The Big Easy (1987)

Featured Audience Ratings

• AJ V

  
  Like the synopsis on here says, this movie is more of a romance than a crime thriller or drama, they could have called it cops in love. I found the whole cop romance thing really boring, and the rest of the story even more boring.

• xGary X

  
  The Big Easy is an 80s noir set to the colourful backdrop of New Orleans in which Assistant District Attourney Ellen Barkin is sent to investigate police corruption only to be seduced by morally dubious detective and local lothario Dennis Quaid. The biggest weakness of The Big Easy is… More
  The Big Easy is an 80s noir set to the colourful backdrop of New Orleans in which Assistant District Attourney Ellen Barkin is sent to investigate police corruption only to be seduced by morally dubious detective and local lothario Dennis Quaid. The biggest weakness of The Big Easy is its over reliance on the afore-mentioned "local colour", which means that the film is wall to wall chicken bones, hillbilly music and bizarre accents (Grace Zabriskie in particular sounds like a rastafarian with special needs after a stroke). This fact combined with the workmanlike plot and gratuitous 80s pyrotechnics at the end conspire to make it feel like a made for TV pilot episode for "New Orleans Vice". What can be admired about the film however is the chemistry between the cast; Barkin's fiery girl next door paired with Quaid's believable turn as a man finally meeting a woman that makes him want to re-examine himself makes for a charming and sexy couple and the amusing squadroom antics make for a very likable set of characters. Very formulaic but it avoids the usual 80s macho excesses and is still an entertaining, if rather dated detective story.

• Dean M

  
  Although the whodunnit element is skimmed over pretty fast, the steamy Louisiana atmosphere and the steamy coupling of Quaid and Barkin make this one of the 1980's smartest, most attractive thrillers.

• Jeffrey M

  
  Hoping for solid 80s film noir (such as the excellent Body Heat, and even Mindhunter), I instead got an unfocused film with a very uneven tone. Dennis Quaid is good, and the chemistry between him and Ellen Barkin works well, but the plot of the film is predictable and often borderline… More
  Hoping for solid 80s film noir (such as the excellent Body Heat, and even Mindhunter), I instead got an unfocused film with a very uneven tone. Dennis Quaid is good, and the chemistry between him and Ellen Barkin works well, but the plot of the film is predictable and often borderline silly. Many other films have done the New Orleans atmosphere better, there's much more too it than clever humor and over-the-top accents. The film shifts from romance to mystery to drama, with no real sense of what came before or after it.

• Adam M

  
  Well,i usually start my reviews by saying what type of film it was but i'm not actually sure and to be honest i don't think the film makers knew either!It was described as a "steamy thriller" which to be honest is why i checked it out, but there was no… More
  Well,i usually start my reviews by saying what type of film it was but i'm not actually sure and to be honest i don't think the film makers knew either!It was described as a "steamy thriller" which to be honest is why i checked it out, but there was no steam.Anywhere. Basically, this smarmy cop played by dennis quaid is not only investigating corruption but seems to be involved in it to, so a weird looking from some angles, attractive from others district attorney is sent in to check out local murders and stuff and its not long before Quaids' charming her with his funny voiced ways as she discovers that his characters more than just a cop,he's a bit of a badboy to.This doesn't seem to know if it wants to be a thriller or a comedy so sits uneasily between both.Misleading cover to, the dirty bastards!

• Audrey L

  
  Steamy,erotic and a beautiful glimpse into the culture and wonderful music of New Orleans.I must have watched it a half dozen or more times,and had to buy the soundtrack,as it was my first real introduction to the musical majesty of New Orleans. The plot was compelling enough to… More
  Steamy,erotic and a beautiful glimpse into the culture and wonderful music of New Orleans.I must have watched it a half dozen or more times,and had to buy the soundtrack,as it was my first real introduction to the musical majesty of New Orleans. The plot was compelling enough to maintain my interest,but Dennis Quaid was the primary draw,as well as the sexual chemistry with the sultry Ellen Barkin.

• Anthony V

  
  A mixed bag of tricks. I will say it has some of the steamiest fully clothed sex scenes put on film.

• Leo L

  
  Interesting.

• Moe E

  
  Ellen Barkin is smokin' hot!!! Great chemistry between her and Dennis Quaid. Oh...not a bad whodunit, either.

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