Product Details

• Actors: Dennis Quaid, Ellen Barkin, Ned Beatty, John Goodman, Lisa Jane Persky
• Directors: Jim McBride
• Writers: Daniel Petrie Jr.
• Producers: Jack Baran, Mort Engelberg, Stephen J. Friedman, Tony Tagliere
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Vidmark / Trimark
• VHS Release Date: February 2, 1999
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305262241
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,968 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This is the movie that caused Premiere magazine's mythical columnist Libby Gelman-Waxner to occasionally break into convulsive shouts of "Dennis! Dennis! Dennis!" Directed by Jim McBride (Great Balls of Fire!) and released in 1987, this New Orleans mystery-romance features Quaid and costar Ellen Barkin as sexy adversaries on opposite sides of a police scandal. While Quaid's grinning, seductive detective investigates a series of mob-related murders, Barkin's assistant district attorney looks into allegations of an entire cop force on the take--a charge that applies to the slick hero as well. The snappy, buoyant tone of cop camaraderie, the hoodoo lure of New Orleans culture, and the Cajun soundtrack (including a brief performance by Quaid) make this an enormously appealing film, while the ethical dilemma at the heart of the love story keeps one guessing about where things are going. The film includes a wonderful supporting performance by Ned Beatty, and a pre-stardom role for John Goodman. The DVD includes a great-looking widescreen presentation, cast and crew information, original trailer, and Spanish, English, and French subtitles. --Tom Keogh

Amazon.com

An atmospheric and sexy crime caper, this stars Dennis Quaid as a New Orleans police detective. He's a smooth talker who butts heads with the new assistant district attorney, Ellen Barkin. She's rigid and plays by the rules; he is mildly corrupt. They soon find themselves romantically entwined, and a bit chagrined.

Director Jim McBride (Great Balls of Fire) was in top form with this 1987 sizzler. You may not remember the particulars of the plot, which concerns supposed gang killings and police corruption, because it is the romance that has staying power. Blame this on Quaid and Barkin, who send off enough sparks to light up Bourbon Street. They are not only sexy together, but endearing, which makes you want to like them as much as they like each other. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars party on down, Cher!!!, February 26, 2003

By 

Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Big Easy (DVD)

This is what I call a personality movie. The plot is fine, maybe a few holes and you sort of can see it coming down the turnpike, but that is not what you will watch this movie for time and again. It's the actors. They are the whole show and they give you a great one at that. Dennis Quaid jumped into leading man spotlight with this film, and Ellen Barkin is a delight as his adversary and can't-help-falling-for-you-lover...she is cute, engaging and not your typically blonde!! Quaid and Barkin are friends in real life, and that chemistry carries over into their roles. They have fun with the characters and so will you.

I have viewed this movie and will continue to do so, it's just that sort of a good time. I absolutely adore New Orleans, and you get some good scenery and even better cajun music (though where is Doug Kershaw??? I ask!), with excellent supporting performances from John Goodman and Ned Beatty.

Dennis plays Remy McSwain, a police Lieutenant that loves the Big Easy and takes everything in laid back stride, until problems arise. There is a supposed drug war going on, he thinks he has all the answers until Burkin's ADA Anne Osbourne starts asking questions of her own. Their attraction is instantaneous, sexy and fun, as she knows she cannot fall for the man she is investigating, but she cannot seem to stop herself.

Uncle Souse tells Barkin's character at once point "put your purdy face in the car, cher."....well, put your purdy face in front of the telly and enjoy a trip down to Dr. John's way.

Please note that is Jim Garrison playing Jim Garrison!! For those who do not recall the name, see Oliver Stone's JFK.

Mature audiences as there is one sexy, steaming love scene between the leads (which they said they had trouble doing since they were friends in real life - well, it sure does not show!!!)

Look out for the gator, baby!!!

