THE BIG EASY
US, 1987, 108 minutes, Colour.
Dennis Quaid, Ellen Barkin, Ned Beatty, John Goodman.
Directed by Jim Mc Bride.
An interesting and entertaining police thriller. It was written and directed by Jim Mc Bride, small-budget director, and the Richard Gere thriller, Breathless.
The Big Easy is the nickname of New Orleans and symbolises police corruption and the easiness of being on the take. New Orleans locations are used most effectively.
The cast is also excellent. Dennis Quaid portrays the hero, with a strange Cajun accent, who, with all his family, seem to be on the force and are all on the take. It is part of the ordinary expectation of police work. Ellen Barkin is the tight D.A's representative who comes to investigate police corruption and challenges the hero. Ned Beatty is, as always, effective as the jovial policeman who turns out to be corrupt.
The film resembles many of the police thrillers of the '80s. It is realistic and particularly well characterised so that the audiences - feel that they are immersed in the atmosphere as well as in the issues and have to face them themselves. It is an expert blend of police thriller with exploration of characters and themes.
1. The popularity of the police film? Stories of police corruption? America, New Orleans? With McBride's verve in presentation and interpretation?
2. The use of New Orleans locations, the quality of the photography and its atmosphere: the city itself, police precincts, the environments, the locations for the killings? The McSwain? party? The atmosphere of the French background, Cajun? The wide range of musical score and songs?
3. The title and its being the nickname of New Orleans? The implications of the title?
4. The initial confrontations and the investigations, the leads, the work of the police, work at the precinct, offices and paperwork, the gradual revelation of police on the take, the nature of the corruption, precedents, methods, contacts and the influence of his father on Jack?
5. Dennis Quaid's portrait of Remy: at work, the investigation, his holding his father as an ideal, his death? The fact of his father's being on the take? His relationship with, his mother - and her intention to marry Jack? His devotion to Jack as the new father figure? His brother intruding on his achievement? The investigation, De Soto in the office, as jokes? The arrival of Anne, the office and its attitudes, the cover-up in police corruption? Remi's attitude to Anne, their sexual encounter and passion? The set-up and his going to the officer, his arrest? in prison? his behaviour, in court? the video being wiped? Anne and her jogging, Remy tricking her in going, to the family party and all the relations (even in the police force)? Interviews, the boss, noticing the car? The truce with Anne, the warrants for investigation? his brother's visit, his death? Remy's grief? The drug ring, Jack's involvement? The final battle - with Dodge and De Soto? Remy as a type, his experiences, and ideals, a good man, local expectations, integrity, change?
6. Anne, her work with the D.A., pert, tight, the thoroughness of her investigation, people's attitudes towards her as investigator, as a woman? Hostility?, Relating to Remi, their encounters? The outing with him, going home? The brother coming home, at the fridge - and her embarrassment? Sexual passion in the relationship with Remy? Hopes? His arrest, her disappointment, hostility? Court and people's sympathies? The atmosphere of hostility towards her? Her own integrity? The video? The truce? The jogging and the party? her beginning to realise life in New Orleans? The investigations, the files, the truth, the final danger? the father figure, nice, ordinary, the perks, the party at home, Jack's intentions to marry? The truth, his being detected, the drug haul, his being on the boat, confrontation, wounding, the flare and the detective's dealing? Saving Dodge, De Soto around the police precinct, jokes? The irony of their dealings, the unnumbered car, final viciousness?
7. The presentation of the gangs, their representations, law, threats, deaths? The manipulation of evidence, Remy organising the magnet and the wiping of the tape?
8. The atmosphere of the city, easy, the lax morals? A piece of Americana and exploration of the theme of corruption?
