolution of Washington's character. Washington plays him with such subtle and fragile humanity that his transformation at the end is just unbelievable. He's overqualified for this role.

Flavorless Neo Noir.

[rmax304823 · 4/10 · 29 July 2009]

The acting is up to professional standards. Denzel Washington is in the lead as a jobless ex-GI in 1947 Los Angeles who is hired by a stranger to find a white girl named Daphne. He does a good job, as usual, without being in the least extravagant. The supporting players are all equally good, with Don Cheadle in the flashiest role as a friendly killer.

Jennifer Beals as the mysterious and missing devil in the blue dress is competent and attractive. You have never seen such huge, glistening black eyes. Why hasn't she gotten better parts? Location shooting is done carefully too. Lots of nice shots of seedier locations as well as a couple of the kind of faux country estates we saw so often on "Columbo." Washington, of course, is African-American, and Beals is passable as a Creole from Louisiana. Relationships between the police and the black community are sketched out in what's probably realistic detail. The heavy handedness of the cops should come as no surprise to anyone who's seen "L.A. Confidential," although it may shock some who grew up on "Dragnet." The racial divide isn't imposed willy nilly on the script, either. This is an unashamed noir. There's no attempt to make racism the central issue. It may be difficult for some of us to accept the notion that a politician's marriage to a woman who is partly of black parentage would stultify his career but it was true enough.

Still, the movie fails to engage. The narrative is murky, the action turgid, and there is a narration by Washington that serves as a familiar crutch for a weak story. It does nothing more than fill us in on the details of Washington's peregrinations, without adding anything more. It's Raymond Chandler without the fustian poetry or the scintillating cynicism. Washington's voice over never tells us that some babe had "hair the color of gold in old paintings." It only tells us things like, "I figured I'd better get out of there." I didn't really care much about anyone but Washington's out-of-work nice guy. I wanted him to make enough money to pay off his mortgage. That was about it. Well -- of course I didn't want to see Jennifer Beals tortured with that red hot poker either, although I wouldn't have minded if her captors had torn her clothes a little. Or, I guess the script could even have let her take a long, languorous bath.

Chandler and Hammett never had especially gripping characters either but Chandler carried us along with his blunt, boozy charm, and Hammett bootlegged in a philosophy of life.

Speaking of "carried," Washington has a line he speaks to Beals. "Change out of that house coat. Come on, I'll carry you home." Washington doesn't mean he's going to sweep her up in his arms and schlep her across town. He means he's going to escort her home in his vehicle. This is an old-fashioned, mostly Southern usage. It dates back to before the Civil War, as in "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny." I didn't mean to carry on so, but that sentence was one of the few things in the movie that roused my attention.

Great immersion in LA world

[chaos-rampant · 30 April 2016]

This has a convoluted story like out of Chandler. There's the dreamy woman who has disappeared, the unlikely schmo hired to find her. She is white, a rich man's wife thought to have disappeared in the black side of town. They get him to investigate, a black guy who just wants to make mortgage so he can simply keep owning his house.

A lot of snooping around in clubs and seamy places around LA follows. People turning up dead in the night and he stands to get the rap. Hidden machinations that involve people in high places, a set of incriminating photos with a mayoral election in the balance. And all this as the noir world that turns against the protagonist - he's beaten, framed for murder, used as pawn - but, being a black man, it now acquires another layer of significance that conveys a more real plight than Marlowe.

And we have a curious eye of the camera, a world rife with texture and depth. This isn't the glossy recreation of an era that we find in LA Confidential, but more like Altman where we brush against spaces and the world surrounds from all sides. In this aspect it's worthy of The Long Goodbye. It has all these marvelous places, the blues club above the convenience store, the cabin up in the hills where a dead body turns up, his sunny neighborhood that is routinely invaded.

It's as good as if adapted from Chandler, plus about black experience in a world where boundaries are drawn starkly against you, plus a world rife for exploration as these boundaries are tranversed. It's good stuff, this one. They tried to set it up for future films where Denzel returns as the PI but I see that it didn't pan out. First time's the charm anyway.

Noir Meter: 3/4 / Neo-noir or post noir? Neo

Washington is just so cool in this film

[lastliberal · 6/10 · 10 May 2008]

A good film noir by Carl Franklin (One False Move), with great cinematography by Tak Fujimoto ("John Adams", The Sixth Sense).

