George Armitage directs Miami Blues, adapting Charles Willeford’s novel for the screen. The cast includes Alec Baldwin, Fred Ward, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Charles Napier; Gary Chang composed the music, and Tak Fujimoto handled the cinematography. Frederick Frenger Jr., an ex-convict portrayed by Baldwin, arrives in Miami and promptly resumes his criminal activities. He partners with Susie Waggoner (Leigh), a naive prostitute, while also being suspected of killing a Hare Krishna man at the airport. Frenger then steals the identity of the investigating police officer and escalates his crimes... The film's strength lies in its characters; the plot itself is straightforward and presented as a darkly comic crime story reminiscent of hard-boiled detective fiction. The Miami depicted feels raw, lacking any superficial polish. Wherever Frenger goes, crime seems to follow, often with violent yet humorous consequences. His relationship with Susie is purely transactional: she envisions marriage, children, and a comfortable home, while he’s interested in her money and the protection she provides for his illegal actions. Then there's Sgt. Hoke Moseley (Ward), a classic noir figure—weary, world-worn, emotionally detached, disheveled—who soaks his dentures in brandy! It's an excellent character brought to life by Ward’s performance, particularly when Frenger makes off with those very same teeth. With Leigh and Baldwin also delivering strong portrayals of their roles, the film is definitely worth seeing for the acting alone. The film isn't obscure or underrated; online ratings and critical reviews seem accurate. There’s a certain appeal in the dark comedy that arises from the crime scenes—moments where laughter feels almost unavoidable—and the violence has an impact without being gratuitous. However, if not for the characters of Junior, Susie, and Hoke, the movie would likely be bland and easily forgotten. It earns a 6/10.

Source on TMDB