As much a love story as a murder-mystery, and Quaid and Barkin are beautifully matched.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 16, 2023

There is nothing easy about its own attitude, which is moral without being censorious.... with actors as engaging as Barkin and Quaid to say nothing of the ever-reliable Beatty the process is a delight to watch.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Nov 15, 2019

Barkin brings great delicacy and conviction to a part that is essentially a stock character: that favorite '80s stereotype: the sexually repressed but professionally successful career woman.

| Aug 28, 2019

Set against a Cajun background, the movie is a bird's-eye view of a little-known culture operating within a totally familiar urban context. The effect is exhilarating.

| Oct 9, 2016

Revels in its slight plot, noirish atmosphere, sassy interplay between main characters and its gumbo-like smells.

| Original Score: B | Apr 11, 2016

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.

| Jul 31, 2013

Quaid, a competent character actor who looks more like a leading man with each new film, has all the prize scenes in The Big Easy and he does the best he can with them. But they all seem to be castoffs from old Richard Gere movies.

| Jul 31, 2013

After watching this sizzling crime thriller, you will be at a loss to explain why director Jim McBride failed to go on and take Hollywood by storm. At least the careers of Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin were boosted.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 31, 2013

Barkin makes the silliness with which her character behaves as credible as is probably possible.

| Jul 31, 2013

The Big Easy is an extremely enjoyable (and well-lubricated) vehicle for two actors who aren't quite yet stars, but should be.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 31, 2013

Oooowee, here is one scorchingly sexy movie.

| Jul 31, 2013

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.

| Jul 31, 2013

[The film is] directed by offbeat filmmaker Jim McBride, who gives the action a lot of energy but falls back too often on the usual sex-and-violence formulas.

| Jul 31, 2013

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.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jul 31, 2013

It's sleek, briskly paced, firmly controlled and shrewdly dosed with humor, action and romance.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 31, 2013

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 athletes.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 5, 2011

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

| Oct 5, 2011

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.

| Oct 5, 2011

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 with her lopsided smile).

| Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 5, 2011

Colorful Cajun noir, spicy, romantic, efficient.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 5, 2011