The Big Uneasy

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The Big Uneasy

2009

1h 38m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

57%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Harry Shearer, John Goodman and others discuss the possibility that the damage to New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina is the fault of the Army Corps of Engineers.

Critics Consensus

The Big Uneasy offers an admittedly uneven - yet still worthy and well-intentioned - look at a horrific disaster's aftermath.

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Moira MacDonald

Seattle Times

By the end of "The Big Uneasy" the viewer is convinced that we weren't told the whole story back in 2005, and appalled by the retaliation faced by some who spoke out.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 7, 2011

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

"The Big Uneasy" lacks the dramatic impact and artistic imagination of many recent docs about environmental issues.

Rated: 2/4

Jun 9, 2011

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Joseph Jon Lanthier

Slant Magazine

The film confirms that the real scandal behind Katrina is too deep, too knotty, and too technical to permeate our cultural understanding of the event and incite the rage it deserves.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 3, 2011

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David Harris

Spectrum Culture

The citizens of New Orleans deserve a defense that is more fired up, angrier and more gripping than this somewhat flaccid documentary.

Rated: 2.9/5

Nov 9, 2019

Full Review

Rene Rodriguez

Miami Herald

Rated: 3/4

Jul 22, 2011

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Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

Behaves like a straight-ahead investigative news piece. Its target is the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Jul 21, 2011

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Audience Member

Could have been a lot more interesting.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Audience Member

A scathing indictment of the Army Corps of Engineers that pretty conclusively proves that the damage resulting from Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, man-made and not a natural disaster.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

ok doc but kind of drags

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

saw it at special showing @ Prytania Theater in NOLA, w/Harry Shearer present!!!!!!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

A little dorky in its presentation, but a lot of interesting and frustrating information. Harry Shearer and friends have an obvious love for their city.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A sobering, sad and informative view of the real reasons Katrina flooded New Orleans. Government incompetence and the ensuing coverup are disgusting. Even worse is they are repeating the exact same mistakes to save a buck. Definitely see this doc when you get a chance.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

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Harry Shearer

Director

Harry Shearer

Writer

Karen Murphy

Producer

Christine O'Malley

Producer

Arlene Nelson

Cinematographer

Tom Roche

Film Editing

Five Favorite Films with Harry Shearer

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Synopsis

Harry Shearer, John Goodman and others discuss the possibility that the damage to New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina is the fault of the Army Corps of Engineers.

Director: Harry Shearer
Producer: Karen Murphy, Christine O'Malley
Screenwriter: Harry Shearer
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 38m