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Devil in a Blue Dress

Devil in a Blue Dress

Thriller · Crime · Drama · 1995

In late 1940s Los Angeles, Easy Rawlins is an unemployed black World War II veteran with few job prospects. At a bar, Easy meets DeWitt Albright, a mysterious white man looking for someone to investigate the disappearance of a missing white woman named Daphne Monet, who he suspects is hiding out in one of the city's black jazz clubs. Strapped for money and facing house payments, Easy takes the job, but soon finds himself in over his head.

Movie details

Devil in a Blue Dress

“Private detective Easy Rawlins has been caught on the wrong side of the most dangerous secret in town.”

1995 Thriller · Crime · Drama 1h 42m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.5 / 10

Community rating

In late 1940s Los Angeles, Easy Rawlins is an unemployed black World War II veteran with few job prospects. At a bar, Easy meets DeWitt Albright, a mysterious white man looking for someone to investigate the disappearance of a missing white woman named Daphne Monet, who he suspects is hiding out in one of the city's black jazz clubs. Strapped for money and facing house payments, Easy takes the job, but soon finds himself in over his head.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Devil in a Blue Dress?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Carl Franklin

Written by

Carl Franklin

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington

Easy Rawlins

Tom Sizemore

Tom Sizemore

DeWitt Albright

Jennifer Beals

Jennifer Beals

Daphne Monet

Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle

Mouse Alexander

Maury Chaykin

Maury Chaykin

Matthew Terell

Terry Kinney

Terry Kinney

Todd Carter

Mel Winkler

Mel Winkler

Joppy

Court is in session

Put Devil in a Blue Dress on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.