Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Salubfoto It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Caryl It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

betty dalton Denzel Washington plays a hustler way back in the fourties after WW II. He gets asked by some gangster to find out the whereabouts of a white woman who regularly hangs out in the black community. A simple investigation job turns sour when the white woman seems to be connected to powerful men in politics. Will he find the woman without endangering his own life? That is the start of this complicated story with many plot turns, too complicated to summarize."Devil in a Blue Dress" is sort of an african-american version of the classic movie "Chinatown" (1974). It has the same feel to it and even some similar plot lines. "Devil in a blue Dress" comes pretty close to the masterful suspense of "Chinatown". This is truly a very clever and suspenseful detective story, situated in the racist environment of the late fourties in America. I am impressed by this detective gem. Denzel Washington plays one of his best roles. Supporting actors, photography and soundtrack are average unfortunately. If they had been better than average, this truly could have been a masterpiece. But I am pleased how it turned out anyway, because it is a chilling detective story. Fans of Denzel Washington should see this anyway. Lovers of the detective genre could love it too. Great story. Great suspense. And Denzel Washington really delivers!

PopCulturedwithMovieMike I'm not sure why I had never heard of this film before. Thanks to Netflix for recommending it to me. I really enjoyed it. Devil in a Blue Dress stars Denzel Washington as "Easy" Rawlins, a hard working man trying to achieve the American dream in the 40's. Easy is asked to track down a missing woman and soon finds himself tangled in a murder mystery. Devil in a Blue Dress plays out like a noir film. It's equipped with a voice over by Washington as well as dames with long legs (Jennifer Beals.) Denzel gives his normal amazing performance, but he's overshadowed by Don Cheadle, who plays Easy's homicidal homie. Cheadle is so volatile you feel like he can explode at any moment. There are some strong themes of race and what it was like living as a black person in a post-war America. If you're a fan of some of the actors in the film or a fan of the genre, I would highly recommend Devil in a Blue Dress.

Martin Teller 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.

Newsense Look, I'm not one of those rabid dog book fans that trash a movie based on a book just because it didn't follow the book 100%. I actually read Devil In A Blue Dress years before I saw the motion picture. Now even though the movie changed certain things around, its still pretty good in its own way. The movie is about 85% faithful to the book and even with that in mind it didn't destroy the fond memories of the novel.The story: Easy Rawlins(Denzel Washington) is a world war veteran that is fired from his job at a defense plant. Things in his life get worse when he meets a mysterious fellow by the name of Dewitt Albright(Tom Sizemore) pays him money to find a woman by the name of Daphne Monet(Jennifer Beals).Denzel is perfect as Easy Rawlins and I doubt I could have picked a better person to play Ezekiel Rawlins. Tom Sizemore does a pretty good job as well as Dewitt Albright. He is a creep without being overbearing. Don Cheadle does a pretty good job as Mouse, Easy's crazy but loyal friend. Like I said the movie is 85% loyal to the book so there are a few things the movie changed around(like the way Albright really died) and a few things left out(like the numerous love scenes with Easy and Daphne). Despite that Devil In A Blue Dress is still a treat not just for the fans of Walter Mosley's famous book but to the fans of black cinema period. Two thumbs up.