Devil in A Blue Dress
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Movie Reviews of Devil in A Blue Dress
Movie Review: Thank the Devil
Summary: 4 Stars
today I watched Devil in a Blue Dress on cable (satellite actually, but that's not the point...). while the headliner of the movie was the excellent-as-usual Denzel Washington, what makes this movie noteworthy for me -the reason i've seen it so many times- is the film's REAL star: Don Cheadle, whose character Mouse Alexander brought a bit of Texas gangster into the noirish gumshoe flick.
Cheadle's performance was so authentic that he was universally praised (winning the LA Film Critics and National Society of Film Critics Awards, as well as nomination from the Screen Actors Guild for best supporting actor) , even when the movie as a whole wasn't.
Director Carl Franklin (Nowhere to Run, One False Move) managed to craft a film that stands as an example in black cinema, not of what is generally done, but what should be. adapted from the novel of the same name by Walter Mosley, Devil in a Blue Dress manages to be more than a period noir flick or a "black movie"... it adresses issues of love, race, infidelity, etc with an easy hand. but beyond all that, it gave me a new actor to identify with in Cheadle, whose star is still rising...
word.
-samax
samaxAmen.com
Movie Review: Better than I remember
Summary: 4 Stars
I had seen this movie when it first hit video and I liked it well enough but pretty much forgot about it after. It popped up again somewhere and I thought I'd give it another shot. I was glad that I did. I don't know what I saw the first time but I must have been in some kind of funk. This is way better than I remember.
The story is well suited to the time and place. Post WWII L.A. is given a good look with a lot attention to detail in sets, cars, wardrobe, etc.. You also get a good feel for the people and socio-political state of things. Particularly for the plight of the African-Americans. I won't recount the story as others have already done so, but it has that Dashiell Hammett or James Ellroy kind of feel to it. Lots of twists and turns and it unfolds at a very even pace. The performances are generally good but Denzel Washington, Tom Sizemore and Don Cheatle really light things up.
Other than getting some of the players' names mixed up which added a bit of confusion to the proceedings but this is a more than solid effort all the way around and well worth your time.
Movie Review: Easy on the eyes
Summary: 4 Stars
Devil in a Blue Dress starring Denzel Washington has much to recommend it: the post war Los Angeles period setting, an exciting plot, great music and Denzel Washington in a sleeveless T. Denzel plays Ezekiel or Easy Rawlins, who has moved to Los Angeles from Texas seeking opportunity. Easy plans to move up in the world, but unfortunately he has hit a snag. He has recently lost his job. His friend Joddy offers him an out by introducing him to a man who wants to find a woman. Of course at this point things get interesting and aren't as easy as Easy would like.Denzel proves in his role of Easy Rawlins yet again why he is one of the hottest commodities in Hollywood. Denzel is electric. His Easy Rawlins is a man of action, morals, thought and conflict. Did I say he is wearing a sleeveless T?
The setting for Devil in a Blue Dress is filled with smoke filled Jazz Clubs, well groomed bungalows, old black sedans sliding along the dark streets. For anyone who loves old private eye films this is a must. This is a whodunit which keeps the viewers attention.
Movie Review: Stylish, Slick Murder Whodunit
Summary: 4 Stars
"Devil in a Blue Dress" is set in Los Angeles after World War II. Denzel Washington plays "Easy" Rawlins who happens to get involved in a murder mystery. He becomes a detective to make money to pay his house payments. He loves his house and has not been able to find regular work because of discrimination. However, he gets involved with all sorts of interesting characters, high 40's style and reality of social taboos. The "Devil in a Blue Dress" is Daphne Monet (Jennifer Beals), who is a languid, simmering beauty wearing one blue outfit after another. She is the key character and full of mystery and surprises. There is an important mayoral race going on that she plays a big part in.
Overall the movie is see scene after scene of beautiful vintage cars and the golden age of California. The movie is complex, stylish as well as funny and scary. It is a great throwback to the thirties and forties B-Movies, but much better.
Movie Review: Denzil's first film noir
Summary: 4 Stars
This film should've been a hit since it was based on a well received novel by Walter Moseby and starred Denzil Washington as "Easy" Rawlins. Unfortunately it didn't get the notices it should have received due to the fact as Denzil stated that blacks do not like to see themselves as victims. Too bad because this film noir had an intricate plot involving a mysterious woman (Jennifer Beals) who's involved in a murder plot which puts Washington's character in peril and possible imprisonment since one of females he was involved in is found murdered. Another plus was Carl Franklin's astute direction plus you also had Don Cheadle in a career breaking performance as Rawlin's psychopathic buddy "Mouse". The audience I saw this with, laughed and were engaged with this flick. If you like a good film noir/detective story and are a Washington fan, do check this out!!