This film is based on a series of books by the author Walter Mosley. Mosley worked in the ever reliable private eye genre set in the 1940's. The character he created was a black private investigator named Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins in a series of mystery books.
In the film version of Mosley's novel Devil in a Blue Dress this black investigator is played by Denzel Washington who is on the trail of an enigmatic woman who happens to be the mistress of a rich white guy running for mayor of Los Angeles. Denzel Washington is very good as "Easy" Rollins a man who not only has to endure corrupt policemen, gangsters and politicians but also has to deal with all the racism they subject him to. Denzel Washington narrates the film in the true 40's private eye tradition.
After getting beaten up numerous times by white cops and gangsters "Easy"sends for his friend "Mouse" played by Don Cheadle for help. "Mouse" turns out to be one scary guy who carries a minimum of three guns and doesn't mind using them at the slightest provocation. Cheadle gives a great performance as a "friend" who is walking a line between sanity and very crazy.
Devil in a Blue Dress has an interesting mystery story, good photography and art direction. There's a real 1040's flavor to the film. The director Carl Franklin does a good job moving the story along and with Denzel Washington had planned to film more stories about the "Easy" Rollins character but it was not to be. The film didn't attract the audience it really deserved. It's always a little depressing when a film of this quality can't seem to connect with an audience. An excellent film.
Written by Carl Franklin, the running time is 102 minutes.
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