Denzel Washington is fantastic as 'Easy' Rawlins, with Don Cheadle as his buddy, Mouse. They battle Tom Sizemore in their quest to find Daphne Monet (Jennifer Beals).

You have the look and feel of the 30s throughout with the costuming, the cars, the talk, the cops, and the feel of the movie. It was a great nostalgia trip.

Lisa Nicole Carson ("Ally McBeal") also added some excitement before her premature death.

This was based on the first of Walter Mosely's Easy Rawlins books, and it is a good one.

Better than average

[Die Hard-3 · 7/10 · 27 October 1998]

Devil in a Blue Dress, isn't great, but it is better than average. It got a little boring at times, but at times it could be quite amusing. Not a movie for an action sort of guy, but an intelligent guy would get it. 7 out of 10.

Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)

[MartinTeller · 7/10 · 3 January 2012]

Generally satisfying neo-noir with some intriguing racial implications (although they're not really explored with much depth). I don't know if it's possible for Washington to give a bad performance, if nothing else he can coast on pure charisma. The rest of the cast is not especially noteworthy, with the exception of Don Cheadle, who makes a lasting impression with very little screen time. The script falls a little bit short, something like Chandler in its construction but lacking in compelling dialogue. However, it keeps you watching, interested in how Washington is going to solve the case while trying to protect himself from attacks on all sides (including an eccentric and/or mentally challenged neighbor insistent on uprooting trees). Technically and production-wise the film is quite strong, evoking the feel of a classic noir (including an Elmer Bernstein score, who also composed for greats like SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS and SUDDEN FEAR) while maintaining a modern sensibility. It didn't blow me away, but it's a solid movie, and I wouldn't mind checking Mosley's "Easy Rawlins" novels.

Add to your collection if you're a murder mystery fan

[view_and_review · 9/10 · 2 September 2020]

Let it be known that I would pay handsomely to see Denzel and Don Cheadle in a movie together. They were great.

I'm almost sorry it took me this long to finally watch it. It was far from what I expected. I saw the title--"Devil in a Blue Dress"--and I saw Denzel as well as a white woman in a blue dress and my mind went to some suped up version of "Jungle Fever." It was far from that and it was stupendous.

It's 1948 in Los Angeles and a man named Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins (Denzel Washington) was hard up for money after losing his job. He got hired by a man named Dewitt Albright (Tom Sizemore) to find a woman named Daphne Monet (Jennifer Beals). It seemed simple enough, except it wasn't. It turned into a murder mystery whodunit for the ages as Ezekiel found himself on the wrong end of some beatings and the patsy for two dead bodies. He has to find Daphne and whatever she knows to save his own hide.

This movie just got better and better as it went along. The mystery became more salacious and once Easy's sidekick, Mouse (Don Cheadle), entered the picture the whole ball game changed. The movie was a throwback to the noir films of the 40's and 50's when the gumshoe would narrate the story. Of course now we have the benefit of color and more colorful language and behavior. This was a well written, well acted, well directed piece that any murder mystery fan would want to have in their collection.

Good lesser known thriller

[Maziun · 7/10 · 11 August 2013]

It was a nice experience to watch a movie set in Harlem . This is one of the few serious movies set in the black community . Usually when a movie is set in black community it's either a comedy or drama . This one is an interesting thriller . Kinda a neo-noir movie (although it doesn't exactly fits into that description – for example Easy isn't a detective ).

I like the mood of Harlem here . I like the fact that main hero isn't 100% good guy. I like the mystery – the twists are really surprising and it's hard to figure out who is bad and who is good. The only problem I had was with the unexplained past of Easy and Mouse . It seems important for the story , yet never really much screen time is given for that subject . In the end I've got only muddled idea what happened in the past. Thankfully , it doesn't destroy the movie .

There is some strong acting here . Denzel Washington ("Glory" ) is as charismatic as always in the leading role of Easy. I was positively surprised by Jennifer Beals ("Flashdance") as Daphne Monet . I didn't expected such mature role from here. She shows true talent here and proves she is more than a pretty face. My favorite is Don Cheadle ("Hotel Ruanda") as Mouse – typical "shoot first , then ask questions" kind of guy . He brings a lot of fun into movie.

It's a well made movie with mystery , jokes and drama in it . I give it 7/10.

