New Orleans, harbour of criminals, gateway to the drug trade, mooring place of The Mafia. Two competing dons who rule this domain have never fought each other before. That is until corrupt cops start muscling in on the action. A smooth-talking police lieutenant (Dennis Quaid) and a no-nonsense Assistant District Attorney (Ellen Barkin) team up to get to the bottom of this case. THE BIG EASY is one of the best crime thrillers of the 1980s since it blends the unique character of New Orleans, steamy romance, sultry suspense and quick-witted humour to dazzling effect.
Filmmaker Jim McBride will be in attendance for a Q&A
“An overlooked gem of 1980s Hollywood.” Film4
FUGITIVES, COPS AND ROLL ‘N’ ROLL: THREE FILMS BY JIM MCBRIDE
American director Jim McBride has an eclectic filmography. Emerging from the New York underground scene of the 1960s, he made one of the seminal films of the period: DAVID HOLZMAN’S DIARY (1968), which was a fictional tale of a young director documenting his own life. Following this, McBride continued to be an independent filmmaker, making personal documentaries, offbeat dystopian science fiction, and even a softcore sex comedy.
Then in the 1980s, McBride found himself working within the mainstream Hollywood system, creating three exhilarating features: BREATHLESS (1983) is a remake of the Jean Luc Godard classic and is often highlighted as a favourite film by Quentin Tarantino; THE BIG EASY (1986) is the sassy and sultry crime thriller with a wicked sense of humour; and GREAT BALLS OF FIRE (1989) is a biopic about Jerry Lee Lewis, the controversial wild man of 1950s’ rock ‘n’ roll.
Triskel Arts Centre is not only screening these three movies but Jim McBride will be in attendance to take part in Q&As following THE BIG EASY and GREAT BALLS OF FIRE.
Tuesday Jun 23, 2026
8:00 PM - 9:45 PM IST
Triskel Arts Centre, Tobin Street, Cork City
€11/8.50
Printed courtesy of www.corkchamber.ie/ – Contact the Cork Chamber for more information.
Fitzgerald House, Co. Cork, T23 TD90 – 021 4509044 – info@corkchamber.ie