Devil in a Blue Dress
The most entertaining medium can be a movie and "Devil in a Blue Dress," to
my delight, is one of those movies. The story is superb with a variety of
characters and a convincing style. It's a film noir genre story set in the
1940s. Similar to "L.A. Confidential," it's a perfect example of a
contemporary version of a film noir tale and adapted from Walter Moseley's
novel of the same title. "Devil in a Blue Dress" is filmed in Los Angeles,
where the story is also set. How much more convincing can you get? Easy
Rawlins (Denzel Washington) is charming and witty as the narrator
portraying a man who has returned from World War II. It opens with him
being fired from his civilian job.
Welcome back, soldier!
You did your duty for your country.
Sure, you get a mortgage and a job
.
Oh, by the way, boy, you're fired.
You're black. Don't ask any questions.
It seems the color line hadn't changed since he was away battling for
freedom. Out of work and trying to figure out how to pay his mortgage, Easy
is paid $100 by a hood, De Wit Albright (Tom Sizemore), to find a beautiful
white woman, Daphne (Jennifer Beals), and then tell him her whereabouts.
This seems easy enough (pardon the pun), but the road to finding Daphne is
strewn with obstacles including lack of respect from all sides of the law.
Despite everything that happens, Easy locates the white woman and reports
back to the sleazy De Wit. More money is paid to Easy so he'll go back and
get some photographs she possesses. The flack that Easy is experiencing
from everyone is making him mad.
"Everyone's peeing on my head and telling me it's raining?".
His rather-shoot-you-than-look-at-you-friend, Mouse (Don Cheadle), helps
him in his new determination to get on top of this situation. There's a
sleazy politician involved too, some blackmail and a bit of violence. Not
a complicated plot, but the actors and the lead actor, Denzel Washington,
make this a captivating film. With the setting of the 1940s fashions, sets,
large snazzy cars of those days and the obvious color line, one can imagine
living in Easy's time. The music is so cool that I want to buy the CDs --
it includes some Ella Fitzgerald. I recommend this movie highly even if
you don't usually watch the film noir genre. Take a chance, it's worth it.
My popcorn bowl was empty far too soon, but I couldn't stop to make more.
Written by: Judith Fox
Reviewers Rating: 9
Reader's Rating: 7.80
Reader's Votes: 10
Added: 30-Jul-2002
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