Until conventional plot contrivances begin to spoil the fun, The Big Easy is a snappy, sassy battle of the sexes in the guise of a melodrama about police corruption.
The Big Easy
He's got to hide the truth. She'll stop at nothing to find it. But tonight, everything's off the record.
1986 · 1h 42m · R
Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery
Directed by
Jim McBride
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The Big Easy
Overview
Remy McSwain is a New Orleans police lieutenant who investigates the murder of a local mobster. His investigation leads him to suspect that fellow members of the police force may be involved.
Director and cast
- Jim McBride Director
- Dennis Quaid as Remy McSwain
- Ellen Barkin as Anne Osborne
- Ned Beatty as Jack Kellom
- John Goodman as Andre DeSoto
- Lisa Jane Persky as McCabe
- Ebbe Roe Smith as Ed Dodge
- Tom O'Brien as Bobby McSwain
- Charles Ludlam as Lamar Parmentel
- Grace Zabriskie as Mama
- Marc Lawrence as Vinnie 'The Cannon' DiMotti
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
The Big Easy is an extremely enjoyable (and well-lubricated) vehicle for two actors who aren't quite yet stars, but should be.
The Big Easy is as atmospheric as they come, but -- surprise! -- it's also sharp and swift. Plus, it has ample amounts of chemistry -- the steamy, sexy kind.
The film's strength is director Jim McBride's seemingly easy way of presenting us with a New Orleans that is more malevolent and intoxicating than the tourist trap that some think it to be.
It's sleek, briskly paced, firmly controlled and shrewdly dosed with humor, action and romance.
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