If this were a comic book movie this would be the origin story, as Walter Mosley’s Ezekiel ‘Easy’ Rawlins goes from unemployed army vet to private detective.
Hired by DeWitt Albright (Tom Sizemore) to find a mayoral candidate’s missing girlfriend, it soon becomes clear to Easy that he’s sold his soul to the devil. Albright has a propensity for violence that could be dangerous to the health of anyone who doesn’t do what he expects of them, but Rawlins is too nice a guy just do nothing when it becomes clear that the girl he’s been hired to find is in danger from Albright and his cronies. The fact he’s in the frame for two murders is just another reason to keep digging until he gets to the bottom of the sordid Los Angeles political scandal.
With its political scandal, hidden familial relationships and, of course, the setting, it’s impossible not to draw comparisons with Chinatown, and while it falls short of that films classic status it does a great job of evoking the period (late ‘40s) and place. Carl Franklin’s direction isn’t given to flashy flourishes, preferring to concentrate on the story and the performances rather than dazzle the audience with technical expertise and that unfussy style suits the film perfectly.
Some actors look out of place in a period setting, just look at Josh Hartnett in The Black Dahlia if you want an example, but there are no such shortcomings here. Sizemore is perfect casting as the sleazy, violent Albright, a man who “does favours for people”, while Jennifer Beals has the dangerous sex appeal of a ‘50s femme fatale.
