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Dennis Quaid, Ellen Barkin, Ned Beatty, John Goodman, Ebbe Roe Smith ... see more see more... , Lisa Jane Persky , Charles Ludlam , Tom O'Brien , Marc Lawrence I , Solomon Burke , Jim Garrison , Jim Chimento , Nik Hagler , Jack David Harris , Eliott Keener , Robert Lesser , Margie O'Dair , David Petitjean , Rickey Pierre , Gailard Sartain , Cheryl Starbuck , Grace Zabriskie , Joy N. Houck Jr , Cary Alden , Dewey Balfa , Steve Broussard , Dennis Curren , David Dahlgren , George Dureau , Patric Frederick , Peter Gabb , Jeff Hollis , Zepherin Hymel , Arden M. Jones , Robert Kearney , August Krinke , Byron Nora , Buddy Quaid , Archie Sampier , John Schluter , Edward St. Pe , Gary Sturgis , Irma Thomas , Lane Trippe , Ricco Wheat , Carol Sutton

A film that captures the steamy, colorful essence of New Orleans, this crime thriller tells the romantic story of a classy detective whose investigation of a gangland murder lands him in trouble with ... read more read more...the city's new District Attorney, a woman with a rigid penchant for following the letter of the law. Despite their differences, the two manage to work together and eventually fall in love. Unfortunately all of this leads them to have to fight for their lives when their investigation into the case and the corruption surrounding it gets them bumped up to the top of a hit man's list. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Flixster Users

60% liked it

6,392 ratings

Critics

96% liked it

23 critics

R, 1 hr. 41 min.

Directed by: Jim McBride

Release Date: June 1, 1986

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DVD Release Date: February 2, 1999

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Stats: 259 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (259)

  • ajv2688
    February 6, 2011
    ajv2688
    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.
  • garyX
    December 30, 2009
    garyX
    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 Ea... read moresy 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.
  • deano
    November 19, 2006
    deano
    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.
  • fb704730572
    December 10, 2011
    fb704730572
    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 borde... read morerline 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.
  • monkeybobbob
    September 1, 2008
    monkeybobbob
    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, ... read morethis 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!
  • alush1
    April 14, 2008
    alush1
    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 ... read moremaintain my interest,but Dennis Quaid was the primary draw,as well as the sexual chemistry with the sultry Ellen Barkin.
  • threefolddado
    March 22, 2008
    threefolddado
    A mixed bag of tricks. I will say it has some of the steamiest fully clothed sex scenes put on film.
  • ileo
    December 26, 2007
    ileo
    Interesting.
  • broadwaymo
    April 8, 2007
    broadwaymo
    Ellen Barkin is smokin' hot!!! Great chemistry between her and Dennis Quaid. Oh...not a bad whodunit, either.
  • PinkMinkPrincess
    June 12, 2011
    PinkMinkPrincess
    I feel I Visited the New Orleans, that now, no longer exists in it's Former Glory, through this Steamy Love Story.I Found Ellen Barkin & Dennis Quaid to serve up some of the Steamy-ist Chemistry I have ever Witnessed in this Smokin Sexy Thriller. This is on My Top Love Scene Li... read morest personally.Gangsters,Love, & New Orleans~ What's not to Love?

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Critic Reviews

Sheila Benson
October 5, 2011
Sheila Benson, Los Angeles Times

Eventually the film's suspense underpinnings take over its personal story, yet that tension Quaid and Barkin generate still holds. Soldily fine as actors they're also a great pair, like two golden ath... Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
October 5, 2011
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

[McBride] gets tense, sexy performances from Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin and makes the most of his New Orleans locations. Full Review

Richard Schickel
October 5, 2011
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

A movie that manages to be atmospherically rich while also satisfying the slash-crash imperatives of the police-action genre. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

The screenplay, by Daniel Petrie Jr. and Jack Baran, has a number of funny lines and situations, but the end result looks fiddled with by people attempting to ''fix'' things. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

One spicy gumbo of a detective film. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The plot of this movie is only an excuse for its real strength: the creation of a group of characters so interesting, so complicated and so original they make a lot of other movie people look like pai... Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

This is one movie that lives up to its billing; it's easy all right. Like falling off a log. Full Review

October 5, 2011
Film4

There's plenty of southern comfort in this entertaining thriller. Terrific performances from Quaid and Barkin make this into an overlooked gem of 1980s Hollywood. Full Review

Kim Newman
October 5, 2011
Kim Newman, Empire Magazine

Much better than the average cop movie: the script bristles with wittily tough talk, while fast-pattering Quaid works up a nice double act romance-feud with Barkin (his cheeky grin is well-matched wit... Full Review

October 5, 2011
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Colorful Cajun noir, spicy, romantic, efficient. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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