Don Cheadle is stand out

[macmar · 8/10 · 23 December 2003]

To call this one of the most underrated films of the last ten years, is an understatement. This film is up there with ‘Chinatown' and ‘L.A Confidential. .

Denzel Washington is cool, and smart. Don Cheadle is stand out as the cold killer with a smile, mouse.

But the real praise must go to Carl Franklin, who proves that ‘One false move' was not just a fluke

As much as I liked the film 'L.A. Confidential' my problem with it was that a lot of black characters where being brutalised, without any chance to fight back. In this film they fight back. We have a black hero, someone who is as smart anyone else and in some cases smarter.

I hope that one day someone will film the rest of the Easy' Rawlins books.

I can't wait to see Mosley's "Black Betty" be filmed.

[Menilek · 7/10 · 2 June 2005]

I been a Walter Mosley fan for years and I can't wait to see his other Easy Rawlins books made into movies especially "Black Betty" my all time favorite Mosley book. Taral Hicks would be perfect for the title roll. As for Devil in a Blue Dress, it wasn't too bad at all, the acting was good, though I never pictured Mouse as a dark skinned character (maybe because his nickname "Mouse" makes one picture a short mousy-brown guy who is nervous, a little jumpy and quietly deadly looking such as actors Mark Curry or Cuba Gooding Jr., either of them would have been perfect to play "Mouse", though Mark Curry is better for the roll... just picture him in gray Zoot-Suit twirling a cheap snub-nosed revolver).

Denzel was a fine choice for Easy Rawlins. He nailed it down good! Props D! The rest of them are all easier to fill as supporting rolls. But I'd have preferred Regina King instead of Lisa Nicole Carson any day. Regina King has the look and voice and would have been way better. Ask Mosley, I'd betcha he'll tell you I'm right. Picture her as Mouse's girl with Mark Curry as Mouse. Perfect match. You can't beat it with a stick.

A Different Shade Of Film Noir

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 9 March 2006]

This is the kind of film that can stay with you for awhile after you watch it: a haunting kind of film that isn't always pleasant or easy to understand but you remember it. It also helps to have a fondness for the 1940 film noir movies.

It doesn't help that it appears racist in nature with people of one color all being the bad guys while people with another color all the good guys. I won't say which is which, but if the colors were reversed, there would have been an outcry about the obvious bias here by screenwriter-director Carl Franklin. Despite this, it's still a fascinating movie that just oozes with the 1940s atmosphere. Great narration in there, a la film noir, great automobiles and great sets. It puts you right into the late 40s in Los Angeles, a little bit like the film Chinatown.

Denzel Washington does a nice job with the narration and the lead role, the character of "Easy Rawlins," off the book by Walter Moseley (which I read and recommend). Tom Sizemore and Don Cheadle play very intense characters in supporting roles, particularly Cheadle as the trigger-happy "Mouse." Jennifer Beals is alluring as the mysterious "Daphne Monet."

The film is a bit confusing in parts and was especially so for me since the book was not exactly the same and had a totally different ending. Nonetheless, the film has always fascinated me and drawn me back for multiple viewings. It's good storytelling and it would be fun to see more of Moseley's books translated to the big screen.

Cheadle shines above the rest of the film.

[dead47548 · 6/10 · 8 January 2008]

It was interesting and original to take noir into the black culture. It has always been a favorite genre of mine, and this was a very unique way to go with it that I enjoyed immensely. Unfortunately it falls into the same trap that a lot of noirs do. It becomes way too convoluted and throws in so many twists and turns that it completely lost me near the end, but it was more entertaining than a lot of noirs I've seen. Overall it's nothing above a unique take on the noir genre. Pretty mediocre. I should mention that Don Cheadle is amazing. So naturally charismatic and absorbed in his character. One of the best performances of the year.

Out of focus noir ..........

[merklekranz · 4/10 · 20 December 2009]

The acting is good, especially by Don Cheadle and Tom Sizemore. Denzel Washington and Jennifer Beals characters seem pale by comparison. The voice overs confirm that the story is way more complex than necessary, and eventually the script backs itself into a corner. The 1940s atmosphere is wonderful, but that cannot overcome the weakness of the confusing plot. The film lacks warmth, with no really likable characters, including Denzel Washington. In the end his character seems more like an antihero. My conclusion is that "Devil in a Blue Dress", while atmospheric, misses the mark as entertainment because of all the confusion, and too many annoying plot holes. - MERK