The Big Easy (1987)

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

I will start by saying that I didn't pay full attention to this film while watching, I was doing something else at the same time, but to be honest it didn't look all that engaging anyway, but I tried my best. Basically in New Orleans, lieutenant in Homicide, Det. Remy McSwain (Dennis Quaid) is investigating a series of gang killings in he city, and at the same time being followed by beautiful attorney Anne Osborne (Ellen Barkin). As the killings continue he starts a relationship with her, and he ends up in the court charged with accepting bribes, while the criminals are obviously still on the loose. After a series of chatty scenes are a small chase or two, we find out in the end that the bad guys are actually cops, one being Det. Andre DeSoto (John Goodman), but they get their comeuppance, and Remy and Anne go on together. Also starring Ned Beatty as Jack Kellom, Ebbe Roe Smith as Det. Ed Dodge, Lisa Jane Persky as Det. McCabe, Thomas O'Brien as Bobby McSwain, Jim Garrison as Judge Garrison and Carol Sutton as Judge Raskov. Quaid was reasonable, as was Barkin, and I guess there was a spark between them, and Goodman did okay in his moments, apart from the courtroom and dockyard scenes there were not many highly engaging moments, but what I paid some attention to was relatively interesting, in my opinion, an alright crime thriller. Worth watching!

It's always interesting when Hollywood tries to sell movies to the public as something other than what they are. It's not as common now, when so many movies seem to start out as marketing campaigns long before they become stories. It didn't use to be unusual, though, for filmmakers to create one sort of movie and the studio to try and sell it too the public as something else. When The Big Easy first came out in theaters, I recall the ads for it making it seem like it was some sort of erotic thriller. It's actually a pretty good romantic comedy with a little extra dash of violence.Unsurprisingly set in New Orleans, the star of this story is Remy McSwain (Dennis Quaid), a police lieutenant in the homicide division. Remy's a genuine Cajun boy, complete with accent and a laissez faire attitude toward things like ethics and department regulations. He's called in to investigate the murder of a local wise guy and is joined on the case by a new assistant district attorney, Ann Osborn (Ellen Barkin), who's assigned to police corruption cases but is very interested in this mob slaying. Remy's not that interested in her assistance, but he really, really wants to get into her pants. After relentlessly hitting on her in a way that would get him charged with sexual harassment nowadays, they end up in bed before Remy is called away to a double murder. These two new African-American victims appear to be the ones that killed the first mobster, and Remy theorizes that there's a drug war going on in New Orleans between the Italian mafia and the voodoo-tinged, black organized criminals in town.Remy and Ann's investigation is cut short when he's caught up in the famous corruption of the New Orleans police force. The Big Easy depicts local law enforcement as awash in graft and payoffs. Remy is caught on tape discussing bribe money with a tavern owner and Ann is assigned to prosecute his case. It seems like Remy is sure to be convicted, but he manages to get the charges dismissed with a little help from his friends. Ann is infuriated and wants nothing more to do with him and more bodies pile up as the supposed drug war rages on. To get the girl back, Remy has to actually become the good guy he's always imagined himself to be and then the two of them have to uncover who's really behind these killings and why.Some people might quibble with me calling The Big Easy a romantic comedy, but there's way too many jokes and funny performances in this film to consider it a drama. And while the twin plot threads of the alleged drug war and police corruption are well developed, the most important thing in the movie is the relationship between Remy and Ann. In fact, what makes this such a good movie is that it utilizes so many non-traditional story elements for a romantic comedy. It doesn't have to go through a bunch of ridiculous contortions to keep its two lovebirds apart, generating a fresh and lively energy in the story.The greatest strength of the film is in the performances of its two lead actors. Quaid creates a horny and lovable scoundrel in Remy, a cop who thinks as long as he doesn't break the big laws, he can ignore all the little ones. Barkin is extremely sexy as Ann, letting us see a woman full of repressed desire just yearning to break free. They have great chemistry together, whether they're fussing or smootching. There are also some funny supporting performances from John Goodman, Tom O'Brien and Lisa Jane Persky as Remy's fellow cops.The Big Easy would be a smart choice for a date movie. There's just enough mushy, emotional stuff for the girl and just enough people getting shot for the boy. It's like the perfect Reese's Peanut Butter Rom-Com.

It is 10:20 PM and D and I have just finished watching this wonderful movie on tape while marveling over our Western Australian T Bone steaks and brilliant south-western wine. We have watched the Big Easy before, loved it and D thought it would be suitable for a Friday night—it was! I am a particular fan of Louisiana accents and Quaid carried it off perfectly, to my decrepit ears (I have read the negative comments from residents of the city). I like movies and TV shows for their image appeal and I found this particular movie excellent in all respects. Admittedly, I have only been to New Orleans twice in my 62 years but to all who know her she is one(or at least was before Katrina) of the five best cities in the US.But to the movie: the acting, the script and the settings were exemplary; working with the subject of bent cops is not an easy one, so the producers should feel special for having even tried it. Setting the story in Huey Long's backyard brings particular vinegar to the story and like a good dressing, always adds piquancy to the outcome that cannot be ignored.The Big Easy is a movie to be saved; a movie whose subject, acting and visuals will live as a look back at a place that no longer exists except in the memory of old guys like me who wish that time could stand still, at least until my eyes refocus . It is worth the trouble to find and watch.

Det. Remy McSwain (Dennis Quaid) is a New Orleans cop investigating the seemingly routine death of a wise guy, he is surprised by the amount of interest being shown by the new District Attorney Anne Osborne (Ellen Barkin). McSwain is a cocky fun loving kind of guy and he is soon trying it on with Osborne. She doesn't resist to hard but soon she realises she must end this relationship as there will be a conflict of interest as she is also investigating corruption in his precinct. Mc Swain is entrapped by an Internal Affairs sting, but when evidence goes missing, Mc Swain is cleared. As the bodies build up in the seemingly escalating gang war, Mc Swain and Osborne finally come together to as real truth is revealed. Decent Neo Noir, that doesn't take itself too seriously playing a lot scenes for laughs. It also follows the seemingly de-rigeur 80's phenomenon that all Noirs need to be steamy, although this one doesn't quite ratchet up the sexiness as much as others of the era. The ending is the low point of the film, its very abrupt and a little to Disney for this crime fan.