The Big Easy
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Movie Reviews of The Big Easy
Movie Review: Easy...
Summary: 5 Stars
Very good movie for its time. Shows some insight to life in New Orleans.
Very Interesting.
Movie Review: Excellent Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
I have always loved this movie, and was thrilled to find it on DVD at such a reasonable price.Movie Review: "Hey, Remy, Where You At?"
Summary: 4 Stars
A good cop, who has allowed his principles to be compromised once too often, has it catch up with him amid allegations of internal corruption and what appears to be an impending war between the criminal elements of New Orleans, in "The Big Easy," directed by Jim McBride. Dennis Quaid stars as Remy McSwain, an eleven year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department, who from the day he joined the force learned that the "perks" that went along with the job were all just a natural, acceptable part of the way things are done in the city they call The Big Easy. It's just the way it is; and all is well until Assistant District Attorney, Anne Osborne (Ellen Barkin), shows up one day, and becomes inordinately concerned with a recent "wise guy" murder Remy is investigating. And it isn't long before things start to get a bit sticky for Remy and a few others who suddenly find themselves caught with their fingers in the cookie jar. But there are indications that something is going down at the precinct that is somewhat more serious than the penny-ante graft apparently being enjoyed by a number of New Orleans' finest, and Osborne's job is to get to the bottom of it. Remy, however, doesn't buy the idea that there are "dirty" cops amongst his own, and quickly puts some moves on Anne to find out what she thinks she knows. And it starts him off along a path which, before it's over, he may wish he hadn't opted to tread.
From the opening credits, as McBride takes you aloft and opens up his camera for a thrilling shot of the bayous and countryside rushing by below (backed by the blood stirring zydeco music that drives the entire film), he saturates the story with an atmosphere that brings New Orleans to life. And the vibrant sights and sounds of the city (including the engaging Creole dialects), are so richly textured that the city itself becomes as much an integral part of the story as many of the characters. As Remy would say in greeting, with his best prepossessing grin in place, "Where you at, chere?"
And though the story itself is nothing especially original, the lively presentation and the mood McBride sets, as well as some unique characterizations and that special sense of time and place he captures, make it all seem fresh and new. The zydeco music, alone, is a treat and-- like the city-- is something of a character in itself.
Quaid fairly oozes Southern charm as the irrepressible Remy, a guy secure with his world and sure of his place in it. He's obstinate and self-assured, but without being pretentious, which makes it easy to like him. The natural fluidity of his distinct mannerisms and speech give his performance a ring of authenticity that makes Remy very real and entirely believable-- which, of course, adds credibility to the story. The character is a good fit for Quaid, and he definitely makes the most of it.
Barkin does a good job, as well, as Anne, employing her trademark crooked smile to great effect, and she has a genuine chemistry with Quaid that works well for the story. She brings a decided definition to her character, making Anne a woman who is strong without being overconfident, and not immune to vulnerability; it's her very humanness, in fact, that make her so accessible. It's a well rounded performance that allows you to see beneath the facade of the professional cop doing her job, to the very real person within. Barkin plays it all very well, and lets you know that there's more to Anne than meets the eye.
Notable in supporting roles are Grace Zabriskie, as Remy's mother, and Charles Ludlam as Lamar Parmentel. Their performances are great examples of the value of a good character actor, and the significant impact they can have on a film. Far too often they go unnoticed and unappreciated.
The supporting cast includes Ned Beatty (Jack), John Goodman (Andre), Lisa Jane Persky (McCabe), Ebbe Roe Smith (Ed), Tom O'Brien (Bobby), Marc Lawrence (Vinnie the Cannon) and Solomon Burke (Daddy Mention). Like a good bowl of spicy gumbo, "The Big Easy" packs a wallop and will give you a good helping of satisfying entertainment, well worth the two bucks or so you plunk down for it. And by the time it's over, you'll be calling people "chere" and fighting the urge to strap a washboard to your chest. So, hey-- where you at? It's the magic of the movies, chere.
Movie Review: Flawed But Fun
Summary: 4 Stars
Both Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin were considered one film away from major stardom when THE BIG EASY opened in 1987. Although it received reasonably good reviews and was a popular ticket at the box office, it wasn't enough, and to this day both Quaid and Barkin remain "working actors" rather than "stars." Although they might disagree, this may actually be a good thing: the result has been a series of interesting roles in interesting films as opposed to more formula work.
Not to say that THE BIG EASY isn't formula: a plot about police corruption; an exotic background re New Orleans; and, of course, the combination of Quaid and Barkin, both of whom were considered sexually hot stuff in the late 1980s and who do indeed live up to the billing in at least one scorching scene and who smoulder nicely in every other. But in truth, THE BIG EASY is too formula for its own good. Although the plot is convoluted, it is also predictable and entirely implausible, most particular where the relationship between Quaid and Barkin are concerned--and New Orleans has never been successfully captured by the movies and THE BIG EASY is no exception. You get a glimpse of what the city is like, or rather was like in pre-Katrina days, but only a glimpse, nothing more.
There are also two major problems with the film. Perhaps the most distracting is Dennis Quaid's Cajun accent. Part of the problem is in the script: even true Cajuns don't run around saying "chere" with every other breath, much less "where you at" every five seconds. The phrase "The Big Easy" is also over-used in the script--and is a tourist term. Locals are more likely to refer to New Orleans as "The Cresent City." Whatever the case, Quaid's Cajun accent is not so much an approximation as it is an approximation of an approximation. He does nail it toward the end of the film, but by that time we're pretty much over it. The other big problem is the plot, which runs in fits and starts, back tracks, and pauses to have Barkin prosecute lover Quaid for corruption in the middle of it all.
All of this said, THE BIG EASY is an entertaining film. Quaid's accent aside, he delievers a fine performance; so too does Barkin, and the supporting cast is very strong. The direction is competent and the production values are solid. As long as you don't expect too much from it, and recognize it as pure popcorn, it you'll enjoy it. Recommended.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Movie Review: Boy Meets Girl, Cajun Style
Summary: 4 Stars
Sometimes a movie is a little too close to the truth, although it is not recognized as such until later. That is the case with the plot of "The Big Easy" a story line that deals with `isolated' police corruption in the Big Easy, New Orleans. Thus, there is plenty of murder, mayhem, and the rest as a big time drug deal by rogue cops gets busted up by the good cops. Not, howe,ver without some anguish and moral qualms along the way. Well, I told you that it was a fairy tale, didn't I? Today's charges of police corruption in the headlines, on any given day, from out of New Orleans since well before Hurricane Katrina puts this story line in the shade. Well in the shade.
Okay, that is on the political level. Now to the real action. The love interest that drives the film, of course. You know the boy meets girl thing. Here "go along to get along' New Orleans cop, Dennis Quaid (Remy), meets avenging "angel" prosecuting attorney, Ellen Barkin (Anne), and after a few, actually very few, preliminaries, they are an item. Oh, did I tell you that Quaid is a good old boy Cajun (or part Cajun, anyway) to add color to this thing. And to take advantage of the New Orleans motif, natch. You are watching this one for the chemistry between Quaid and Barkin, mainly. And, maybe, the sound track that includes some material by various Neville Brothers combinations. The story you have seen and heard a thousand times before