Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Devil in a Blue Dress Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov March 28, 2021

Carl Franklin's "Devil in a Blue Dress" (1995) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the disc include archival audio commentary by the director; screen test; archival interview with the director conducted by film noir expert Eddie Muller; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Got a new job

Folks that like Carl Franklin’s Devil in a Blue Dress cite its period atmosphere as one of its greatest strengths. I think they are right because this film does revive 1940s Los Angeles in a rather impressive fashion. The locations, the cars, the clothing, they all look legit. But whenever I view the film, I instantly detect something else that is part of this period atmosphere that actually makes it impossible for my mind to question its authenticity. It is a very particular form of anxiety that everyone in the film is forced to live with. You see people smiling and trying to be kind to each other, working hard and partying even harder, but in a way, they are all actors playing different parts that allow them to mask their fears. Why is that? Because the large middle class that would eventually establish America as the world’s greatest economic power is still in its infancy. In fact, most everyone is still at the starting line, and some folks are actually behind it. The film does not emphasize their anxiety but channels it really well, which might be the only way in which it could have been done right.

Everything that happens in the life of Denzel Washington’s character, Easy Rawlins, is a byproduct of this very particular anxiety. Shortly after his boss tells him that his help is no longer needed, the visibly disturbed Easy ends up at a lousy bar where his old pal Joppy (Mel Winkler) offers to put him in touch with a man that could help him get work again. Because he needs to continue paying his mortgage, Easy meets Dewitt Albright (Tom Sizemore), a local goon with deep pockets, and then agrees to do a job for him. To get paid, Easy would need to track down Daphne Monet (Jennifer Beals), a white girl with a reputation of spending time in some of the city’s most popular black clubs, who has gone missing. On the next day, Easy goes to work and quickly discovers that Daphne was in a relationship with Todd Carter (Terry Kinney), one of the wealthiest men around, who wants to be the next mayor but is trailing in a tough race against Matthew Terell (Maury Chaykin). However, Easy’s interest in the girl quickly puts him on the radar of a couple of very unfriendly detectives and some powerful men who are curious about his findings as well. To help him deal with the hazards of the job, Easy welcomes Mouse (Don Cheadle), his childhood buddy from Houston, who enjoys killing troublemakers and getting paid to do it.

The great period atmosphere and the noirish story should have transformed this film into quite a gem, but the closer you examine its construction, the easier it becomes to recognize a myriad of flaws. Some could have been avoided, but there are quite a few that emerge from the specific characterizations the stars were asked to do. For example, the story that Easy describes is broken into multiple episodes that peak in some pretty random ways. Characters come in a unique situation, do the best they can to enhance the drama, and then the film shifts to a different episode where the same practice is repeated in a new situation. The continuity is very awkward, which is one of the biggest reasons why so many of the twists that eventually produce the resolution look and feel completely unrealistic. (To be perfectly clear, it is not that the relationships that are revealed at the end are unbelievable, rather it is the chronology of the events that prepares their emergence that is quite unconvincing).

The direction of the stars is problematic as well. Washington leads in some very familiar ways, but it is difficult to brush aside the fact that Cheadle repeatedly overshadows him when he is supposed to remain strong. This happens because the two are allowed to do characters that are right for different films -- the former acts in a darker, socially-conscious Raymond Chandler-esque film noir, while the latter brings in a personality that would have been perfect in a looser project like Bill Duke’s Hoodlum. Unsurprisingly, it becomes very difficult for the film to build up and sustain the type of drama and suspense that ought to make it appear coherent. Beals is an odd choice for a femme fatale as well. In fact, it is hard to tell if she was meant to be one. Why? Because there is a rather substantial part of the film that hypes her as such and this is precisely the type of woman Easy is dispatched to locate, but later on she is forced to undergo a character transformation that destroys her image in such a trivial way that it feels like her complete arc was rushed.

When the final credits roll, it is very difficult not to conclude that this film should have been much better. It looks good, a few times even great, but it ends up rehashing a wide range of genre cliches that make it instantly forgettable. It should have been bolder and rougher, in a few areas maybe even dirty and scandalous, so that it looks like a very, very distant relative of Training Day.

Devil in a Blue Dress Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Devil in a Blue Dress arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

There are a lot of unique stylistic choices that affect delineation, clarity, and depth. Also, the entire film is quite dark, which is why there are many unusual shadow nuances and contrasts. I think that the bulk of the footage looks quite good, but it is very easy to tell that the master that was used has some limitations. For example, the grain often becomes 'powdery' and from time to time begins to affect delineation. There are darker ranges of nuances that are not reproduced particularly well either. I think that the overall color balance is good, but I am convinced that a new 4K master will expand the primaries and their supporting nuances. At the moment, it looks like in darker areas the blacks frequently overwhelm the more subtle nuances. As a result, some visuals can look 'thicker' or flatter than they should. It is hard for me to tell if highlights are managed properly because of the unique stylization, but I do feel that they could be better. There are no traces of problematic digital work. Image stability is very good. I noticed some scattered minor flecks and blemishes, but there are no distracting large debris, cuts, damage marks, warped or torn frames to report. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Devil in a Blue Dress Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the entire film with the lossless 5.1 track. I thought that it was excellent. Clarity, sharpness, depth, and overall balance were very good. Dynamic intensity was rather impressive as well, though this isn't a film with elaborate action sequences. The narration and the dialog were very clear and easy to follow.

Devil in a Blue Dress Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - vintage trailer for Devil in a Blue Dress. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Image Gallery - a collection of original promotional materials for Devil in a Blue Dress.

• Don Cheadle Screen Test - with comments from director Carl Franklin.

• Carl Franklin on Devil in a Blue Dress - presented here is footage that was shot before and after a screening of Devil in a Blue Dress at Noir City Chicago, Music Box Theatre, in Chicago on August 17, 2018. Film noir expert Eddie Muller and Carl Franklin discuss the style of Devil in a Blue Dress as well as the director's work. In English, not subtitled. (23 min).

• Commentary - in this archival audio commentary, Carl Franklin shares a lot of information about the conception of Devil in a Blue Dress, the period environment, the different locations and even specific music that was used, the casting choices, the film's reception, etc. The commentary was recorded in 2005.

• Booklet - limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Keith Harris, an archival interview with Carl Franklin from Positif magazine, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits.

Devil in a Blue Dress Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It is a shame that Devil in a Blue Dress does not tell a better story because its period appearance is lovely. Certain parts of it are very promising, but it feels like Carl Franklin had to work with a screenplay that was missing proper quality material and did the best he could with it. This recent release is sourced from a nice master that was supplied by Sony Pictures. If curious about the film, RENT IT first.