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The Big Easy is an American neo-noir film released in 1987 and directed by Jim McBride and written by Daniel Petrie Jr.[1] The picture was executive produced by Mort Engelberg and the cinematographer was Affonso Beato.
The film tells the story of how New Orleans detective McSwain and Louisiana district attorney Osborn investigate mob violence, possible police corruption, and in the process have to learn how to deal with their very different personalities. The action takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana and was shot on location.
PlotSpoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
In this neo-noir, Remy McSwain (Dennis Quaid) is a sassy police detective with a Cajun family background who investigates the murder of a local mobster. His investigation makes him suspect the New Orleans Police brass is involved, but he can't be sure.
Since both are hard-headed individuals they quickly clash, fight, and fall in love. Soon, however, McSwain gets caught accepting payoffs in an FBI sting. Osborne has to prosecute him, which seriously complicates their new relationship. With a little help from his police friends, McSwain beats the rap, but their love affair is dead for the moment. After the trial, at a Cajun dance she's quasi-kidnapped to attend, she says to Remy:
The twists and turns never stop in this edgy, steamy thriller based in New Orleans. Yet, they finally agree to work together to solve the crime and, in the process, get to like each other again. As the film credits roll, we see Remy in a tux and Anne in a white wedding dress dancing in their room after their wedding to cajun music. Spoilers end here.
BackgroundImage:Barkin101.jpg Osborn having supper with McSwain at Tipitina's The film was first shown in 1986 at the Sundance Film Festival before Columbia Pictures picked it up for distribution. According to Robert Redford, the founder of Sundance, The Big Easy was the first film ever sold at a Sundance. Redford tells of dragging David Putnam, then the head of Columbia, to see the film. Afterward, Putnam decided to pick up the movie for distribution.[2] The filming took 50 days and the lead actors rehearsed three weeks prior to the start of principal photography.[3] The original title of the script was "Windy City", and was set in Chicago. An interesting cameo is made by the legendary New Orleans district attorney, Jim Garrison. He makes an appearance as a judge. Garrison was a Kennedy assassination conspiracy theorist who conducted his own investigation into JFK's murder from New Orleans in the 1960s. Image:Remyann449.jpg Osborn and McSwain dance to Cajun music City of New OrleansIn many ways the City of New Orleans and its rich atmospherics functions as a protagonist in the film. This is evident from the beginning of the film: the opening is an aerial shot of the New Orleans bayou and the zydeco band Beausoleil's play "Zydeco Gris Gris" on the soundtrack (title sequence). The producers also used well known locations such as Tipitina's, the legendary music venue named after the hit song by the highly influential New Orleans pianist Professor Longhair, Antoine's, a warehouse full of Mardi Gras parade paraphernalia, and a French Quarter strip joint, to flush out the mood of the film. Exhibition and box officeImage:The Big Easy DVD.jpg Video and DVD cover Tagline: A cop and a lady lawyer caught in an explosive truth of police corruption. The film opened in the United States in wide release on August 21, 1987. The film was shown in various film festivals, including: the Cognac Festival du Film Policier, France; the Davao City Film Festival, Philippines; the Valladolid International Film Festival, Spain; the Sundance Film Festival, United States; and others. The first week's gross was $3,626,031 (1,138 screens) and the total receipts for the run were $17,685,307. In its widest release the film was featured in 1,219 theatres. The motion picture was in circulation five weeks.[4] Video/DVDOn February 2, 1999 a video and DVD of the film was released on the Trimark label as part of their "Gold Reel Collection." Critical receptionThe film opened to good reviews from the media. The Chicago Sun-Times' Roger Ebert wrote of the film: "The Big Easy is one of the richest American films of the year. It also happens to be a great thriller. I say 'happens,' because I believe 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 paint-by-number characters."[5] Sheila Benson, writing for the Los Angeles Times, wrote, "Screenwriter Daniel Petrie Jr. sets up the conflict, and director Jim McBride fleshes it out with devastating, sexy assurance..."[6] Film critic Vincent Canby was a bit tougher on the film. He wrote, "Remy and Anne are made for each other, or would have been if The Big Easy were the sophisticated comedy it could have been...[the film] was directed by Jim McBride who one day is going to come up with a commercial movie that works all the way through, and not just in patches."[7] Cast and ratings
AdaptationsThe film inspired a television series of the same name. The show premiered on the USA Cable Network August 11, 1996. Daniel Petrie Jr. (who wrote the screenplay to this film) was the executive producer of the series; there were approximately 35 episodes.[8] SoundtrackImage:Easysound101.jpg CD Cover Due to the action taking place in New Orleans, and the main protagonist's Cajun family background (Remy McSwain), the producers of the film used cajun, zydeco, R&B, and gospel music in the soundtrack. The film's soundtrack is a good introduction to the extensive music found in the region. An original motion picture soundtrack CD was released in 1987, and re-released in 1991 on the Fontana Island label. The CD contains twelve tracks including the New Orleans classic "Tipitina," played by the legendary New Orleans pianist Professor Longhair, the New Orleans anthem "Iko Iko," played by The Dixie Cups, and a ballad, "Closer To You," written and performed by actor Dennis Quaid. He also performs the song in the film. Other performers include: Beausoleil, Buckwheat Zydeco, Dewey Balfa, Aaron Neville & The Neville Brothers, and others. A few tunes that were heard in the film did not make the cut to the CD. They include: St. Augustine's Marching Hundred's "Li'l Liza Jane" and Clifton Chenier's "You Used to Call Me." AwardsWins
Nominations
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Footnotes
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