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Devil in a Blue Dress

Name: Devil in a Blue Dress
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: September 29, 1995
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 78
Cast: Denzel Washington, Jennifer Beals, Tom Sizemore

1995

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	Your Score
6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Ratings

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DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS

Movie Details & Credits

TriStar Pictures | Release Date: September 29, 1995 | R

Starring: Denzel Washington, Jennifer Beals, Tom Sizemore

Summary: Denzel Washington stars as Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins, a decorated war hero who returns home to the segregation of post-war America. Forced to accept an under-the-table job finding a missing socialite, Easy is caught between the white power elite and the vibrant black community of Central Avenue. And as soon as Easy and his trigger-happy friendDenzel Washington stars as Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins, a decorated war hero who returns home to the segregation of post-war America. Forced to accept an under-the-table job finding a missing socialite, Easy is caught between the white power elite and the vibrant black community of Central Avenue. And as soon as Easy and his trigger-happy friend Mouse (Cheadle) find the mysterious Daphne Monet (Beals), trouble follows. (Sony)… Expand

Director: Carl Franklin

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 102 min

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Awards & Rankings

15	#15 Best Movie of 1995
66	#66 Most Discussed Movie of 1995
67	#67 Most Shared Movie of 1995

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Kenneth Turan

It's the film's glowing visual qualities, a striking performance by Denzel Washington and the elegant control Carl Franklin has over it all that create the most exotic crime entertainment of the season. Read full review

100

Maitland McDonagh

Director Carl Franklin, who also adapted the screenplay from Walter Mosley's prize-winning novel, isn't particularly concerned with the machinations of mystery plots. Nor is he seduced by the temptations of noir visual style (although Tak Fujimoto's camera work is plenty stylish). Read full review

Desson Thomson

Franklin's picture is effortlessly wise beneath its entertaining surface. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Washington, no surprise, is terrific, his sensitivity offset with touches of knowing, self-deprecating humor. Read full review

Roger Ebert

The movie is entertaining on its own terms, and Washington's warmth at the center of it is like our own bemusement, as together we return to the shadows of noir. Read full review

David Ansen

What stays with you finally is not the mystery's byzantine twists and turns, which are fun but don't resonate very deeply. It's the time, the place, the palpable feel of community. [2 Oct 1995, p.85]

David Sterritt

The story soon lapses into familiar private-eye formulas, though, and the characters aren't interesting enough to hold much attention on their own. Read full review

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User Reviews

FilipeNeto

Aug 11, 2019

Hardworking, discreet Ezekiel Rawlins was just looking for a job to pay the bills and live normally, but the need eventually forces him to accept something different: as a detective, he must look for the girlfriend of a powerful Los Angeles politician who seems to have run away with anotherHardworking, discreet Ezekiel Rawlins was just looking for a job to pay the bills and live normally, but the need eventually forces him to accept something different: as a detective, he must look for the girlfriend of a powerful Los Angeles politician who seems to have run away with another man. But things get more complicated when he realizes that she may have been involved with mobsters and very dangerous people who may have every interest in liquidating him.

Summed up like this, the plot is absolutely promising, and in fact, I was well attached to the plot, curious to know what had happened to this mysterious woman. It is a script that has many twists and turns and, in itself, does not fill us with boredom nor did it seem too predictable. But I think the plot would not have the strength it has without the environment that was created around it. In fact, director Carl Franklin skillfully and elegantly blended the gangster and mystery genres with light touches of "blaxploitation" in the middle, harmonizing and giving the film a high dose of charm packed in jazz. The time in which all takes place (late forties) helps a lot: we can still admire those mythical cars with protruding fenders and chrome radiators and that Bugsy Siegel-style fedora hats. The director carefully recreated the period, aware of the impact it would have. To help, he has inserted a good soundtrack, that knows how to stand out at the right times, making the environment more dense and mysterious, enriching the final product.

In the midst of such quality, I would almost venture to say that the cast just needs not to ruin everything. In fact, we are so absorbed by the film's ambience and our own curiosity about the plot that we hardly notice the way actors take their characters and bring them to life. This is not something that stands out, unlike most films, where cast can ruin the entire movie. But that does not mean that the actors did not work well. Though not the best movie, Denzel Washington has done his job well and starred brilliantly with Don Cheadle, who has a more impactful and intense character. On the other hand, all the actresses were in the shadow and do not stand out, starting with Jennifer Beals, who seems to be too lazy to act in this movie, just appearing and saying the lines they paid her to say. Lisa Nicole Carson has a brief appearance, but she makes a character that will prove important and has brought to life one of the most laughable sex scenes I've ever seen in movies.

Bottom line: This is not a piece of art but its a good piece of entertainment. By investing heavily in a mystery environment, it can engage the audience and draw our attention to a strong and charming story using the means at its disposal but, with the exception of two or three actors, the cast didn't help much and some people will think this movie is just scenery and music.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

May 16, 2019

I saw the trailer before watching it and you could smell the 90's all over it, even though the story is set at the end of the 40's.

This film is hardly memorable. It has no elements that make it stand out from others of the genre and of the same style but I liked it. I cannot help it, theseI saw the trailer before watching it and you could smell the 90's all over it, even though the story is set at the end of the 40's.

This film is hardly memorable. It has no elements that make it stand out from others of the genre and of the same style but I liked it.
I cannot help it, these stories of mystery, crime and suspense I just love them.
Even on front of what it offers, which is not much, I sincerely believe that's indeed above the average.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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