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sexy, funny, exciting--and moral!, October 9, 2000

By 

Miles D. Moore (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Big Easy [VHS] (VHS Tape)

It is a shame this movie wasn't a bigger hit--largely because it deprived moviegoers of more cinematic pairings of Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin, a couple whose on-screen chemistry approached that of William Powell and Myrna Loy. The sex scenes here are truly steamy, yet used as much to establish character and advance the story as to titillate the audience. Quaid portrays a casually corrupt homicide cop on the New Orleans PD who is forced to rethink his life when (a) Barkin, a DA he's seriously attracted to, refuses to have anything to do with him, and (b) he discovers that the corruption in the department vastly exceeds anything he ever imagined. The movie may be "Show Me the Money" at the beginning, but at the end, it's "Show Me the Remorse." The plot of a man reformed by the love of a good woman lost popularity as the 20th century progressed, but Quaid, Barkin and director Jim McBride deserve credit for updating it in a fresh, surprising and sexy way.

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Hey, Remy, Where You At?", May 13, 2001

By 

Reviewer - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Big Easy (DVD)

A good cop, who has allowed his principles to be compromised once too often, has it catch up with him amid allegations of internal corruption and what appears to be an impending war between the criminal elements of New Orleans, in "The Big Easy," directed by Jim McBride. Dennis Quaid stars as Remy McSwain, an eleven year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department, who from the day he joined the force learned that the "perks" that went along with the job were all just a natural, acceptable part of the way things are done in the city they call The Big Easy. It's just the way it is; and all is well until Assistant District Attorney, Anne Osborne (Ellen Barkin), shows up one day, and becomes inordinately concerned with a recent "wise guy" murder Remy is investigating. And it isn't long before things start to get a bit sticky for Remy and a few others who suddenly find themselves caught with their fingers in the cookie jar. But there are indications that something is going down at the precinct that is somewhat more serious than the penny-ante graft apparently being enjoyed by a number of New Orleans' finest, and Osborne's job is to get to the bottom of it. Remy, however, doesn't buy the idea that there are "dirty" cops amongst his own, and quickly puts some moves on Anne to find out what she thinks she knows. And it starts him off along a path which, before it's over, he may wish he hadn't opted to tread.

From the opening credits, as McBride takes you aloft and opens up his camera for a thrilling shot of the bayous and countryside rushing by below (backed by the blood stirring zydeco music that drives the entire film), he saturates the story with an atmosphere that brings New Orleans to life. And the vibrant sights and sounds of the city (including the engaging Creole dialects), are so richly textured that the city itself becomes as much an integral part of the story as many of the characters. As Remy would say in greeting, with his best prepossessing grin in place, "Where you at, chere?"

And though the story itself is nothing especially original, the lively presentation and the mood McBride sets, as well as some unique characterizations and that special sense of time and place he captures, make it all seem fresh and new. The zydeco music, alone, is a treat and-- like the city-- is something of a character in itself.

Quaid fairly oozes Southern charm as the irrepressible Remy, a guy secure with his world and sure of his place in it. He's obstinate and self-assured, but without being pretentious, which makes it easy to like him. The natural fluidity of his distinct mannerisms and speech give his performance a ring of authenticity that makes Remy very real and entirely believable-- which, of course, adds credibility to the story. The character is a good fit for Quaid, and he definitely makes the most of it.

Barkin does a good job, as well, as Anne, employing her trademark crooked smile to great effect, and she has a genuine chemistry with Quaid that works well for the story. She brings a decided definition to her character, making Anne a woman who is strong without being overconfident, and not immune to vulnerability; it's her very humanness, in fact, that make her so accessible. It's a well rounded performance that allows you to see beneath the facade of the professional cop doing her job, to the very real person within. Barkin plays it all very well, and lets you know that there's more to Anne than meets the eye.

Notable in supporting roles are Grace Zabriskie, as Remy's mother, and Charles Ludlam as Lamar Parmentel. Their performances are great examples of the value of a good character actor, and the significant impact they can have on a film. Far too often they go unnoticed and unappreciated.

The supporting cast includes Ned Beatty (Jack), John Goodman (Andre), Lisa Jane Persky (McCabe), Ebbe Roe Smith (Ed), Tom O'Brien (Bobby), Marc Lawrence (Vinnie the Cannon) and Solomon Burke (Daddy Mention). Like a good bowl of spicy gumbo, "The Big Easy" packs a wallop and will give you a good helping of satisfying entertainment, well worth the two bucks or so you plunk down for it. And by the time it's over, you'll be calling people "chere" and fighting the urge to strap a washboard to your chest. So, hey-- where you at? It's the magic of the movies, chere.