DENZEMBER VOL. II - Devil in a Blue Dress feat. Will Menaker

Hit Factory

Chapo Trap House and Movie Mindset's very own Will Menaker stops by to help celebrate Denzember and discuss Carl Franklin's 'Devil in a Blue Dress', based on the inaugural Easy Rawlins mystery novel of the same name by author Walter Mosley. It's a stylish period noir made by a filmmaker and team seemingly uninterested in reproducing the aesthetic trappings of classic film noir, instead opting for a rich and colorful evocation of parts of 1940s Los Angeles rarely seen in the movies.

We discuss the career of Carl Franklin, as well as this film's thematic links to his 1992 neo-noir masterpiece One False Move. Then, we discuss the movie's thoughtful subversions of classic film noir, exploring the conditionality of freedom and access to the American Dream for Black Americans in postwar era South Central Los Angeles. Elsewhere, we continue our discussion on Denzel as actor and offer praise to his performance in addition to the movie's supporting performances from a scene-stealing Don Cheadle and the stunning, underrated Jennifer Beals.

Will's Top 5 Denzel Reaction GIFS:
1. Fallen
2. Flight
3. Denzel Door Slam
4. Training Day
5. Denzel Awards Face

Will's Top 5 Denzel Washinton Performances (Spike & Tony-Inclusive)
1. Man of Fire
2. Malcolm X
3. Unstoppable
4. He Got Game
5. Glory

Will's Top 5 Non-Spike & Tony Denzel Washington Performances (Unranked):
1. Glory
2. Devil in a Blue Dress
3. Ricochet
4. Philadelphia
5. The Tragedy of Macbeth

Follow Will Menaker on Twitter.

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Our Denzember theme song is "FUNK" by OPPO.