Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
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87% of critics liked it
(52 reviews) -
64% of users liked it
(9,804 ratings)
Denzel Washington stars in this adaptation of the novel by African-American crime author Walter Mosley, the first of his stories to reach the screen. Ezekiel Rawlins (Washington), known to his friends as "Easy," has just lost his job at an aircraft plant in post-WW II Los Angeles, a time… More Denzel Washington stars in this adaptation of the novel by African-American crime author Walter Mosley, the first of his stories to reach the screen. Ezekiel Rawlins (Washington), known to his friends as "Easy," has just lost his job at an aircraft plant in post-WW II Los Angeles, a time when good-paying jobs for black men are hard to come by. He's wondering how to make his mortgage payment when he's approached by De Witt Albright (Tom Sizemore), who describes his job as "doing favors for friends." It seems that a woman named Daphne Monet (Jennifer Beals) has gone missing; Daphne is the former girlfriend of wealthy mayoral candidate Todd Carter (Terry Kinney) and a known habitué of the black jazz clubs and night spots on L.A.'s Central Avenue. Albright offers Easy $100 to help him find Daphne, and while he doesn't have any detective experience, the price is right, so Easy agrees. After a passionate affair with a friend of Daphne's, Coretta James (Lisa Nicole Carson), leads to that woman's murder, Easy enlists the help of his friend Mouse (Don Cheadle), who seems to know just a bit too well how to use a gun, which gives Easy all too clear a look at the lower depths of L.A.'s upper crust. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Carl Franklin
- Written By
- Walter Mosley, Carl Franklin
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Drama
- In Theaters
- Sep 29, 1995 Wide
- Studio
- TriStar
Critic Reviews
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Todd McCarthy, Variety
Entering the main flow of the story relatively late, Don Cheadle steals all his scenes as a live-wire, trigger-happy old buddy of Easy's from Texas, while Sizemore and Mel Winkler, as colorful underworld figures, make strong impressions.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Sheer pleasure.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
The role of Easy looks as tailor-made for Mr. Washington as his suit, and it shows off the full effect of this actor's movie-star dazzle.
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Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
A fluid, persuasive piece of movie-making graced with the considerable visual sophistication.
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Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
The film also does a convincing job of re-creating Los Angeles of 1948 with both specificity and poetry.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Denzel Washington
as Easy Rawlins
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Tom Sizemore
as DeWitt Albright
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Jennifer Beals
as Daphne Monet
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Don Cheadle
as Mouse
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Maury Chaykin
as Matthew Terell
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Terry Kinney
as Todd Carter
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Vinny Argiro
as Baxter
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L. Scott Caldwell
as Hattie Parsons
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G. Smokey Campbell
as Nightclub Owner
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Nicky Corello
as Sheriff
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Nigel Gibbs
as Bootlegger
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Albert Hall
as Odell
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Renee Humphrey
as Barbara
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Brendan Kelly
as Terell's Chauffeur
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Deborah Lacey
as Sophie
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Jeris Poindexter
as Alphonso Jenkins
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Steve Randazzo
as Benny Giacomo
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Peggy Rea
as Carter's Secretary
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John Roselius
as Mason
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Beau Starr
as Miller
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Mel Winkler
as Joppy
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Frank Davis
as Butcher
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Kenny Endoso
as Manny
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J.D. Smith
as Pool Hall Owner
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Scott Lincoln
as Richard McGee
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Lisa Nicole Carson
as Coretta James
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Barry Shabaka Henley
as Woodcutter
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Jernard Burks
as Dupree Brouchard
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David Wolos Fonteno
as Junior Fornay
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Joseph Latimore
as Frank Green
