Fourth Assignment: Blog #2

A film that dabbles in Noir conventions as well as uproots them is Devil in a Blue Dress. Femme fatale, political corruption, murder, betrayal, big reveals...this film has them all including the cliched voiceover from out protagonist. The difference in this film is that the protagonist is black, a minority that is itself or similarly exploited or made to embody villainy in previous Noir films. By placing Denzel at the forefront, it makes a huge statement about Noir films: they can be multiethnic, and the stories can apply to others. The issues or race and class brought about in AMST 274 are certainly brought up here; Denzel's character makes a big sea out of his home being his home, and his car being his car. The pride of his class standing is a major part of his character, as is his inability to secure a job which leads him down the rabbit hole of the plot. In closing, the film is certainly a Noir film in its conventions but uses race to differentiate itself.