The Big Easy (1987)

Director:

Jim McBride

Writer:

Daniel Petrie Jr. (writer)

Release Date:

21 August 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Between them lies the fate of the state of New Orleans

Plot:

Set in New Orleans. Remy McSwain, lieutenant in Homicide finds that he has two problems, the first of a series of gang killings and Ann Osborne...

Plot Keywords:

Cajun | Corruption | Police | Neo Noir | New Orleans Louisiana

Awards:

4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Dennis Quaid	...	Det. Remy McSwain
Ellen Barkin	...	Anne Osborne
Ned Beatty	...	Jack Kellom
John Goodman	...	Det. Andre DeSoto
Lisa Jane Persky	...	McCabe
Ebbe Roe Smith	...	Ed Dodge
Tom O'Brien	...	Bobby McSwain
Charles Ludlam	...	Lamar Parmentel
Grace Zabriskie	...	Mama
Marc Lawrence	...	Vinnie 'The Cannon' DiMotti
Solomon Burke	...	Daddy Mention
Gailard Sartain	...	Chef Paul
Jim Chimento	...	Freddie Angelo
Edward St. Pe	...	Patrolman
Robert Lesser	...	'Silky' Foster

Also Known As:

The Big Crackdown (Philippines: English title)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Norway:15 (DVD rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Antoine's Restaurant - 713 St. Louis Street, French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Kings Road Entertainment

Trivia:

The signature New Orleans setting was actually a late change in the development of the film. The original title of the script was Windy City, and set in Chicago. The change in location is attributed to a suggestion by then Production Executive Ken Aguado, who was a recent graduate of Tulane University.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the final gunfight, the smoke from DeSoto's gunshot disappears between cuts.

Quotes:

Lamar Parmentel: New Orleans is a marvelous environment for coincidence.

Movie Connections:

References Sunset Blvd. (1950)

Soundtrack:

VALSE DE BALFA

I love this movie!

Cheerful, mildly corrupt New Orleans detective Remy McSwain (Dennis Quaid) butts heads with uptight prosecutor Anne Osbourne (Ellen Barkin) while they both get involved in the case of two warring criminal families. Even though they have conflicting views of the law, they can't ignore the passion that they develop for each other.

Stylish, steamy, sexy, suspenseful (how's that for alliteration?) thriller with an irresistible cast (Quaid is charm personified) and some really great New Orleans flavor...the Cajun music is non-stop and helps immensely. This is a film that I watched a couple of times many years ago and while I watched it tonight it all came back to me. Even back then, I guess I recognized a good film when I saw one.

The impressive supporting cast includes John Goodman, Lisa Jane Persky (who did some other films for director Jim McBride), Charles Ludlam, Grace Zabriskie, Solomon Burke, Gailard Sartain, Marc Lawrence, and Judge Jim Garrison (whose story was told in the movie "JFK") as himself.

For me, it works on every level. If there are flaws to be found in this film, I didn't notice them.

10/10