Back in March, Netflix stunned Denzel Washington fans by releasing one of his best films, the universally praised 1995 neo-noir mystery thriller Devil in a Blue Dress.
However, almost three months after its debut on the site, this 100-minute work of atmospheric magnificence will shortly leave Netflix. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone who has yet to see the film or who wishes to revisit it to watch it on streaming before it becomes a Blu-Ray collector’s item.
Devil in a Blue Dress is a Noir Classic
The film Devil in a Blue Dress is set in the late 1940s and follows Denzel Washington’s character, Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins, a WWII veteran who is laid off and is now struggling financially. After a friend introduces him to a private investigator wanting to delegate what appears to be a simple task—finding a missing woman—Ezekiel becomes enmeshed in a web of secrets, conspiracies, and lies, putting him in the sights of some of the most powerful people in late-1940s Los Angeles.
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Based on a Best-selling Novel
The film is an adaptation of Walter Mosley’s 1990 novel of the same name, and it tells a fascinating story of postwar racial divisions in which our protagonist cannot navigate the world in the same way that white detectives can in previous films.
This conceptual inquiry is complimented by stunning photography, great performances—Don Cheadle’s in particular—and crisp language, all of which work together to create a broader, brilliantly constructed whole.
Everyone Brought Their A-game
Denzel Washington also gave an impressive performance in Devil in a Blue Dress, portraying an intellectual and kind man who is simply trying to hold on to his life and play the role of a detective without actually being a member of law enforcement.
Despite the fact that his career was still in its early stages, his delivery is assured, calculated, and effortlessly cool. Jennifer Beals, Lisa Nicole Carson, Tom Sizemore, and the previously mentioned Don Cheadle, who featured in a minor, supporting part that has received high appreciation from critics, complemented Washington’s performance.
Fell Short Of Being Profitable
While it received high praise from reviewers and audiences, as seen by its outstanding Rotten Tomatoes rating, Devil in a Blue Dress did not fare well at the box office.
In actuality, it failed to recover its production budget, falling short by $5 million. It was a failure that director Carl Franklin blamed, at least in part, on the release’s unfortunate proximity to the O.J. Simpson trial announcement, which he feels influenced how Americans perceived crime stories involving an African-American man and a white lady.
Stream on Netflix While You Can!
Devil in a Blue Dress is a fantastic film, and Sony bought the rights to turn it into a franchise—a plan that unfortunately never materialized. Despite being a terrific film, Netflix opted to discontinue it, along with many dozen other releases. For those interested in viewing Devil in a Blue Dress, the film is now available on Netflix until July 1, 2024, when it will be removed.